Coeducation, 1969 - Today

 

In the late 1960s, Davidson students, faculty, administrators, and trustees began to seriously debate the importance of coeducation at Davidson College. Some trustees feared that such a "radical" change would be untenable economically, but the movement persisted. 

 

The first step towards full coeducation at Davidson came in 1969 when female "exchange students" from seven other colleges (Hampden-Sydney, Hollins, Mary Baldwin, Randolph-Macon, Sweet Briar, Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and Washington and Lee) were invited to apply to take classes at Davidson, usually during their junior year.

 

In the first year, eight female students took advantage of this program. Ten women came to Davidson in the second year. In 1971, Davidson also hosted its first official international woman student: Regina Jung of Tübingen, West Germany. Her yearbook photograph is featured below. 

 

Eight College Exchange Program Women Students, 1971
In 1971, Davidson also hosted its first international coed: Regina Jung, of Tubingen, West Germany.
Regina Jung

 

Following the success of these exchange programs, the Davidson College trustees decided the institution was ready to make the change.

 

Initially, the trustees approved offering degrees to the wives of current students, as well as the wives and daughters of Davidson College faculty if they could transfer to the college as upperclass students.

 

Marianna "Missy" Boaz Woodward (Davidson College class of 1973), an Art major from Charlottesville, VA, was the first woman to earn a degree from Davidson College. She preceded her classmate Vicki Switzer because she entered Davidson College alongside her husband Kesler Woodward under the trustees' initial coeducation policy.

 

In 1972, the trustees expanded admission by allowing women without family connections to transfer into the college. The final step was to allow women to enter as first year students, with the first class of entering in the fall of 1973. The trustees initially limited the percentage of the number of women who could enroll at the college to control this "experiment" with coeducation.

 

Vicki Switzer, 1974.
Marianna "Missy" Boaz Woodward '73, an Art major from Charlottesville, VA, was the first woman to earn a degree from Davidson College.
Marianna "Missy" Boaz Woodward '73

 

Vicki Switzer (Davidson College class of 1974) would be the first woman to enroll at Davidson as a transfer student without a prior family connection. Although originally an applicant for the existing exchange program, Switzer transferred to Davidson as a degree candidate from Southwestern University in Memphis in 1972. Switzer studied psychology at the suggestion of Dr. Jay Harold Oswalt, Director of Instructional Development at Davidson. 

 

 

In 1973-1974, Julia Deck, Denise Fanuiel (Davidson College class of 1977), Debra Kyle, and Marian Perkins became the first African-American women to enroll at Davidson College.

 

Denise Fanuiel would become the first Black woman to graduate from Davidson in 1977, as well as the first woman commissioned through the ROTC program at Davidson. In 1975, Susan Martin Parker became the first female valedictorian at Davidson College.

 

Denise Fanuiel would become the African-American woman to graduate from Davidson in 1977, as well as the first woman commissioned through ROTC at Davidson.

Renee Denise Fanuiel '77

 

In 1976, Mary Farmer, a chemistry major, became the first woman to graduate after spending four full years at the college; she was one among nine women to graduate that year. Farmer continued on to medical school after graduation and was the first alumna admitted to medical school.

 

According to a 1979 resolution, the president of the college was instructed to enroll a "freshman class of 66.6% men and 33.3% women." In 1982, the trustees increased the cap on female students to 40% of the overall student body. It would not be until 1988 that Davidson finally removed this strict limit. Just four years later, the women of the Class of 1996 outnumbered men when they arrived in Fall 1992. As the number of women increased on campus, so did their social opportunities. Though women took on campus leadership roles right away, it was a few years before the campus started seeing more social and extracurricular outlets created for women, as opposed to existing organizations shifting to include women.

 

For example, the YMCA became the YM/WCA and the Male Chorus was joined by the Madrigal Singers in 1975. The Women's Chorus followed shortly thereafter in 1976. Women also organized sports programs with the first women's varsity teams forming in 1974.

 

As stated, women quickly earned leadership positions. For example, Susan McAvoy was the first woman to edit the Quips and Cranks in 1977and Catherine Landis became the first woman editor of the Davidsonian in 1977-1978. In 1981, Anne Elliot (Davidson College class of 1984) was the first woman elected as Black Student Coalition president.

 

Anne Elliot in Quips and Cranks, 1984
In 1976, Mary Farmer, a chemistry major, became the first woman to graduate after spending four full years at Davidson; she was one among nine women to graduate that year.
Mary Farmer '76

 

Davidson women quickly earned awards for their contributions to student, academic, and community life. In 1977, Kat Morton Achtemeier (Davidson College class of 1977) became the first female recipient of the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for service and integrity. In 1979, Laurie Bingaman (Davidson College class of 1979) joined Davidson's list of Watson Award winners. In 1983, Elizabeth Kiss (Davidson College class of 1983) became Davidson's first woman Rhodes Scholar.

 

In 1983, Elizabeth Kiss became Davidson's first woman Rhodes Scholar.

Elizabeth Kiss

 

In 1985, Lillian "Beadsie" Woo (Davidson College class of 1986) began her tenure as the first female Student Government Association President serving along with Vice President Christie Johnson (Davidson College class of 1987). Woo continued this legacy of leadership and service when she was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2019.

 

"Beadsie Woo, Christie Johnson Win SGA Elections," the Davidsonian, 1985 March 29

 

Not everyone approved of coeducation at Davidson, as one protestor's property damage demonstrated.

 

The entrance sign for the college was altered to note that Davidson College was "A Liberal Arts College FOR MEN" in a 1975 act of protest.

 

Not everyone approved of co-education at Davidson, as one protestor's property damage demonstrated. The entrance sign for the college was altered to note that Davidson College was "A Liberal Arts College FOR MEN" in a 1975 act of protest.

"A Liberal Arts College for Men"

 

As the population of students who identified as women at Davidson College continued to grow, so too did recognition of women's concerns and the need for supportive services. Students on campus formed organizations like the Women's Center in 1980 to address the needs of women students and bring speakers to campus. The group continued its work as the Women's Issues Committee for several years.

 

The first curricular change occurred a bit earlier, in 1976, when Classics 151, previously named Greek Views of Man, became Greek Views of Man and Woman. The English department was next, offering English 202 Women Writers in 1977.

 

By 1990, there were enough courses related to women and gender offered to develop a Gender Studies Concentration. In 1998, to foster an inclusive, supportive atmosphere regarding gender issues on campus, the campus initiated a Gender Resource Center. The mission of the center was to "enhance the quality of life of all Davidson students by fostering community, improving gender relations, and facilitating awareness of sexual diversity and gender inequalities in our community and beyond."

 

In 2009, the first Women's Leadership Conference was held as a way to connect students with alumni, faculty, staff, and area social and business leaders. Later renamed the Katherine M. Bray Women’s Leadership
Conference in honor of alum Kathy Bray (Davidson College class of 1985), the conferences are held every spring and are sponsored by the Chidsey Leadership Center.

 

 

Gender Resource Center Mission Statement

Gender Resource Center Mission Statement

 

 

In 2013, Kaneisha Gaston (Davidson College class of 2013) was the first person from West Davidson to graduate from Davidson College. Below, Gaston is pictured accepting an award at the 2012 Celebration of Service.

 

Kaneisha Gaston Celebration of Service, 2012 April 19

Bibliography:

< Previous page Next page >