University of South Carolina Columbia - Garnet and Black Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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special classes, the trustees did little to encourage women to attend SCC and women did not enter the college scene in 1894. Favoring coeducation much more than Tillman himself, successor john Gary Evans announced in his inaugu- ral address that the legislature amend a statute to allow women to enter below the junior class. In December, 1894, the matter was hastily changed to read the trustees shall provide for admitting young women qualified to enter the College. But barriers still existed - no dean of women, no women faculty mem- bers, no dormitory spaces for girls, not even an adequate restroom. These were the conditions when Francis Guignard Gibbes received permission on Sept. 24, 1895 to take a special course. Coeducation had begun. A week later five more females entered to study special courses and by November, SCC had a total enroll- ment of 13 females, all taking special courses. The first girl to graduate was Mat- tie jean Adams of Newberry who, according to classmates, possessed an almost passionate fondness for books. Receiving her A.B. in 1898, she said she came to SCC because she needed a better education than the one provided by Southern female col- leges. The 1898 USC catalogue first fea- tures its decision to admit women explaining, in accordance with the act of the General Assembly 118945, women are admitted to any course, regular or special for which they may be qualified. No other information is given concerning women. In 1903, another woman became a first by becoming the first female on campus to receive a master's degree. She was jaqueline Segar Epes of Blackston, Va. Women had already invaded the law school in 1897 when Ellen Rebecca Norris entered the jun- ior class. The event was almost too much for a law professor to take and he questioned her right to receive a degree. Norris, however, did not fin- ish the course and there were no women law graduates until 1918. The female enrollment increased slowly from 13 in 1895-96, 14 in 1896- 97, to 18 in 1897-98. While more did inquire about the college, few applied because of lack of dormitory space. Room and board in private Columbia homes cost about 5515 more than the cost for a male student living on cam- pus. Evans was the first to point out that the college's dormitories were only half full and urged that DeSaussure be converted into a dor- mitory for girls. This action did not go through. Scholastically girls were much like the boys - a mixture of both good and bad with a few needing admon- ishment for poor work. In 1899, Anne Fayssoux Davis of Winnsboro became the first woman to graduate with honors. President Frank Wood- ward complained that women sought only light and easy courses and over- indulged in the social pleasures dis- rupting the progress of the male stu- dents. On Dec. 1, 1896, several females received permission to give a dance at the home of Mrs. Louis LeConte on Pendleton Street. This was the first officially recognized coed social func- tion. Coeds became reluctant to pursue active roles on campus. Laura Annie Bateman, president of the 1891 fresh- man class, resigned because of popu- lar disapproval. Afterward, young ladies had a tendency to avoid campus politics. And, it was not until 1973 that the University elected its first woman student body president, Rita McKinney. In 1895 fear of female take-over caused the Clariosophic and Euphra- dian societies to amend their constitu- tions to prevent the entrance of In 1913, this coed reigned as one af the first Queens of Eafter Week. women in their meetings. But the coeds formed the Parthenian Society in 1900 to promote academic culture, sociability, friendship, and a spirit of loyalty to the school. One brave member of the newly formed organi- zation moved that all boys be banned Wommk tennis was quitepapulaf in the earb' twentieth century, agbecialbqnf the skirt set. 23

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Vs- - ., J - t -,,1.! iw jf-3.-5, U- '.'1 1 .ijt if?- f-K ,er- if gf- Hl...,ig:',-, V. ' . P 5 . '-11 ' - , . kk-'J -....,..s.-- COEDUCATIO : WOME GAIN THEIR PLACE By Karen Petit From long skirts to blue jeans, long hair to short - it finally happened. Women invaded the collegiate class- room. And both the USC campus and women themselves have undergone a metamorphosis to accommodate the change. Coeducation on USC's campus has a varied and interesting heritage. While the first two college organiza- tions on campus, the Clariosophic and Euphradian societies, loved and admired the ladies, in the early 1800's, there was the obvious distinction that the female sex had her own role to fulfill - a kitchen engineer, bottle washer, and nursery attendant with little involvement in public affairs. Although the Clariosophics decided in 1810 that women were less intellectual than men, the Euphradi- ans reaffirmed the fact 50 years later with the conclusion that the minds of the sexes were not equal. The Clario- sophics were so advanced in thinking that in 1810 they decided women should not participate in government and Euphradians denied women a place in a society outside the home. By 1830 the Euphradians had announced that enjoying the female company was not compatible with the 22 student's collegiate duties. Also, waltzing with one's arm around a lady's waist was indecent. While girls frequently attended chapel on the South Carolina College campus, they were denied entrance into the school's social halls. Had they been allowed within the inner sanctums of the male campus domain, they would have heard great oratorical debates on their honor and virtue as well as the sanctity of her marriage contract. For nearly six dec- ades both societies debated whether or not seduction should be punished by death. While many males did not favor this extreme measure, neither society wanted to be quoted as favor- ing the punishment. And in 1811 Clariosophic debates were highlighted by Is Highway Robbery or Seduction the Greater Crime? Highway rob- bery won by one vote. While the societies frowned upon divorce and felt the woman should die if necessary to preserve her honor, both Clariosophic and Euphradians were unwilling to demand capital punishment for men who violated it. Although black women attended the Normal School at the University during Reconstruction, it was not until 1895 that coeducation was finally instituted. In 1893 Gov. Ben Tillman announced that coeducation of the female mind at SCC was a mat- ter of justice and common sense as well as a way to increase student enrollment. Because of faculty and Trustees disapproval, Tillman made appeal directly to the legislature rather than the Board of Trustees who had authority to admit women but declined to do so. While conservatives favored educa- tion of girls at Winthrop and private colleges, Tillman was ahead of most in advocating coeducation. Although The State endorsed Tillman, it was the Charleston News and Courier which favored coeducation if not in the com- pany of men - our people still believe in the manly men and wom- anly women, and whether right or wrong, the impression prevails that coeducation after a certain age tends to modify these distinctive qualities which should be the pride of each sex. Because of Tillman's influence, the legislature approved the 1895 appropriations bill directing the trus- tees to admit qualified women to the campus but not below the junior class. Agreeing to allow women to enroll in

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