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In his response to Dean of Women Mary Watson Carson, Alumni Trustee Vincent Schafmeister says of the Social Opinion Survey of the Women's Group, "sort of shakes up an old, stuffy conservative such as I." He declines the dean's offer to put him into contact with members of the group in order to determine their objectives, saying he is more interested in the role of the Office of Student Services in encouraging this organization. He references the "frightful negatives" and the suffering of the college as consequences of this kind of encouragement.

President Howard L. Rubendall responds to Vincent Schafmeister's second letter of March 23 on behalf of Mary Frances Carson. Rubendall does not specifically cite the Social Opinion Survey or the Women's Group in his response, instead writing that Schafmeister's choice to inform the President of the Board of Trustees about his concerns was "most appropriate."

The Women's Group drafted a proposal for the hiring of a gynecologist "to serve in the Health Center at least once a week." They sent it to President Howard L. Rubendall for action by the college administration. The Women's Group ascertained from the 39 percent response they received from their questionnaires that 40 percent of the women surveyed currently used birth control and 28 percent had used the Family Planning Clinics in Carlisle or Harrisburg.

The president of the Board of Trustees, Samuel W. Witwer, wrote to the president of the College, Howard L. Rubendall, in regards to the Women's Group "Social Opinion Survey." Witwer had heard complaints about the survey but had ignored them until he received a copy of the questionnaire. He referred to the survey as "cheap, tawdry, ill mannered, and bad taste [sic]." He suggests that members of the Women's Group "must be totally preoccupied with matters of sex." He insists that the College does not permit a wide variety of sexual conduct.

Paul E. Kaylor reported his meeting with Dean Mary Carson regarding the Women's Group Social Opinion Survey in a memorandum to President Howard L. Rubendall. Kaylor gives the background of the Women's Group, stating that students "not normally in the 'mainstream' of campus life" formed it the previous year. As a student organization, the group does not fall under rigid administrative control, though, according to Kaylor, the administration had been working to channel the group's efforts.

President of the College Howard L. Rubendall responded to Samuel W. Witwer's letter in regards to the Social Opinion Survey of the Women's Group. He assures Witwer that Dean of Women Mary F. Carson had nothing to do with the survey and was offended by it. He adds that the Women's Group is not part of the mainstream or the sorority group at Dickinson College and was considered by peers to be "stupid and ridiculous." The president also tells the story of a Commencement speaker who inquired after the presence of the Women's Liberation Movement on campus.

Serving as Coordinator of Women's Programs, Pam McFarland was assigned a position as one of the two resident interns at Dickinson College. Working with several administrators during the day, McFarland also had an opportunity to attend graduate school at Shippensburg in the evenings. At Dickinson College her duties included arranging the schedule of speakers, workshops,as well as films for women on campus. Some of the events and ideas included:

-Showing and the discussing the movie "Growing Up Female," which traced the socialization of women.

During the weekend of October 5-8th of 1972, a College symposium entitle "Voices of Today's Woman" took place. The committee composed of the Dean of Women Mary Watson Carson, Pam McFarland, who was a graduate intern at the College, and a group of women students planned a diverse program consisting of a play, panel discussions, guest speakers and get-togethers.

During the dedication of the Charles Nisbet Campus on September 15th, 1972, Dr. Martin Meyerson was one of the speakers invited. Dr. Meyerson who was a renowned educator,an authority on urban affairs and president of the University of Pennsylvania led a lecture on a topic of "The Proper Study of Womankind." He offered a brief history of the female in society from Eve's time through the 1970's, emphasizing the often passive role of a woman. Dr. Meyerson emphasized the question of whether or not colleges and universities have had a special responsibility to their female students.

"Recommendations and Report on the Status of Women in the Academic Profession at Dickinson College" documents the information from a survey done from 1962 to 1972, which included a study of student enrollment during those years. In these ten years, female enrollment increased from 33.3 % to 43.2 %. On the other hand, male enrollment had increased as well. The downside to this information was that there was an increase of female students, but no increase in female faculty.

Data from a survey done from 1962 to 1972 about Dickinson College faculty revealed information about female faculty in the "Recommendations and Report on the Status of Women in the Academic Profession at Dickinson College" document. They discovered some interesting results, both positive and negative. Some negative aspects found from the survey were that women were underrepresented on the faculty, in the upper professional ranks and on the standing committees of the faculty.

Mary Ames Raffensperger, M.D. and C. DeLores Tucker were main speakers at "Voices of Today's Woman," a special seminar devoted specifically to women. Dr.Raffensperger was a Coordinator of Rehabilative Services of Childrens' Hospital of Philadelphia and Associate Professor of Pediatrics of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Ms. Raffensperger was also a Trustee of the College, where she received the honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1965.

