Dean Meredith's Resignation

Winona Mensch Gray (Class of 1948) admits in an interview that she helped to instigate Dean of Women Josephine B. Meredith's resignation. Gray recalls that Meredith resigned during her sophomore year (1946). According to Gray, Dean Meredith was strict--her father and husband had both been Methodist ministers--and forbade female students from activities on Sunday. Gray describes one incident when the dean chastised her for whistling while doing laundry, saying that whistling "wasn't lady-like." Gray explains that the students had a torch light parade as part of a movement to force the dean to retire. Dean Norcross replaced Dean Meredith.