Microcosm

Women’s athletics at Dickinson underwent a shift with the coming of new athletic coordinator, Mary G, Rehfuss during the 1934-35 academic year.  Under her direction, women’s sports like basketball, tennis, hockey and archery continued with their popularity while new activities like tumbling, tap dancing, volleyball, hiking and bowling attracted interest.  She implemented a new athletic program where emphasis was “placed on the correction of physical defects or deficiencies among women.”  Despite how negative this may sound, female participation in athletics seemed to flourish during this ti

In addition to the noting of two male exchange students, the 1935 edition of the Microcosm documents Janine Morillot’s enrollment in the junior class at Dickinson College.  Morillot was a “valuable addition” to the student body and was “eager to learn everything she possibly could about this country and more especially about [the] College.”  The issue of the Microcosm also documents the date of her unfortunate passing, April 26, 1935, shortly after graduating from Lycee Fenelon.

Female student Minnie Zilch has a satirical article published in the 1934 edition of Dickinson’s Microcosm.  Zilch writes with a keen sarcastic wit and in her article, lists seven humorous reasons why she decided to attend Dickinson College.

The 1900 Microcosm was the first year to show women participating in the Gamma Literary Society. This literary society is special to the Preparatory School and included four female members. No further information is known about the society.

The Dickinson School of Law in the 1900s Microcosm mentions that Sara Marvel, the first woman to be studying law there.

According to the 1899 Microcosm, Sara Marvel is the first woman to attend the Dickinson School of Law. She not only attended the law school, but also served as the Junior Class secretary.

The 'Third Floor Disturbance Club' is a fabricated organization by the Microcosm that meant to poke fun at some of the femles living in Ladies' Hall. According to the Microcosm, the ladies are to meet anytime from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. and are expected to discuss and gossip about the goings-on at the college. The author then goes on to tease the 6 committee members stating what comittee they represent.

"The Soul of the Violet or Soliloquy of a Co-ed" is a poem written in the 1900 Microcosm about unrequited love. It is written from the perspective of the woman, whose love was not returned from the man she loves and so is forever haunted by the flowers he had once given her. All day she thinks about the violets, even when she must "muse in drear Ladies' Hall", she is constantly reminded.

The 1900 Microcosm humorously writes a piece about the top ten reasons why parents should send their daughters to Dickinson. Some examples of reasons for women to study at Dickinson are that, "nobody knows where Dickinson is...therefore [it is] an excellent place for girls not studiously inclined", "no one is allowed to study or be silent in the girls study hall for more than five seconds at a time. Singing and dancing are especially encouraged", and that "several members of the faculty are still young and unfettered.

In an editorial opinion and comment section of the Microcosm, co-education was amongst many of the diverse topics written about. The author argued about the value of co-education to society, arguing against the education of women alongside men. He felt that educating women has developed the idea of "women's rights clubs, mothers' protective unions, female temperance, political and religious agitators" that is only hurting society.