1970-1979

This Progress Reports includes changes and plans to change College policy regarding female students. Most notably is the mention of the 1973 Spring semester and the success of the movements to "rescind the 'sex quota,' by action of the Board of Trustees, so that henceforth Dickinson College will strive for an approximate ratio of 1:1 in admissions of male and female students; and to omit singing at College functions the last verse of the Alma Mater, with its references to 'men' and 'sons.'"

"Recommendations and Report on the Status of Women in the Academic Profession at Dickinson College" documents the information from a survey done from 1962 to 1972, which included a study of student enrollment during those years. In these ten years, female enrollment increased from 33.3 % to 43.2 %. On the other hand, male enrollment had increased as well. The downside to this information was that there was an increase of female students, but no increase in female faculty.

Data from a survey done from 1962 to 1972 about Dickinson College faculty revealed information about female faculty in the "Recommendations and Report on the Status of Women in the Academic Profession at Dickinson College" document. They discovered some interesting results, both positive and negative. Some negative aspects found from the survey were that women were underrepresented on the faculty, in the upper professional ranks and on the standing committees of the faculty.

In this report, the possibility of a Women's Center is mentioned. Opponents believed that this would be discrimination against men. While no center existed at the time, the Commission garnered its own bulletin board in the basement of Old West. , had an "open house" for its members and others, luncheons in HUB siderooms, and stressed the importance of getting all the Service Support Personnel who were women to be a part of the Commission.

Two unidentified women very happily pose for the camera in this photograph, circa 1970, and appear to be having quite a good time being silly and kidding around with each other.

Dickinson cheerleader, Donna Di Vincenzo, '72, does a peppy kick for the camera in this photograph circa 1970. 

In a reflective criticism about women’s political awareness in the Women’s Newsletter, Joan Eltonhead examines feminism at Dickinson.  As a transfer student, Eltonhead describes the feminist dynamic on Dickinson’s campus when she first arrived as seemingly non-existent, as there was no women’s group on campus.  She goes on to say that Dickinson women are reluctant to call themselves femenists and seem to find it easier “to maintain a traditional sex role … than to make a commitment to change.”  She advocates a women’s center at Dickinson and urges women to become more aware, ask more questi

As an author, attorney, film editor, and feminist, Florynce Kennedy is a “catalyst to and for all women” and serves as “a symbol of women’s capacity to be agents for change.”  The Dickinson Women’s Newsletter announces that Kennedy will come to campus to speak in ATS on May 9, 1974.  “A dynamic spokesperson,” says the article, Kennedy has quite a reputation, “one of being inspirational, thought-provoking and identity-shaking for women students.”

After thriving on Dickinson’s campus for twelve years, the women of Alpha Delta Epsilon saw that a change was needed and looked for “the support which could be found in a national organization." A letter offering information about Dickinson College and Alpha Delta Epsilon was sent to nine different national organizations by the Associate Dean for Special Programs, Mary Watson Carson.

 

The April issue of the Dickinson Women’s Newsletter calls for female voices to put on a dramatic reading for the college.  A program is being organized to showcase women’s expression, this expression being something that the author feels “women are working towards so desperately.”  A dramatic reading of Sylvia Plath’s piece, ‘Three Voices’ is to make up the second half of the program.  The article urges women to help with the program as readers, planners, and audience members.