Humor

The 1907 Microcosm records this fictitious event of the Sophomore class hazing the Freshman, both male and female. The Freshman co-eds had thrown a reception for the male Freshman earlier in the night. When the Freshman, both male and female collectively, had returned to their dorms, they were greeted by the Sophomores upon return. At Lloyd Hall, the Sophomore co-eds had bought fly paper and rough-housed with the girls in general. The entire Sophomore class was then brought before the "Faculty Committee on Discipline" for their actions.

"Queenie's Balm for Lovers" is a whimsical piece about dating questions fellow Dickinsonians might have. One of the questions is about a man who has fallen in love with a fellow co-ed student that is in all of his classes, but does not know how to approach her. Another question is about co-ed romance, except this time the man has too many co-eds that like him. In total, he has 8 co-eds that are after his affections and is confused on how to choose the right one for him. These and other questions on such "tangled love affairs" are answered by a said "Queenie".

The Microcosm has a section where they document some of the great and humorous quotes classmates have heard in the classroom. One of the quotes printed dealt with co-education. The one male student had inquired about the reason why people come to college, that they are to "be made men of, of course?" The second male then answers him, "How about the co-eds?"

The Microcosm writes a list of the top 16 reasons why parents should send their sons to Dickinson. One of the reasons is because of the co-eds on campus for "all lovers of beauty can find ample chance for gratification...at the co-ed house, situated very close to the campus." And because women are "admitted to all privileges of the college" it means that good society is "thus insured."

A comic strip published in the Microcosm depicts a man's lament at the complications of dating at Dickinson. The 4 scenes show the man getting ready to visit his lover and how he wants to be close to her, but because of formal rules they have to be chaperoned by a Mrs. Love and have to distance themselves.

The "Encyclopaedia Collegia" is a humorous and fictitious part of the Microcosm that defines common words in their own way. In this Microcosm, this section defines a "co-ed" as being a bird "similar to the mermaid" with a voice "usually soft and fluffy, but in some species resembles that of a screech owl." They are a "species" that apparently is friendly to man, but can inflict a "fatal wound, always in the heart" and many wonder if it "can be tamed." 

"Betsy" was a poem written in the Microcosm basically about a male student's infatuation with a fellow female Chemistry classmate. When "Betsy" comes into his Chemistry class, he falls in love with her and tries to "woo" her, but she is too shy and distant to take notice. This poem is representative of the male and female romances that sprung from both having class together. There was possibly one girl, Elizabeth "Bessie" or "Betsy" Armstrong who was often noted as enjoying scientific labs that this poem could have been written about.

The "Hen House Geometry" is a literary piece of "axioms, definitions, etc" published in the Microcosm poking fun at mathematics and females. There are thirteen statements in total; an example of one geometric equation is that "the sum of all co-eds equals infinity."  Another clever example is that a "co-ed's smile may be produced any number of times."

In a piece titled, "Dickinson Fifty Years From Now," the Microcosm wonders about what the future has in store for Dickinson College. The writer depicts the story as an Alumnus from 1905 coming to the college with his grandson, who is a member of the class of 1955. One of the most significant things the writer mentions about the year 1955 is how the "co-eds" have changed. They now live in a bigger home, with an adjoining gymnasium built into it. This gymnasium is now full of "dumb-bells...chest weights and rowing-machines and vaulting bars..." and this equipment is only for the women's use.

"A Leaf from the Diary of Darwin's Spirit" is a humorous poem written by H. Curran Wilbur for the 1902 Microcosm. Basically, Curran is writing as if he is Darwin observing the curious case of female students at college. He claims to have found "another product of evolutionary law...the "Co-ed" with her mortarboard and gown." Co-eds are a strange case to him because they are "supposed to be a woman, but it looks more like a man.