Microcosm

In a 1990 interview, Christine Crist (Class of 1946) explains the presence of Varga Girls in a yearbook from the World War II period. Artists drew pin-up girls, and Varga girls were "a little bit more classy than Petty Girls." According to Crist, some servicement might hang a calendar of Varga Girls in their tents. The section for Varga Girls in the yearbook probably referred to campus beauties, perhaps selected by the Varga artist himself. The female students were then photographed in evening gowns for the yearbook.

In an interview with Christine Crist (Class of 1946), the Dickinson graduate describes life at Dickinson College when a majority of the male students left for World War II. She guesses that the ratio of men to women prior to the war was five-to-one and reports that, in 1943, "the heart of the student body was picked up." In 1945, 11 men and 41 women graduated from Dickinson College, reflecting the male-to-female ratio after the war began.

Seven senior women were tapped to become members of the Wheel and Chain, a local society honoring women with outstanding scholarship, leadership, and service to the college.  The "blue hats" tapped for membership for 1959-1960 include Sandra Deichler, president; Nancy Cross, Marjorie Crowley, Dottie Lee Gayner, Elizabeth Griffith, Merle Tegtmeier, and Carolyn Wherly.   "Blue Hats" serve the college by maintaining a freshman orientation program, mediating between the administration and women students, and promoting an Honor Code on campus. 

Women's sports at Dickinson during 1961 fell under 2 categories: varsity or intramural. Varsity sports included hockey and tennis; whereas intramurals held a wider variety: class volleyball, basketball, bowling, sorority basketball and softball.

The hockey team's record under coach Mrs. Barber was 1-6 and the prospects for tennis looked promising. In regards to intramural class sports, seniors took two titles this year: volleyball and basketball.

"Dreams and Realities" was a poem published in the Microcosm in 1890. It outlines the tale of a female Dickinsonian who leaves her home and "beau" in the country to pursue an education at Dickinson College. After arriving on campus, the female student is struck by the academic and social cultures at Dickinson. In particular, she is torn between her boyfriend at home and the male students she meets at Dickinson College. However, as the years pass, she finds that she was disillusioned by the grandeur of the institution and longs for home.

Published in the 1890 Microcosm, “Co-Education” describes the introduction of coeducation at Dickinson College.  The author of the piece asserts that coeducation at Dickinson was a direct result of the Methodist influence at the school and women’s participation within that church.  Thus, female students were accepted to the college on the same terms and with the same privileges of their male counterparts. Moreover, the author of the piece adds that the women at Dickinson contributed  to the beauty of the campus.