Faculty Sentiment

Ideas of enlightenment, legality

"137 Faculty Members Sign Petition"

Faculty members, by and large, support coeducation. They do express concerns, however, over a jarring change at the University by admitting women too speedily. The Cavalier Daily, 11/5/68

"Coeducational Thoughts Expressed"

This collection of editorials by professors and students show that discussion about the virtues and problems of coeducation were very much alive in 1968. This particular collection seems to favor coeducation, but reasons for support are quite varied. The Cavalier Daily, 11/6/68

"Co-education: Helps In Search For Male Self-Concepts"

This front page article reveals an interesting argument for coeducation. Written by a psychologist in the Student Counseling Center, the article draws upon the tradition of male superiority that an all male school has been allowed to perpetuate. He also mentions arguments made by many other faculty members, suggesting that not admitting women to a state university is discriminatory. The Cavalier Daily, 12/9/68

Interview with Thaddeus Braxton Woody

This portion of Woody's oral history presents the dichotomy between the 1920 Board of Visitor's decision to admit "mature" women to the University and the 1970 decision to admit women to the College of Arts and Sciences. The parallel between student and faculty hesitation is quite interesting. Woody also details how the commission solicited feedback from alumni and marveled at the small amount they received. He also explains the surface attempt to gather student opinion. Woody's reflections help put alumni and student sentiment into perspective. date

Dean Runk Oral History

Dean Runk's reflection on coeducation reveals the broad ranging opposition felt by some members of the admininstration, particularly those who had graduated from the all male University. The blatent sexism and discrimination against women exhibited in Dean Runk's interview (completed once women were admitted to the College) signals some of the opposition women may have faced by some members of the faculty and administration. date