Browse by Date

Patsy Hitchens Shaver (Class of 1964) became the first woman inducted into the Dickinson College Sports Hall of Fame on February 18, 1978.  Whille a student, she played tennis for four years, field hockey for three years, and was a member of the cheerleading squad for four years.  Her tennis singles record was 22-2, and her doubles record was 16-1. 

The constitution of the Dickinson College Women's Track and Field Club establishes the club as an organization open to women in the college community interested in participation in competitive track and field events. According to the constitution, the club formed "in response to the growing number of women taking an interest in track and field." The constitution outlines the duties of the officers and electoral and organizational procedures.

The Prime Minister of the Congress of African Students, Robin Wilson,  wrote a formal letter to the President of Phi Kappa Sigma, Steve Persichetti, voicing concern, or outrage rather, at a poster advertising a Phi Kap event with “racist and stereotypic overtones.”  Writing on the behalf of the entire Congress, Wilson spoke out against the “insensitivity and degrading” nature of the poster in hopes of increasing sensitivity and consciousness of Black awareness within the Dickinson College community.

In response to a ruling by the Inter-Fraternity Council, women were encouraged to boycott the quad area, which at this time was home to the fraternities.  In their ruling, the IFC stated that it was restricting the "social participation within the Quad to fraternity residents, women and freshmen," thus excluding non-Greek men.  Posters, such as this one, were placed around campus, urging women to boycott the quad due to the IFC's unfair ruling.

After thriving on Dickinson’s campus for twelve years, the women of Alpha Delta Epsilon saw that a change was needed and looked for “the support which could be found in a national organization." A letter offering information about Dickinson College and Alpha Delta Epsilon was sent to nine different national organizations by the Associate Dean for Special Programs, Mary Watson Carson.

 

As a further elaboration on her "Women as Leaders" survey, a female graduate reminisces on some mischief she participated in on campus. She remembers sunbathing on the Drayer roof, crawling out of Drayer's basement windows after hours, climbing into the Denny bell tower at night and climbing onto the roof of the library when it was under construction. She also remembers "going to that funny monument between Adams Hall and the Law School to do silly things" as well as "sitting in boxcars on the railroad" near the Biddle Field."

In her 1979 Women as Leaders Survey sent out by Dickinson College, a graduate of 1923 remembers her days at Dickinson. When asked about the issues of the day, the alum remembers, "our topic of debate was the Equal Rights Amendment."

She goes on to recall the anger at there being two senates: a women's and a school senate run by men. To protest the issue, a group of women attended the men's senate.

In one of the responses from the "Women as Leaders Survey" from 1979, a female graduate of the class of 1969 writes on her experiences with Greek Life at Dickinson. She mentions that social life at Dickinson could be restrictive in forming relationships with people because "people were stereotyped...in those years (frat vs.

A female Dickinson graduate comments in the "Women as Leaders" survey about the academic caliber of the students at Dickinson. She had always felt that the women in her classes and the classes around hers, "were superior to the men in talent." However, the "men dominated the visible offices easily" and they outnumbered the women, such as in her graduating class there were 65-70 women out of 200 or more students. The college did attract a "high calibre of women" but she never had an overwhelmingly high regard for the "academic prowess of the men."

A female graduate of the class of 1969 elaborated about her physical education experiences at Dickinson in her "Women as Leaders" survey. While at Dickinson, she participated in Field Hockey out on Biddle Field, which she commented that it seemed much too far away for them. The graduate also had a squash class that was in the courts that were attached to the math building that "had a lump in the floor. She had a square dancing class in the gymnasium and golf on the lawn near Drayer.

In her "Women as Leaders" survey response, a female Dickinsonian remembers how the Dickinson experience was for her. Being only one of two African American women on the campus, she felt that her social life was restricted. She remembered the two other African American students on campus, Judy Rogers and Skip (Everett) Hewlett.

A female graduate from the class of 1962 reminisces about her time playing sports at Dickinson College in the "Women as Leaders" survey. While commenting upon her physical education experience, she remembered that she enjoyed playing on the Red and White basketball team. She enjoyed the several trips the team made each winter. Unfortunately, the team "never practiced or were coached as a unit" because women's sports were not taken very seriously.

