1950-1959

According to the Microcosm, Chi Omega's activities in 1957 included "outings at Pine Grove, breakfasts in the rooms, and coffee hours with the faculty and other fraternities." Traditional formals and teas were also held. Like Pi Beta Phi and Zeta Tau Alpha, Chi Omega also listed their officers according to spring and fall semesters for the first time. Fall semester's leaders were Pat Eshelman, President; Joan Gallagher, Vice President; Mae Smethurst, Treasurer; and Betsy Reichle, Secretary. Spring semester's leaders were Inge Paul, President; Nancy A.

In 1957 the women of Pi Beta Phi continued their traditional social and service events. Christmas caroling and bridge tournaments were also popular sisterhood events. While in past years officers held their title for the full school year, in 1957, Pi Beta Phi had separate groups of officers for the spring and fall semester. In the fall, the leaders were Wendy Buckler, President; Lee Steinwald, Vice President; Virginia Burgess, Treasurer; and Nancy Carpenter, Secretary.

In 1956 a women's government organization was organized through the establishment of the President's Council. The council was established with the purpose of creating uniformity in rules for all of the dormitories and to act as a link between women students and the administration. According to the Microcosm, in its first year, the President's Council "made great progress in realizing its duties and responsibilities," which included meeting weekly with the Dean of Women.

The Beta Beta Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha participated in and sponsored a number of different campus activities, including the annual song fest, which raised money for cerebral palsy. In coordination with the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Zeta Tau Alpha held a Christmas party for underprivileged children. Their social activities included chapter dinners and teas, formals, and a Founder's Day Luncheon with the Alumnae. The officers of Zeta Tau Alpha in 1956 were Ingrid Reinhold, President; Nancy Schreiber, Vice-President; Lorraine Appleyard, Secretary; and Nancy Kelley, Treasurer.

In 1956, the officers of Phi Mu were Mary Ann Walter, President; Jan Westcott, Vice-President; Elizabeth Baird, Secretary; and Joan Howell, Treasurer. Phi Mu supported its philanthropies at the Children's Home in Carlisle and the Carlisle Hospital with a variety of activities including selling stationary, cookies, and cowbells at football games. They also hosted Halloween and Christmas parties at the Children's Home. Their social calendar included informal pizza or spaghetti dinners, as well as the pledge and spring formals.

In 1956 Chi Omega was led by President Sally Anderson, Vice-President Barbara Boffemmeyer, Secretary Sue Thoenenbe, and Treasurer Jean Hampton. Their annual activities included, as in years past, a fashion show and various rummage sales to benefit worthy causes, informal dinners and Sunday morning breakfasts, faculty gatherings, dances, and an alumnae banquet.

As an annual tradition for five years, the Microcosm selected one female student--based "strictly on beauty"--as the 1959 Miss Microcosm. Unlike 1958, the Microcosm outsourced the selection of Miss Microcosm to James "Maverick" Garner in California. James Garner chose Anne Briner.

Continuing the four-year tradition of electing a "Miss Microcosm" from Dickinson's coeds, the 1958 editorial staff of the Microcosm selected nine students from the nominations of fourteen national fraternities. The staff submitted photos of these women to three judges, who chose one Miss Microcosm, which the yearbook presented "as Dickinson's finest in grace, beauty, and charm."

In 1958, The Dickinsonian was led by a female editor-in-chief, Doris Weigel. According to the Microcosm, the editor-in-chief and her staff deserves "credit for this faithful picture of Dickinson's daily life." While the managing editor was a male student, the feature editor, news editor, copy editor, and business manager were all female.

The 1957 Microcosm continued its three-year custom of electing a "Miss Microcosm" along with her court. Like in 1956, fourteen national fraternities on campus nominated female students from which the editorial staff selected nine. These nine appeared before three judges who chose them based on their beauty and charm. They elected Barbara James Kline, a married student, as "Miss Microcosm." The runners up were Patricia Townsend, Mary Greensides, Patricia Eshelman, Inge Paul, Joan Brownell, Sue Fooder, Jeanne Thomas, and Nancy Cross.