1970-1979

The Spanish Club Constitution was written on October 19, 1976. The writers state that the purpose of the group is to
 
"provide the student with an added insight into the cultures of Spanish speaking peoples through films, speakers, cultural trips, and social means. It will also act as a source of information for students interested in continuing in the study of the language."
 
The constitution states that membership is open to any student with an interest in Spanish.
 

Lawrence A. Bradshaw, the advisor to the Afro-American Students of Shippensburg State College wrote a letter to Dickinson's Dean of Students, Harold R. Gillespie concerning the limited social life Black students of Shippensburg experienced. In his letter he inquires about the possibility of joint programming for Black students between the two colleges, saying that his students "express a desire to be more fully acquainted with the black students at nearby campuses."

The Congress of African Students (CAS) circulated it's first issue of their group's publication, "NIA-PURPOSE."

In both the 1970-'71 and '71-'72 academic school years lists of names of Black students at Dickinson were compiled. By whom and for what purpose is unknown.The list for 1970-'71 contains 59 names: 9 seniors, 4 juniors, 26 sophomores, and 20 freshmen.The '71-'72 list shows an enrollment of Black students of 55, without a class-year breakdown.

In response to a ruling by the Inter-Fraternity Council, women were encouraged to boycott the quad area, which at this time was home to the fraternities.  In their ruling, the IFC stated that it was restricting the "social participation within the Quad to fraternity residents, women and freshmen," thus excluding non-Greek men.  Posters, such as this one, were placed around campus, urging women to boycott the quad due to the IFC's unfair ruling.

This Progress Reports includes changes and plans to change College policy regarding female students. Most notably is the mention of the 1973 Spring semester and the success of the movements to "rescind the 'sex quota,' by action of the Board of Trustees, so that henceforth Dickinson College will strive for an approximate ratio of 1:1 in admissions of male and female students; and to omit singing at College functions the last verse of the Alma Mater, with its references to 'men' and 'sons.'"

"Recommendations and Report on the Status of Women in the Academic Profession at Dickinson College" documents the information from a survey done from 1962 to 1972, which included a study of student enrollment during those years. In these ten years, female enrollment increased from 33.3 % to 43.2 %. On the other hand, male enrollment had increased as well. The downside to this information was that there was an increase of female students, but no increase in female faculty.

Data from a survey done from 1962 to 1972 about Dickinson College faculty revealed information about female faculty in the "Recommendations and Report on the Status of Women in the Academic Profession at Dickinson College" document. They discovered some interesting results, both positive and negative. Some negative aspects found from the survey were that women were underrepresented on the faculty, in the upper professional ranks and on the standing committees of the faculty.

In this report, the possibility of a Women's Center is mentioned. Opponents believed that this would be discrimination against men. While no center existed at the time, the Commission garnered its own bulletin board in the basement of Old West. , had an "open house" for its members and others, luncheons in HUB siderooms, and stressed the importance of getting all the Service Support Personnel who were women to be a part of the Commission.

Two unidentified women very happily pose for the camera in this photograph, circa 1970, and appear to be having quite a good time being silly and kidding around with each other.

Dickinson cheerleader, Donna Di Vincenzo, '72, does a peppy kick for the camera in this photograph circa 1970. 

In a reflective criticism about women’s political awareness in the Women’s Newsletter, Joan Eltonhead examines feminism at Dickinson.  As a transfer student, Eltonhead describes the feminist dynamic on Dickinson’s campus when she first arrived as seemingly non-existent, as there was no women’s group on campus.  She goes on to say that Dickinson women are reluctant to call themselves femenists and seem to find it easier “to maintain a traditional sex role … than to make a commitment to change.”  She advocates a women’s center at Dickinson and urges women to become more aware, ask more questi

As an author, attorney, film editor, and feminist, Florynce Kennedy is a “catalyst to and for all women” and serves as “a symbol of women’s capacity to be agents for change.”  The Dickinson Women’s Newsletter announces that Kennedy will come to campus to speak in ATS on May 9, 1974.  “A dynamic spokesperson,” says the article, Kennedy has quite a reputation, “one of being inspirational, thought-provoking and identity-shaking for women students.”

After thriving on Dickinson’s campus for twelve years, the women of Alpha Delta Epsilon saw that a change was needed and looked for “the support which could be found in a national organization." A letter offering information about Dickinson College and Alpha Delta Epsilon was sent to nine different national organizations by the Associate Dean for Special Programs, Mary Watson Carson.
 

The April issue of the Dickinson Women’s Newsletter calls for female voices to put on a dramatic reading for the college.  A program is being organized to showcase women’s expression, this expression being something that the author feels “women are working towards so desperately.”  A dramatic reading of Sylvia Plath’s piece, ‘Three Voices’ is to make up the second half of the program.  The article urges women to help with the program as readers, planners, and audience members.

 
Candid shot of African American female students on Dickinson's campus, 1973. Dickinson College increases its diversity from the first woman to graduate in 1887, to the first known African American student graduating in 1901, and to the first known African American female student graduating in 1919.

