Sexual behavior

Founded in the early 2000s, AIDS Awareness in Dickinson Society (A.A.I.D.S.) sought to promote AIDS awareness through education and activism. According to their constitution "The Purpose of A.A.I.D.S. is to provide the community with the realities of AIDS and its impact on the world. This organization is the first student group to offer such contributions to the college community." A.A.I.D.S. was not affiliated with any other campus group.

In her essay "Women at Dickinson College", Dean Meredith discussed dating, dances, and chaperonage at Dickinson College. She explained, "The college is sometimes criticized because boys and girls are together socially so much. Other criticism is not just but it is somewhat merited. About 8 couples can be so conspicuous that they give the college an unenviable reputation." Meredith argued that it is easier to control the relationships if the woman lived in Metzger, however, it was much more difficult to control commuters.

In this section of her essay, Dean Meredith examined the conditions for study at Dickinson College. She had two main concerns about the conditions in the 1930s. First, Meredith is concerend with women dating. She explained that  commuters tend to come into town early and leave late now that they all have cars. This allows them to socialize and date unsupervised. Likewise, Meredith is concerned about Metzger Hall women dating as well. She explained, "Metzger girls spend their afternoon and other spare time about as day students do.

In her report "Women at Dickinson College," Dean Josaphine B. Meredith discusses women's health in a section entitled "Health." She explained that there had not been a single serious illness in years as she is sure to send any sick women home or to the doctor as soon as she saw symptoms. Moreover, Dean Meredith advocated for a Women's Hygiene Program at Dickinson College. She wrote that "The girls need a course in Hygiene to supplement their physical training. The Physical  Tr. teacher has plenty of time for it.

This image was created by Charles Beetem (class of 1904), circa 1900. The drawing depicts a female Dickinsonian thinking about different Dickinson men.

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.

This essay by Dean Meredith outlined the problems faced when women attended fraternity dances. She argued that such dances were chaperoned however, before and after the dance was not. Often women would to travel to such events and it was impossible to watch them all the time. Thus, improper behavior occured between men and women.

In a letter to Dean Filler, Dean Meredith explained the College's policy on female students' relations with men of the War College. According to Dean Meredith, the female students often go to the War College to entertain the soldiers. However, there is a strict rule that prohibits women from "entertaining a young man not of the student body without special permission from the Dean of Women." She further explains that such a ruling is not "against the Uniform" but rather against a "chance acquaintance."

 

 

In a letter addressed to Dean Meredith, an unidentified woman discussed the rules regarding dance chapersones. The woman argued that the female staff of the college must chaperone the dances. They will take turns doing so and must be notified by the organization or indivdual hosting the dance. Morevoer, she argues that women who do not live in Metzger Hall should be subject to the same rules as the women living on campus. She suggests that their parents could be notified and should enforce such rules.

In a letter to President Morgan, Dean Meredith explained how she prohibited the women of Dickinson College from attending the Leap Year Dance. According to the letter, the dance was not held on Dickinson College's campus and was in the evening. For these reasons, Dean Meredith opposed the event. In the end, Miss. Mildred Conklin (Class of 1920) spoke with the women and they decided not to go and hold to the rules of the Student Government.