1950-1959

Jane Myers Sellers (Class of 1955) describes in an interview how women achieved the effect of soft waves, a hairstyle popular during the 1950s. She reports that female students used pin curls with bobby pins and slept on them every night. Sellers explains that it was "terribly uncomfortable" and that "before you went to bed, no matter how late you stayed up studying, you would have to do those pin curls." According to Sellers, female students did not want the men in the dormitories during panty raids because they did not want the men to see them in pin curls.

According to Jane Myer Sellers (Class of 1955), there were no women of color and only one or two men of color at Dickinson during the 1950s. She reports that there were "a few Asian girls" who were considered to be minority students. The only sorority that accepted minority students, says Sellers, was Pi Phi.

Jane Myers Sellers (Class of 1955) describes in an interview the relationship male and female students had at Dickinson during the 1950s. She reports that there were panty raids, water fights, and serenading. During these so-called "panty raids," men would invade the women's dormitories and steal panties.

In 1953 the Dickinson College Pan-Hellenic Council continued its annually-scheduled activities including Rush, the Doll Dance, and Pan-Hellenic weekend, which aimed to promote interfraternity spirit. The officers in 1953 were Marjorie E. Heymann, president and Shirley A. Holland, secretary-treasurer.

The members of Phi Mu continued to maintain a full schedule of philanthropic and social activities. They held their annual Pledge Tea and Pledge Formal, intended to present the new members, as well as their Spring Formal, held in honor of the graduating seniors. They contributed to their philanthropies by sponsoring cake bakes and rummage sales, and they visited the Carlisle Hospital weekly with a toy cart. In addition, the members of Phi Mu have embarked upon a mission of friendship with other local Phi Mu chapters, in an effort to bring together members founded on the same ideals.

Members of the Dickinson chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha continued to dedicate themselves to philanthropic work related to cerebral palsey in 1953. Their efforts included fundraising and awareness through a published brochure. In addition, they continued to support their scholarship loan fund, which assists both Zetas and non-Zetas. The officers in 1953 were Patricia A. Bradley, president; Evelyn L. Sciotto, vice president; Barbara R. Mattas, secretary; and Kay M. Meyer, treasurer.

The Delta chapter of Chi Omega strived to fulfill its national motto of "Hellenic Culture and Christian Ideals" in 1953. This was accomplished through dedication to service activities including working with elderly in Carlisle and supporting war-torn countries with care packages. Their social schedule included a number of events such as the Pledge Dance, Spring Formal, and the Initiation and Alumnae Banquets. The officers of Chi Omega were Ann L. Boyd, president; Kathryn G. Jordan, vice president; Elizabeth A. Hollinger, secretary; and Patricia Kort-Kamp, treasurer.

In 1953, Pi Beta Phi members held a full schedule of scholastic, social, and philanthropic activities. They continued to support their settlement school in Tennessee and they also assisted a struggling German family through connections with one member who was studying abroad there. They also sponsored the annual Pledge Formal, Pledge Tea, Spring Formal, and Spring Tea. The group was led by Ann L. Prescott, president; Shirley J. Chase, vice president; Julia T. Yoshizaki, secretary; and Caroline T. Rhodes, treasurer.

The officers of Zeta Tau Alpha in 1952 were Audrey M. Ridgely, president; Florence M. Williams, vice president; D. Elizabeth Parker, secretary; and Patricia A. Bradley, treasurer.

In 1952 Phi Mu was led by Marianne M. Luckenbill, president; Elizabeth B. Haslam, vice president; Elizabeth A. Fosnocht, secretary; and Rachel A. Smith, treasurer.