Honorable C. DeLores Tucker, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1972 was the main speaker in "Voices of Today's Women" Seminar. Her address was, "Where Do We Go From Here? An Appraisal of the Expanding Role of Women in the 1970's?" was given on Friday, October 6th in the Social Hall. Ms. Tucker was the first Black woman ever named to a Cabinet post in Pennsylvania and was the highest ranking Black woman in the state government in the country at the time. She was also the first Black vice-chairman of the Democratic State Party.

In 1972 on October 5, 6 and 8, Dickinson held a seminar on women in
coordination with the Bicentennial Homecoming the same weekend.  The
seminar was "designed to examine the political, educational, legal, and
social conditions in our society which sometimes tend to reduce women's
participation as full partners with men in many aspects of life."  It was the first seminar on women ever held at Dickinson
and included a play by the Mermaid Players, speeches, workshops and
exhibits.  C. Delores Tucker, Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, was the major speaker. 

A photo of Homecoming Queen candidates is posted in the issue of Dickinsonian. Surprisingly a male, Philip Cohen, representing the Women's Group was running as a candidate.

The other candidates were:

-Nancy Wells(Kappa Sigma)

-Phillip Cohen(Women's Group)

-Sherry Allshouse(Adams Hall)

-Brenda Liebowitz(SAE)

-Kate Wilhelm(Phi Delt)

-Susie Martin(Phi Psi)

-Charlene Vees(Phi Ep)

-Connie Pifer(Theta Chi)

-Evelyn Reback(Sigma Chi)

-Sandy Smith(Crow)

-Penney Ross(Beta)

An article printed in the Dickinsonian discusses the history of women at Dickinson College. From the first acceptance of a woman as a student and female professors being admitted under the faculty status, to the celebrations and workshops, "Voices of Today's Woman," taking place the weekend of October 6th, 1972 in celebrating the changes that have been made.

Pi Beta Phi won the President's Cup as the outstanding fraternal organization in the first year sororities were able to enter. Their victory was announced during the Homecoming Football Game in October of 1972. At the same time, the women from Drayer basement pulled off the traditional Homecoming prank and kidnapping of the duplicate mermaid which was located on the cupola of Old West. Second floor of Malcolm Hall retaliated by taking the original from the May Morris room of the library.

In October of 1972 the American Association of University Professors unanimously adopted the "Recommendations and Report on the Status of Women in the Academic Profession" at Dickinson College. The primary questions concerned the number of women in decision-making roles to serve as models for the women students and the salaries of women in comparison to those of men with equal qualifications and responsibilities.

On November 10th, 1972, junior and senior women of the College had an opportunity to expand their knowledge of career opportunities for women by sponsering a trip to Washington Opportunities for Women (W.O.W.). Originally focusing on the jobs for women of low economic status, the W.O.W. bureau, a branch of the Department of Labor, extended its function to include career counseling for women of all ages and backgrounds.

Ms. Pam McFarland was the organizer of the trip, and 40 female students attended.

 

Candid shot of African American female students on Dickinson's campus, 1973. Dickinson College increases its diversity from the first woman to graduate in 1887, to the first known African American student graduating in 1901, and to the first known African American female student graduating in 1919.

This photo depicts the staff of Umoja, a publication printed by the Congress of African Students.

The last verse of the Alma Mater which used to include the lines "Men may come and men may go,...ever to thy sons a pride," was removed in February of 1973. Being that the college has been co-educational since Zatae Longsdorff entered the class of 1887 as a sophmore, the third verse of the Alma Mater exluded a large part of the College community. First and second verses of Alma Mater were sung at College ceremonies since the change has taken place by President Howard L. Rubendall.

The Commission on the Status of Women at the College formed four subcommittees to help investigate more deeply into several areas including recruitment and employment practices, attitude research, program and services, and community relations.

Professor Barbara McDonald, Commission chairwoman at the time, stressed the importance of the involvement of diverse individuals and any help offerred to the Commission will be appreciated.

This Progress Reports includes changes and plans to change College policy regarding female students. Most notably is the mention of the 1973 Spring semester and the success of the movements to "rescind the 'sex quota,' by action of the Board of Trustees, so that henceforth Dickinson College will strive for an approximate ratio of 1:1 in admissions of male and female students; and to omit singing at College functions the last verse of the Alma Mater, with its references to 'men' and 'sons.'"

According to the 1973 Woman's Newsletter, Dr. Barbara Varchol presented and discussed her work with students. Dr. Varchol's work focused on the areas of human sexuality, development of sexual identities, and "the ease or hang-ups persons between the ages 18-22 yrs of age encounter in communicating with people of the same and opposite sex and how it relates to the times we live in." The event was scheduled for September 25, 1973 in the HUB Social Hall.