In her "Women as Leaders" survey, a female member of the class of 1961 describes the living conditions for the women while she studied at Dickinson. She felt they were "excellent, with variety available." The women had meals served to them, along with tablecloths, proper "dressing" for meals, etc. She called mealtime "an oasis with close friends twice a day."

A female graduate of the class of 1965 remembers her involvement with the literary publications at Dickinson in her "Women as Leaders" survey. In addition to the Dickinsonian, she recalls another publication of a similar nature that appeared during her sophomore or junior years. It was a group known as the "neurotic nine" who wrote a parody of the daily paper. This unnamed paper was distributed on campus by boxes nailed to trees.

A female graduate of the class of 1964 discusses how athletics were treated at Dickinson in her "Women as Leaders" survey response. While at college, the student participated in Intramural Basketball and Volleyball, as well as Field Hockey. She remarked that "very limited emphasis" was placed on women's sports but that Dickinson in general always emphasized academics rather than athletics.

The pivotal events of the Vietnam War, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. as well as that of Robert Kennedy, was the foreground to the world events that welcomed the lives of Dickinson students during the decade of the 1960's. Having been an era of social, sexual and civil revolution, did not hinder the development and the rise of women as leaders on this campus. On the contrary the grand majority of women surveyed by Martha C.

From her time here at Dickinson, a female student of the class of 1961, recalls the restrictions women still faced on campus in the "Women as Leaders" survey. Women's social life was restrictive in that "Freshmen girls had to be in by 9:00 p.m. on weeknights, etc." The women's Freshmen dorms were also "terribly far away" from campus. Women's sports were also downplayed, which she experienced firsthand.

On Sunday April 8, 1979, in ATS, the Symbrinct Associates performed Ntozake Shange's choreopoem, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf."

 

The performance consisted of Seven Black women performing and dancing a book of poems to the sounds of Jazz. "The women speak, and tell stories of pain, of joy, of struggle, of coming of age as a black woman in America. Although the play addresses the emotionality of the black woman, it posseses a universal quality and delivers a message that can be understood and appreciated by all."

 

On August 8, 1979 the Black Alumni Association of Dickinson College sent out its first correspondance to Black alums. The letter begins triumphantly stating, "At last the Black Alumni Association of Dickinson College is a reality!"

 

Interesting to note is that the majority of the elected officers are women, including; Chairperson, Luci Duckson ('78), Secretary, Patricia Love ('74), Co-Treasurer, Dorothy P. Martin ('73), [Vincent Liser ('74) was the other Co-Treasurer], and Student Liason Officer, Patience Bonner ('82).

 

In the minutes recording for the first meeting of the Congress of African Students of Dickinson, an account of issues addressed during the meeting and introduction for new members is given.  During this meeting , which was the group’s first of the fall semester, each of the ministers on the board of the congress introduced themselves to new members and gave brief descriptions of their given ministries.  Of the seven ministers, five were black, female women.  Robin Wilson served as Prime Minister, Brenda Gordy as Minister of Culture and Education, Michelle Arter as Minister of Action, Patien

Andrea Allen, President of Panhel thanks Martha Slotten, librarian, for her slide show about the history of women at Dickinson. She writes: "Perhaps in another 10 to 20 years someone else will do a history on Dickinson women. I'll be proud to tell them of the wonderful female leaders that are (were) friends here at Dickinson."

The Women's Resource Center holds a party commerating Anya Cherkasova's 75th birthday.  Cherkasova was the first woman to walk across the United States.

Cara Lima wrote to Coach Jere Harbold expressing interest in Women's Track and Field. She ran track during junior high school but was unable to participate during high school due to the lack of a team. She writes that she is "willing to begin working hard now."

In a letter to Coach Harbold, Cyndi Lyn Olcott explains that she cannot attend the scheduled meeting and that she is prohibited from participating in Women's Track and Field until the second week of January. "If my injuries don't prevail," she writes, "I'll be out on the track more psyched than ever."

The Dickinson Women's Rugby Club constitution establishes the purpose, membership criteria, and rules and procedures for the club. Open to women of the Dickinson community, the club's purpose is "to organize and  play the game of rugby." The club required fees at the beginning of each season. Officers of the club included Co-presidents Cindy Halpern and Elizabeth King, Match Secretary Bambi Stambaugh, Treasurer Elizabeth Arnold, Membership Secretary Suki Onorato, Social Secretary Jodi Hakes, Fixture Secretaries Phyllis Graziadei and Donna Cassidy, and the club's advisor Leon Fitts.