The April issue of the Women’s Newsletter features an editorial regarding the armed forces and a panel discussion sponsored by Dickinson’s R.O.T.C.

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

Gail Tyson writes a brief narrative which is featured in the April issue of the Dickinson Woman’s Newsletter and asks whether Girl Scouting is relevant for girls and young women in today’s world.  Her story recounts the invaluable experience she had being a part of Girl Scouts.  She says that her involvement with the organization played a huge role in the development of young women, challenging them physically and emotionally.  Tyson says that her involvement with Scouting programs continues today, as she is a troop leader and she has daughters of her own that are scouts.  Tyson’s narrative

Thirty female Dickinson students attended a workshop at the Harrisburg Women’s Center entitled “Having Options as Women” on Saturday March 2, 1974, reports the Women’s Newsletter.  The goal of the workshop was to stimulate awareness and concern for women’s roles in the job market.  At the event, women were encouraged to strive for positions in decision or policy-making positions.  Resource women were available to speak with students on an individual basis at the workshop about developing many different skills to allow for the possibility of different career options.

“On December 1, five Dickinson women attended a symposium in Newark, New Jersey, entitled ‘The Momentum of Women in Medicine,’” reports Kathy Rosen in the Women’s Newsletter.  The symposium was given by the American Medical Women’s Association of the New Jersey Medical School and gave pre-med women a closer look into the medical profession from the points of view of female doctors.  Rosen says the experience was “truly enlightening” and that many of their questions regarding the medical profession and life as a doctor were answered.

In an insert in the Dickinson Women's Newsletter entitled CURRENT COURSES, classes that seem to have some emphasis on women's studies are listed for interested students.  Courses include, Introduction to American Studies, Women as a Symbol, Women in Scandanavian Literature, Psychology and Religion, Contemporary People of Latin America, Population, and Relations Between Men and Women.

Assistant professor of physical education, Katherine Barber, reveals her feelings about the practice of co-ed physical education classes in an interview.  Barber says that the idea is effective; “girls work harder to not bomb out in front of the guys [and] the men show up more.”  She also says that the situation is more interesting to teach in and that the program that is in use, is making athletics become appreciated.  However, Barber does mention surviving inequalities; men are provided with practice clothes and more liberty with athletic facilities while women are not.  Yet all in all, i

An article by  Pam McFarland in the Dickinson Women’s Newsletter reveals that women are wanted by the law.  The article reports a law school recruitment conference held in October at Syracuse University which was attended by 250 women.  There, women had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from nine different law schools including Stanford, New England School of Law, and Dickinson, among others, while information about testing and admissions was covered.  Panel discussions also took place at the conference; speakers included New York state Senator Carol Bellamy, Carol Libow, a partner at

Barbara Chaapel writes a reflection in the Dickinson Women’s Newsletter on what it means to her to be a “liberated” individual, and more specifically to be part of the Women’s Liberation Movement.  In her piece, she explores the stigma that is associated with being labeled a “woman’s libber” and says that for her, because she has “considered [herself] a liberated person long before the ‘movement’ brought her freedom to words, no change in dress or language will make her more or less liberated”.  “Liberation,” Chaapel argues, “is an attitude about oneself and something that every woman must

The Dickinson Women’s Newsletter is a monthly issued pamphlet, published by The Advisory and Planning Committee on Women’s Programs at Dickinson College.  The January, ‘74 issue, documents an invaluable  trip that 40 female students took to Washington D.C. where they gained insight to the current job market, the “how-to’s” of finding a job, and specifically the opportunities for women in the Washington metropolitan area.  The dynamic staff at W.O.W.

Tara McCallum, in hopes of aiding in the movement towards creating black awareness on Dickinson's campus, contributed to the monthly publication, The Black Perspective, published by the Congress of African Students.  Her work appears in the April edition of the Perspective. McCallum has several creative poems published, all harkening back to the struggles of black individuals.

The Prime Minister of the Congress of African Students, Robin Wilson,  wrote a formal letter to the President of Phi Kappa Sigma, Steve Persichetti, voicing concern, or outrage rather, at a poster advertising a Phi Kap event with “racist and stereotypic overtones.”  Writing on the behalf of the entire Congress, Wilson spoke out against the “insensitivity and degrading” nature of the poster in hopes of increasing sensitivity and consciousness of Black awareness within the Dickinson College community.

In the minutes recording for the first meeting of the Congress of African Students of Dickinson, an account of issues addressed during the meeting and introduction for new members is given.  During this meeting , which was the group’s first of the fall semester, each of the ministers on the board of the congress introduced themselves to new members and gave brief descriptions of their given ministries.  Of the seven ministers, five were black, female women.  Robin Wilson served as Prime Minister, Brenda Gordy as Minister of Culture and Education, Michelle Arter as Minister of Action, Patien

 A poem by poet Sonia Sanchez was published in the newsletter, NIA.  The piece's straightforward language and tone stirs the audience and calls attention to the black perspective.