Curriculum

This article by Features Editor Ken Ross comments that “Although
the campus itself continues to improve with age, now is the time for ‘real’
social change at the College.” Ross brings up such issues as the lack of availability
of condoms on campus (except when the Health Center is open), the scarcity of ‘alternative’
(alcohol-free) activities on campus and the situation of women on campus. He
says:

A portrait taken the year of her retirement, Mary Buckley Taintor joined the Dickinson faculty in 1928 after receiving her B.A. from Ripon College in 1911, her M.A. from both Ripon and Stanford in 1915 and 1918 respectfully. She also taught French as a member of the Ripon College faculty in 1919.  She studied at Oxford University, at the Sorbonne in Paris, at the University of Grenoble in France, the University of Chicago, Columbia University, and the American Classical School in Rome.

Jane Shenton, an alumnus from 1911, comments upon the required courses for the 1955 Alumni Questionnaire. Even though at the time Jane Shenton complained about the required courses, looking back she remains grateful for taking courses that were out of her line of interest. She was required to take a year of math, philosophy, two laboratory sciences-biology and either chemistry or physics and political science.

Mary A. Ranck, 1907 alumni, recalls her memories on Dickinson College in the 1955 Alumni Questionnaire. Mary Ranck remembers the German Professor, William Prettyman, urged her "to do advanced work in German," which she did while studyting at the University of Berlin in Germany. In 1914, Mary Ranck received an A. B. in German and in 1924 she received an A. B. in History and a teaching degree from Columbia University. She also remembers the Misses Morgan, McIntyre and Mohler who had "a very splendid influence on us girls" due to their "excellent talks at our Y. W. C. A.

Kathryn Kerr, a 1902 graduate, remarks upon her time at Dickinson in the 1955 Alumni questionnaire. She felt that the college's greatest strength was the "moral integrity of the members of the faculty." Ever since graduating from Dickinson, Kathryn Kerr had been an active member in the religious community as well as staying informed about politics and current events. Both Kathryn Kerr and her husband, Rev. Elmer Williams a 1904 graduate, have "always felt much indebted to Dickinson."

From the 1955 Alumni Questionnaire sent out by the Curriculum Committee, Mary Lou Sheets, an alumna from 1901, fondly recalls Dickinson memories. The greatest strength of the college, to Mary Lou Sheets, was the faculty who were "wonderful men in every respect and great teachers all of whom I remember with sincere admiration and love." On a more negative note, Mary Lou felt that the college's  emphasis on extra-curricular activities has been too great and that the college's present emphasis on vocational preparation is too slight.

In 1955, the Curriculum Committee sent out an Alumni Questionnaire for the graduates from the years 1885-1957. Out of the 7,000 questionnaires that were sent out, only 1,050 or about 15% were returned. The President of the College, William W. Edel, asked for favorable or unfavorable responses, based on the varied experiences of all the alumni of the college, in order to get the most truthful evidence on what needs to be done for the college's improvement.

This pamphlet highlights the many rules governing Dickinson students regarding attendance, including special rules and penalties. Class could only be missed for chapel or medical necessities, either due to illness or prearranged for appointments. Demerits were received for skipped classes and being late, even for Physical Education classes. Every unexcused absense was worth 5 demerits, but that was doubled if it was the day before or following a holiday break.

Women's Studies becomes a major/minor program, not just a certificate (it had been since 1991). "Men don't know what it means to be marginazlied. If we are the make this world a better place for all people men must learn about the role of male dominance in oppression and injustice and learn what they can do to change that oppression."

Introduction to Womens Studies class with Stephanie Larson. Students Julie Song and Heather Pomeroy study a book called "The Lenses of Gender."