In 1973, the Dickinson Woman's Newsletter reports that the film "Growing up Female: As Six Become One" was shown to the entire student body. The film focuses on "the way in which women are socialized bu showing the lives of six women of different ages and backgrounds." The film was shown Spetember 5, 1973 at the HUB social hall.

According to the Dickinson Woman's Newsletter in the fall of 1973 a viewing of "Lady Beware" was scheduled for female students. The viewing of this film was intended to educate women on rape, the ways to prevent and avoid danger, and finally techniques on self-defense.

This article from the Dickinsonian announces the hiring of the first female athletic trainer at Dickinson, Shelley Wright. According to the author of the article, Dickinson had been looking for a female athletic trainer for quite some time and was pleased that there was such a smooth transition.

The Dickinson Women’s Newsletter is a monthly issued pamphlet, published by The Advisory and Planning Committee on Women’s Programs at Dickinson College.  The January, ‘74 issue, documents an invaluable  trip that 40 female students took to Washington D.C. where they gained insight to the current job market, the “how-to’s” of finding a job, and specifically the opportunities for women in the Washington metropolitan area.  The dynamic staff at W.O.W.

Barbara Chaapel writes a reflection in the Dickinson Women’s Newsletter on what it means to her to be a “liberated” individual, and more specifically to be part of the Women’s Liberation Movement.  In her piece, she explores the stigma that is associated with being labeled a “woman’s libber” and says that for her, because she has “considered [herself] a liberated person long before the ‘movement’ brought her freedom to words, no change in dress or language will make her more or less liberated”.  “Liberation,” Chaapel argues, “is an attitude about oneself and something that every woman must

An article by  Pam McFarland in the Dickinson Women’s Newsletter reveals that women are wanted by the law.  The article reports a law school recruitment conference held in October at Syracuse University which was attended by 250 women.  There, women had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from nine different law schools including Stanford, New England School of Law, and Dickinson, among others, while information about testing and admissions was covered.  Panel discussions also took place at the conference; speakers included New York state Senator Carol Bellamy, Carol Libow, a partner at

Assistant professor of physical education, Katherine Barber, reveals her feelings about the practice of co-ed physical education classes in an interview.  Barber says that the idea is effective; “girls work harder to not bomb out in front of the guys [and] the men show up more.”  She also says that the situation is more interesting to teach in and that the program that is in use, is making athletics become appreciated.  However, Barber does mention surviving inequalities; men are provided with practice clothes and more liberty with athletic facilities while women are not.  Yet all in all, i

In an insert in the Dickinson Women's Newsletter entitled CURRENT COURSES, classes that seem to have some emphasis on women's studies are listed for interested students.  Courses include, Introduction to American Studies, Women as a Symbol, Women in Scandanavian Literature, Psychology and Religion, Contemporary People of Latin America, Population, and Relations Between Men and Women.

Thirty female Dickinson students attended a workshop at the Harrisburg Women’s Center entitled “Having Options as Women” on Saturday March 2, 1974, reports the Women’s Newsletter.  The goal of the workshop was to stimulate awareness and concern for women’s roles in the job market.  At the event, women were encouraged to strive for positions in decision or policy-making positions.  Resource women were available to speak with students on an individual basis at the workshop about developing many different skills to allow for the possibility of different career options.

The April issue of the Women’s Newsletter features an editorial regarding the armed forces and a panel discussion sponsored by Dickinson’s R.O.T.C.

Tara McCallum, in hopes of aiding in the movement towards creating black awareness on Dickinson's campus, contributed to the monthly publication, The Black Perspective, published by the Congress of African Students.  Her work appears in the April edition of the Perspective. McCallum has several creative poems published, all harkening back to the struggles of black individuals.

“On December 1, five Dickinson women attended a symposium in Newark, New Jersey, entitled ‘The Momentum of Women in Medicine,’” reports Kathy Rosen in the Women’s Newsletter.  The symposium was given by the American Medical Women’s Association of the New Jersey Medical School and gave pre-med women a closer look into the medical profession from the points of view of female doctors.  Rosen says the experience was “truly enlightening” and that many of their questions regarding the medical profession and life as a doctor were answered.