This photo depicts the Sexuality Resource Group, circa 1980. The women in the photo are not identified.

An article in the Dickinsonian announces that the local Alpha Delta Epsilon sorority voted to affiliate with the national sorority Gamma Phi Beta. The group was to be a colony as of February 9 and initiated as the Delta Rho chapter to the international sorority in May of 1980. The former President of ADE, Peggy Silberthau, said that the group was “looking for more structure, support, and guidance from a strong organization which could also offer us advisors and active alumni support” and which they ultimately found in Gamma Phi Beta.

Speech by Chaplain Mary Anne Morefield, likely the concluding remarks she gave at the Women's Leadership Conference on March 29, 1980.  Discusses the women's inequality in the work force and in the home.  Recommends that "the Dickinson community of women" become more alert to stereotypes and language used regarding women, but also to "begin to allow yourselves new dreams and visions for today and for the future."

An invitation to the second annual Dickinson College Women's Leadership Conference, entitled "Women: Progress in the 80's."  The program, held at the Bernard Center for the Humanities, is sponsored by the Pan Hellenic Council, the Internship Office, Student Senate, Student Services, and the Commission on the Status of Women.  Speakers include Sylvia Rambo (keynote address), Barbara Bagri ("Women in the Arts"), Bonna Coulter ("Women in Medicine"), Denise Dwight ("What about the future?"), Martha Lester (Women in Media), Cynthia Nixon-Hudson ("Women, Education, and the Arts"), Rita Clark ("Wo

On Friday, April 4, 1980, a student talent show held in ATS featured talent from women students Frances Fernandez (presenting a welcome speech and acting as the mistress of ceremonies), Patience Bonner (performing a piano solo), Pamela Foster (performing a reading), Michelle Arter (presenting a dance solo) and Linda Fisher (performing a solo).

On Monday March 31, 1980 at 8:00pm, celebrated Soprano artist Gwendolyn Bradley performed in ATS for the Congress of African Student's 11th Annual Black Arts Festival. Bradley had previously sung with the Central City Opera, Opera/South, the Cleveland Opera, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. She had been a soloist for the Kansas City Philharmonic, the Charleston Symphony, Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and Halle Orchestra (Germany).

In addition to her performance in ATS, Bradley led a workshop for the campus community at 3:00pm in Memorial Hall.

Talk to female freshmen students by Chaplain Mary Anne Morefield on "Being a Woman at Dickinson."  Briefly summarizes the history of coeducation and changes in the male-female balance of the college.  Argues "that though at present there are more females than males on the campus, the historic maleness of the tradition outweigh the reality of the present situation."  Discusses the significance of the using the term "feminist" to describe oneself, the use of "girls" to describe female students, the influence of the fraternity system on campus, and guidelines from Ms.

Sponsored by the Congress of African Students (CAS), the 3rd Annual Black Student Union Conference was held at Dickinson on September 27, 1980.

The Conference's keynote speaker was Dr. Marion Oliver, who spoke on the topic of "1980's: Challenge to Succeed" in the Social Hall. After Dr. Oliver's address, attendees of the Conference broke off into small discussion groups, ate a buffet dinner, and then had a "Disco" as a closing social event.

As the second article in a four-part series that deal with the status of women at Dickinson, this article discussed campus-affiliated organizations.The President's Commission on the Status of Women at Dickinson College had decided that Greek Life is most likely harming women's experiences at Dickinson and the atmosphere it creates allows for a "poor preparation for the kinds of relationships among women and men that they will face after College." The Women's Commission raised some important questions on Greek organizations, such as should Dickinson have Greek Life?

Christina Bartolomeo writes an article for The Dickinson College Magazine in the May issue of the publication about the state of women on campus. In her article she includes several interviews from various women on campus, many of whom say that the status of women is discouraging.

According to a petition by the Women's Track and Field Club for elevation to intercollegiate team status, the club was formed during the 1980 season. The petition juxtaposes the lack of the club's intercollegiate team status to the speed with which the Women's Cross Country Club went intercollegiate: formed in 1979, it competed in the intercollegiate capacity during the 1980 and 1981 season. As a club, Women's Track and Field had access to equipment and coaching "only through the good graces of the men's team," which was already in existence.

