The Woody Commission

The coming of coeducation. Why?

"Facing Up" Booklet from the Governor's Conference on Education

Opening quote by Governor Mills Godwin makes one think that this 1966 Conference with heads of Virginia universities would have spent much time discussing how African Americans and women can be better served through Virginia public institutions. Hardly any documents and no part of the conference's agenda discussed these items. Governor Godwin worked very hard to expand the community college system in the state, but none of this work to make education more accesible to more youth in the state opened any more doors for women and African Americans. 1966

Special Committee on the Admission of Women

This letter by C. Venable Minor, Special Counsel for the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia adds further light to the question of the legality of excluding women from the College of Arts and Sciences. According to his description of lawsuits in Texas, the courts largely supported the school's right to deny women admission. The Supreme Court, while requested to take up these cases, refuses time and again. At this point in history, it seems that there is little push by the justicee system to make state institutions open their doors to women. date

Special Committee on the Admission of Women

This letter from John Cook Wyllie, Director of Libraries, in response to his selection to serve on the Committee to evaluate the necessity to coeducate the College of Arts and Sciences, shows that not all of the people appointed to the Commission considered themselves proponents of coeducation. Shannon formed a committee with diverse viewpoints and agendas. The fact that they came together with a single recommendation is, after evaluating their previous sentiments, quite remarkable. date

"Where The Girls Are"

This lead editorial shows disgust over the Board's decision to study coeducation. The author advocates coordination rather than coeducation in order to maintain the "Gentlemen's Club" atmosphere and satisfy the demand on the state to educate women. The Cavalier Daily, date

Woody Commission Minutes

This sample set of minutes from a meeting of the Woody Commission, formed to evaluate the need and feasibility of coeducating the College of Arts and Sciences, reveals the broad array of issues faced by the committee. From faculty to alumni reaction to the pending lawsuit by the ACLU on behalf of Virginia Scott and company, these faculty members and administrators had to look holistically at the health of the University in a single sex operation. Outside pressures for coeducation included keeping pace with peer institutions like Princeton and appeasing Washington officials whose daughters were excluded from the University. March 7, 1968

"Visitors Receive Woody Coeducation Report"

The Board of Visitors receives the Woody Commission's recommendation to coeducate the University of Virginia. The article reveals little about the actual report, nor does it provide commentary on the issue of coeducation. After reading this article, one might conclude that the decision to coeducate evoked little response or opinion from students, faculty and alumni. The Cavalier Daily, 12/16/68

"Coeducation Adopted, Parietal Regulations Changed"

Article gives little commentary on the reactions to the Board's stamp of approval on coeducation. Numbered provisions show how thorough and intentional the University was in preparing for coeducation. The Cavalier Daily, Spring 1969