The Women’s Newsletter reports that Dickinson women have contributed in all three roles of patient, volunteer and staff, at the Family Planning Service in Carlisle.  Doneby Smith and Elizabeth Rice report on Dickinson’s involvement with the clinic and describe the unique services that practitioners at Family Planning provide, including pelvic and breast examinations, treatment of infections, if needed, information on birth control methods and the birth control of their choice.  Women who come to the clinic are entering a secure environment, where in addition to the services mentioned alread

The April issue of the Dickinson Women’s Newsletter calls for female voices to put on a dramatic reading for the college.  A program is being organized to showcase women’s expression, this expression being something that the author feels “women are working towards so desperately.”  A dramatic reading of Sylvia Plath’s piece, ‘Three Voices’ is to make up the second half of the program.  The article urges women to help with the program as readers, planners, and audience members.

Gail Tyson writes a brief narrative which is featured in the April issue of the Dickinson Woman’s Newsletter and asks whether Girl Scouting is relevant for girls and young women in today’s world.  Her story recounts the invaluable experience she had being a part of Girl Scouts.  She says that her involvement with the organization played a huge role in the development of young women, challenging them physically and emotionally.  Tyson says that her involvement with Scouting programs continues today, as she is a troop leader and she has daughters of her own that are scouts.  Tyson’s narrative

As an author, attorney, film editor, and feminist, Florynce Kennedy is a “catalyst to and for all women” and serves as “a symbol of women’s capacity to be agents for change.”  The Dickinson Women’s Newsletter announces that Kennedy will come to campus to speak in ATS on May 9, 1974.  “A dynamic spokesperson,” says the article, Kennedy has quite a reputation, “one of being inspirational, thought-provoking and identity-shaking for women students.”

In a reflective criticism about women’s political awareness in the Women’s Newsletter, Joan Eltonhead examines feminism at Dickinson.  As a transfer student, Eltonhead describes the feminist dynamic on Dickinson’s campus when she first arrived as seemingly non-existent, as there was no women’s group on campus.  She goes on to say that Dickinson women are reluctant to call themselves femenists and seem to find it easier “to maintain a traditional sex role … than to make a commitment to change.”  She advocates a women’s center at Dickinson and urges women to become more aware, ask more questi

In this report, the possibility of a Women's Center is mentioned. Opponents believed that this would be discrimination against men. While no center existed at the time, the Commission garnered its own bulletin board in the basement of Old West. , had an "open house" for its members and others, luncheons in HUB siderooms, and stressed the importance of getting all the Service Support Personnel who were women to be a part of the Commission.

In the middle of the spring 1976 semester, the Office of Student Services initiated a trial program of gynecological referal. The funding for the problem was limited so no services were provided by the school. The goal of this program was rather to find out what services women at Dickinson needed. They hoped to provide such car at the college in the future.

According to the April 9th, 1976 Dickinsonian, 21 female students would be moving into the fraternity quad in the fall of 1976. The women are independent, having no greek connection. The women hoped to change the college's current "social scene."

In June of 1976, Dickinson's Continuing Education Program, in cooperation
with the Department of Communications and Development, held a one day
seminar addressing estate planning, wills, the equal rights amendment,
joint tenancy, divorce and separation, and career placement, which
included seminars led by Jane Alexander, Bonnie Douglass Menaker and
John Munschauer.

The Spanish Club Constitution was written on October 19, 1976. The writers state that the purpose of the group is to

 

"provide the student with an added insight into the cultures of Spanish speaking peoples through films, speakers, cultural trips, and social means. It will also act as a source of information for students interested in continuing in the study of the language."

 

The constitution states that membership is open to any student with an interest in Spanish.

 

The first newsletter of the "revived" Women's Resource Center.  Includes articles by Jocelyn Daniels ("Protecting Ourselves Against Rape"), Ellen Palzer ("Assert Yourself!"), and Elizabeth Pincus ("Interesting Women in History - Zatae Longsdorff (Straw): First Woman Student at Dickinson").

Brochure for a mini-week program entitled "Your Health: A Matter of Life and Death!" that runs from January 30th to February 1st.  Sessions include "Improving Institutional Foods" (moderated by Priscilla Laws), "Depression/Stress and You" (Mary Ellen Rich), "Transitions--How to Deal with Loss" (James Rimmer), "Exercise and Physical Fitness" (Sandra Stitt and David Watkins), "Are You What You Eat?" (moderated by Silvine Marbury), "Your Sexuality, and Your Physical and Emotional Health" (Barbara Chaapel and John S.

The fourth newsletter of the Women's Resource Center.  The articles in this issue summarize the talks given during the Mini-Week series "Your Health: A Matter of Life and Death!" that they co-sponsored with the Office of Student Services.  Articles include "Campus Food Consciousness," "Depression and Stress: A Growth Process," "Death and Dying: How We Cope," "Physical Fitness and Awareness," "The Mini-Week: A Wealth of Knowledge," "Chaplain Reist on Sexuality," "Food Fiction," and "Too Sweet?" as well as a comment by Martha Aleo on the Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) and their