Counseling services

In her Letter to the Editor in the November 11, 1993 Dickinsonian, Erica Stoutenburgh '94 explains why she distributed a survey on rape at Dickinson and why addressing rape is important.

This article by Erica Stoutenburgh in The Dickinsonian, November 11, 1993, presents the results of a survey on rape and sexual assault handed out to women on campus. 
The survey asked questions about incidents on and off campus, before or
during the woman's time at Dickinson, and the woman's classification. 

In 1972 on October 5, 6 and 8, Dickinson held a seminar on women in
coordination with the Bicentennial Homecoming the same weekend.  The
seminar was "designed to examine the political, educational, legal, and
social conditions in our society which sometimes tend to reduce women's
participation as full partners with men in many aspects of life."  It was the first seminar on women ever held at Dickinson
and included a play by the Mermaid Players, speeches, workshops and
exhibits.  C. Delores Tucker, Secretary of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, was the major speaker. 

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:

"Suggestions Considered Requisite by the Students of Dickinson College For the Improvement of the College," labelled the "Atrocity Sheet Circulated by Dickinson Students" in Marion Bell's 1941-1946 Scrapbook lists many student complaints including those against Dickinson's food, service, and need for a President, but most notable are those against the Women's Dean, Dean Josephine Meredith.

The Women’s Newsletter reports that Dickinson women have contributed in all three roles of patient, volunteer and staff, at the Family Planning Service in Carlisle.  Doneby Smith and Elizabeth Rice report on Dickinson’s involvement with the clinic and describe the unique services that practitioners at Family Planning provide, including pelvic and breast examinations, treatment of infections, if needed, information on birth control methods and the birth control of their choice.  Women who come to the clinic are entering a secure environment, where in addition to the services mentioned alread

In his response to Dean of Women Mary Watson Carson, Alumni Trustee Vincent Schafmeister says of the Social Opinion Survey of the Women's Group, "sort of shakes up an old, stuffy conservative such as I." He declines the dean's offer to put him into contact with members of the group in order to determine their objectives, saying he is more interested in the role of the Office of Student Services in encouraging this organization. He references the "frightful negatives" and the suffering of the college as consequences of this kind of encouragement.