At the conclusion of its letter petitioning for intercollegiate team status, the Women's Track and Field Club proposed three budget options. The first outlined a minimal budget without food, awards, or travel expenses; the second a moderate program after the model of the men's team; and the third a "high quality program separate from but equal to the men's program." The club cited the existing economic environment as the impetus behind its recommendation of the second program.

1980s Physical Education Offering for Women, Slimnastics.

After the Women's Track and Field Club's first petition in 1981, David L. Watkins, the chairman of the Department of Physical Education, wrote to Comptroller Robert W. Belyea in 1982 urging the club's elevation to intercollegiate team status. He writes that women students have participated in the Track and Field Club for five years and have conducted "a quality program." He argues that creating this women's team would allow the college to offer nine intercollegiate sports for women in comparison to the ten for men.

Dr. Letty M. Russell, of Yale Divinity School, writes to Chaplain Mary Anne Morefield about arrangements for Baccalaureate.  Dr. Russell will be the first woman speaker at Baccalaureate.  Her sermon title is "Nobody, Somebody, Nobody..." and is based on Pslam 8 and Luke 2:8-14.

On Sunday April 18, 1982, renowned poet Nikki Giovanni performed in Memorial Hall for the Congress of African Students's 12th Annual Black Arts Festival. The theme that year was "Expressions in Black."

"Writer, poet, recording artist and journalist is often referred to as the Princess of Black Poetry. Her works are collected experiences of being Black, being a woman, a mother, a person."

The August 1982 edition of the Alumni Magazine dicussed female Dickinsonian's roles within society. According to the author's study "Dickinson women prove to be non-traditional" and often have careers, stay single longer, and wait to have children. Thus the author contends, Dickinson alumnae's participation in the labor force is higher than the average American woman.

Kristy Sutherland, '83, and Donna Yoder, '83 happily stand together in front of Dickinson's library, reading a magazine as the camera looks on.

The 1982 constitution for the Woman's Soccer Club (later the Women's Soccer Club) establishes the purpose of the club "to stimulate interest in, and give females a chance to play the sport of soccer on an organized basis." According to the constitution, members were required to pay dues at the beginning of each semester.

In November 1982, Women Helping Other Women (W.H.O.W.) compiled their constitution. W.H.O.W. worked to support women leaders on campus. Moreover, W.H.O.W. held lectures, workshops, and other forms of programming in order to make "men and women on this campus more aware."

The organization was open to the entire female campus. The names of the organization officers and the day in which weekly meeteings were held are included in the document.

The Women's Center Board Minutes for February 23, 1983 mainly discuss upcoming events and tasks to be completed. The Minutes display that final plans were made for the opening of the Women's Center, which is to be on March 5th at 2:30 p.m. A list is included of all the miscellaneous objects and food needed for the opening of the center.

The Women's Track and Field yearbook from 1983 highlights the accomplishments of the team for the season. Under captains Sue Berg, Elizabeth Garten, and Linda Reinman, the team had an overall record of three wins and six losses and a Mid-Atlantic Conference record of three wins and six losses. Freshman Jennifer Kulp, the 1983 MVP for the team, performed outstandingly in high jump, long jump, hurdles, and the 400-yard relay.

Included as the last page of the Women's Track and Field yearbook for 1983 is list of the names and contact information for the female athletes. The page is entitled "Let us keep in touch..." and lists all 24 members of the team, including the captains and MVP Jennifer Kulp.

The members of the student feminist organization, E.F.F.O.R.T. (Equality for Females: Our Rights Today), planned to hold the Second Annual Women's Party in the Drayer Lounge on Friday, April 15.  The purpose of the party was "to create more unity among women" at Dickinson. The program included a reading about the unity of women and music provided by students Lori McCreary and Melanie Lowe.  According to this Dickinsonian article, E.F.F.O.R.T. was a student group established in the Fall of 1981 by Pat Carter as "an activist group that would investigate the role of women . . .

Written by Martha Slotten, this history of Metzger explains the building's early beginnings as a Prep School for Girls. After Drayer was built in the early 1950s, only freshman girls lived in Metzger until it was sold in 1963 and later dismantled. The completion of Drayer offered a local housing option for female students who would no longer have to walk many blocks to classes.