During the Presidents' Council (Women's Interdormitory Council) meeting of October 4, 1961 a variety of suggestions were put forth in regards to curfew and rules, particularly those within the rule book/advice guide given to women students-Dis 'N Data:
According to an article in The Dickinsonian entitled "WIC Revises Dorm Rules for Freshmen," the Women's Interdormitory Council voted to extended freshmen women's curfew to 11:30pm Sunday through Thursday. Freshmen women, reports the article, had complained that it was difficult--nay, nearly impossible--to return from Mermaid Players rehearsal, see a late movie, or go to the snack bar if they needed to return to their dorms by 11pm.
An article by Diane Voneida in The Dickinsonian, "Women Dormitory Residents Vote to Accept Honor Code," explains that over 89 percent of freshman, sophomore, and junior women voted in favor of adopting the honor code at dormitory meetings. The dean of women, Barbara Wishmeyer, approved of the students' decisions, thinking that it would create a more healthy attitude and atmosphere on campus. Under this code, women could appeal rules they thought unfair rather than disobeying them outright. The code also required personal responsibility from each woman for her own behavior.
An editorial in The Dickinsonian criticizes campus social rules, especially those that pertain to women. The author insists that students are capable of behaving well and gives the example of the faculty allowing women visitors upstairs in fraternities, which "did not result in an upsurge of pregnancies." The editorial calls upon the Women's Interdormitory Council to extend these curfews on weekends to bring Dickinson's policies in line with comparable schools. The author also believes that the college should allow drinking upstairs in the fraternity when women are not present.
“A Pocketful of Rulesâ€, one of the various pamphlets published by the
Women’s Interdormitory Council in conjunction with the Dean of Women,
dictated the rules, regulations, and “proper behavior†that all women
attending Dickinson College were required to adhere to. First published
in 1964, “A Pocketful of Rules,†specifically outlined procedures and
rules of behavior that women were expected to follow in their dormitory
life and translate into their social life. It was particularly created
to target first year women and guide their adolescent behavior into
“A Pocketful of Rulesâ€, one of the various pamphlets published by the
Women’s Interdormitory Council in conjunction with the Dean of Women,
dictated the rules, regulations, and “proper behavior†that all women
attending Dickinson College were required to adhere to. First published
in 1964, “A Pocketful of Rules,†specifically outlined procedures and
rules of behavior that women were expected to follow in their dormitory
life and translate into their social life. It was particularly created
to target first year women and guide their adolescent behavior into
“A Pocketful of Rulesâ€, one of the various pamphlets published by the
Women’s Interdormitory Council in conjunction with the Dean of Women,
dictated the rules, regulations, and “proper behavior†that all women
attending Dickinson College were required to adhere to. First published
in 1964, “A Pocketful of Rules,†specifically outlined procedures and
rules of behavior that women were expected to follow in their dormitory
life and translate into their social life. It was particularly created
to target first year women and guide their adolescent behavior into
Added to the 1967 version of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook are
the regulations on junior key privilege. The junior key privilege
allows junior women to sign out a key after dormitory closing hour on Friday or Saturday nights. Juniors may sign out keys on a first come-first serve basis and must
return by 3am. Other women in the dormitory (roommate or hallmate) must
check to see that the junior has returned by 3am. Violations of the 3am curfew made by the junior result in demerits and are reported to the dormitory president.
Added to the 1966 version of the "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook are the regulations on senior key privilege. The senior key privilege allows senior women to sign out a key after closing hour. Seniors may sign out keys on a first come-first serve basis and must return by 3am. Other women in the dormitory (roommate or hallmate) must check to see that the senior has returned by 3am. If discovered that the senior idoes not show up or fails to abide by the 3am curfew, the other women in the dormitory are obligated to report the infraction to the dormitory president.
Added to the 1965 "A Pocketful of Rules" guidebook is the proper dress attire for Dickinson's dining hall. Women were required to wear "hose and heels" as well as "skirts and blouses." Men were required to wear slacks, dress shirt, tie, and coat.