1970-1979

An article printed in the Dickinsonian discusses the history of women at Dickinson College. From the first acceptance of a woman as a student and female professors being admitted under the faculty status, to the celebrations and workshops, "Voices of Today's Woman," taking place the weekend of October 6th, 1972 in celebrating the changes that have been made.

Mary Ames Raffensperger, M.D. and C. DeLores Tucker were main speakers at "Voices of Today's Woman," a special seminar devoted specifically to women. Dr.Raffensperger was a Coordinator of Rehabilative Services of Childrens' Hospital of Philadelphia and Associate Professor of Pediatrics of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Ms. Raffensperger was also a Trustee of the College, where she received the honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1965.

Honorable C. DeLores Tucker, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1972 was the main speaker in "Voices of Today's Women" Seminar. Her address was, "Where Do We Go From Here? An Appraisal of the Expanding Role of Women in the 1970's?" was given on Friday, October 6th in the Social Hall. Ms. Tucker was the first Black woman ever named to a Cabinet post in Pennsylvania and was the highest ranking Black woman in the state government in the country at the time. She was also the first Black vice-chairman of the Democratic State Party.

During the dedication of the Charles Nisbet Campus on September 15th, 1972, Dr. Martin Meyerson was one of the speakers invited. Dr. Meyerson who was a renowned educator,an authority on urban affairs and president of the University of Pennsylvania led a lecture on a topic of "The Proper Study of Womankind." He offered a brief history of the female in society from Eve's time through the 1970's, emphasizing the often passive role of a woman. Dr. Meyerson emphasized the question of whether or not colleges and universities have had a special responsibility to their female students.

During the weekend of October 5-8th of 1972, a College symposium entitle "Voices of Today's Woman" took place. The committee composed of the Dean of Women Mary Watson Carson, Pam McFarland, who was a graduate intern at the College, and a group of women students planned a diverse program consisting of a play, panel discussions, guest speakers and get-togethers.

Serving as Coordinator of Women's Programs, Pam McFarland was assigned a position as one of the two resident interns at Dickinson College. Working with several administrators during the day, McFarland also had an opportunity to attend graduate school at Shippensburg in the evenings. At Dickinson College her duties included arranging the schedule of speakers, workshops,as well as films for women on campus. Some of the events and ideas included:

-Showing and the discussing the movie "Growing Up Female," which traced the socialization of women.

Andrea Allen, President of Panhel thanks Martha Slotten, librarian, for her slide show about the history of women at Dickinson. She writes: "Perhaps in another 10 to 20 years someone else will do a history on Dickinson women. I'll be proud to tell them of the wonderful female leaders that are (were) friends here at Dickinson."

On Sunday April 8, 1979, in ATS, the Symbrinct Associates performed Ntozake Shange's choreopoem, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf."

 

The performance consisted of Seven Black women performing and dancing a book of poems to the sounds of Jazz. "The women speak, and tell stories of pain, of joy, of struggle, of coming of age as a black woman in America. Although the play addresses the emotionality of the black woman, it posseses a universal quality and delivers a message that can be understood and appreciated by all."

 

On August 8, 1979 the Black Alumni Association of Dickinson College sent out its first correspondance to Black alums. The letter begins triumphantly stating, "At last the Black Alumni Association of Dickinson College is a reality!"

 

Interesting to note is that the majority of the elected officers are women, including; Chairperson, Luci Duckson ('78), Secretary, Patricia Love ('74), Co-Treasurer, Dorothy P. Martin ('73), [Vincent Liser ('74) was the other Co-Treasurer], and Student Liason Officer, Patience Bonner ('82).

 

The constitution of the Dickinson College Women's Track and Field Club establishes the club as an organization open to women in the college community interested in participation in competitive track and field events. According to the constitution, the club formed "in response to the growing number of women taking an interest in track and field." The constitution outlines the duties of the officers and electoral and organizational procedures.