Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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The front row of delegates look up (below ) to watch thi- activities happening on the platform. The delegates and faculty (bottom) file out of the Convocation Center after the inaugural ceremony March 6th. . KE iW m u Hi Mm

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Flanked by tin- olor guard (right). Ping steps up to the platform at the beginning of the inaugural ceremony. Minutes later he was administered the oath of office bv Chief Justice C. William O ' Neill, making Ping O.U. ' s 18th president. Ping is framed (below) by two of the entourage of University trustees, former University presidents, and other inaugural officials on the platform. Held on March 6th and employing the vastness of the Convocation Center, the first public inauguration of a university president since Vernon Alden in 1962 was attended by close to 1,000 persons. With a seeming suspense that led up to the entrance of Ping, 132 delegates from educational institutions and organizations filed in, sporting brilliantly colorful delegate robes. Superficially, it was a display of splendor, but underneath it all, trie concept was simple; Ohio University now had a new president — Charles Ping. Bill Wade Expressions of interest (left and above) were shown during Ping ' s 31-page speech.

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Although 1975 was proclaimed International Women ' s Year, the women ' s participation in the liberation movement at the University this year seems to be weakening. Groups formed within the past two years to serve the needs of consciousness-raising women now are struggling to retain their membership at former levels. And while the groups still meet to attain their goal of helping women to become their own women they seem to Have you come too far, baby? By Becky Fannin be intimidating women with traditional beliefs. Perhaps a backlash to the women ' s liberation movement is now developing, suggests Nancy Bare-Knepshield, coordinator of women ' s programming at the University. It really seems to be slacking off . . . but it seems like it ' s too early, says the woman whose position was created this year to serve the needs of a seemingly dwindling group — women ' s libbers. Ideally, things should be better for women at the University level, she notes in a worried tone, but I guess it doesn ' t matter if you ' re educated or not, because women ' s liberation is just a super-threatening idea. The Women ' s Center provides a prime example of recent trends. A 1975 Women ' s Center brochure states, We are concerned with creating an atmosphere where all women of the Athens community can feel free to interact, exchange ideas and feelings to become more aware of their opportunities and potentialities. Less than a year later, however, a group of close-knit friends cluster in a small, half-painted room at Baker Center, waiting for a swarm of women to fill their half-empty Women ' s Center. But they are disappointed. Their meeting, which was called to stimulate more and new women involvement, generated only about five newcomers. Their concern is voiced by Karen Shaw, a senior majoring in hearing and speech. We called this meeting because only about five women are using the center. We are sure there are more women raising their consciousness. As one woman joins the frequent users of the center, she glances at the soiled, lopsided chairs and drab, half-painted walls. No wonder no one is using the center anymore, she can ' t resist from saying. And it ' s difficult to keep from noticing that a 1974 issue of Ms. Magazine is the center ' s most recent issue. The Women ' s Center moved to Baker Center this year, leaving behind McGuffey Hall and two, fully-equipped rooms. In addition to their weekly meetings, the Women ' s Center also sponsors sandwich seminars every Thursday noon, featuring topics such as masturbation, female sexuality, black women and feminism, and lesbianism. A monthly newsletter written by the women also gives information on their activities, such as the women in the arts program during spring and the women ' s film festival during the winter. Highlighted in the three-day film festival were an all-women western, a documentary about two divorced lesbians attempting to combine households, and Antonia, a biographical sketch about a woman composer and conductor. But the women are not content with just the sponsorship. They say the Women ' s Center is poorly located because it is hidden away in a third floor corner and because their activities are monitored at 10