1980-1989

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 . . .

This article, published in the March 31, 1988 Dickinsonian, documents the first meeting of Gays and Lesbians at Dickinson College (GLAD). Headed by Karen Ruocco, the organization held its first meeting at the Women's Center on March 30th. The group provided "support for gays and lesbians" at Dickinson College. The organization also worked to educate the campus on issues effecting the gay/lesbian community.

In her 1984 research paper "The Presence of the Black American at Dickinson College from 1773 to the Present," Elaine Vivian Watson researched the influence of "Black America" upon Dickinson College. Her paper includes information on "unfamous firsts" at Dickinson as well as information on the Black Alumni Questionaire.

 

Some "Unfamous Firsts" Include:

 

1901: John Robert Paul Brock is the first black male student to graduate from Dickinson College.

 

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

This image depicts the Congress of African Students. Seated on the left is the Prime Minister Elaine Watson.

In her paper titled "The Women's Liberation Movement: It's History and It's Effects Upon the Faculty of Dickinson College" Eve M. Draeger analyzes the impact of the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970 upon Dickinson Faculty. For her paper Draeger interviewed a diverse group of Dickinson Professors.

In October 31, 1984, the Dickinsonian reported that Dickinson College celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Coeducation with the Metzger Series. The chairwomen of the annual Metzger Series decided to celebrate the anniversary by inviting four alumnae "from various walks of life" to talk about their post-college experience.

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.

A group of Dickinson students attempted to form a Korean Students Association in 1985. The members (their actual names are unknown at this point) stated the purpose of the group as follows:

1. Provide Korean culture and encourage Asian awareness on campus

2. Express Asian concern regarding minority affairs

3. Add a different dimension to minority awareness and involvement on campus

4. Provide a social and cultural outlet for Koreans on campus

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.