Wabash College - Wabash Yearbook (Crawfordsville, IN)

Page 13 text:

I content that knowing that Wabash is all-male and understanding the full implications of such a situation are two entirely different ideas. In order to understand the full implications of an all- male institution, a student must just experience such a situation in comparison to co-education. Thus, even a student from an all-male high school is incapable of understanding the full implications of an all-male institu- tion. | might add that to my knowledge, no transfer student from Wabash has ever gone to another all-male school. It would seem that a college should attempt to admit the finest students possible. Isn’t Wabash restricting itself by not admitting women? Can Wabash truly claim to admitting the finest quality student when it excludes from consideration over 50% if possible qualified person- nel? The answer seems obvious. The time has come to stop arguing about tradition, uniqueness, and all of the other rationalizations which masquerade as justifications for an all-male student body. If Wabash is to truly provide the best possible education and attract the best possible students it is imperative that is become co-educational. — ADAMS

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My purpose in writing this discussion is to consider coeducation at Wabash. I don’t think there is validity in considering any other college’s experiences simply be- cause no other college is quite like Wabash. The ques- tion of coeducation must be decided within the confines of our own campus and nowhere else. The conclusion must be reached from the standpoint of quality of educa- tion, both academic and personal, and no other considera- tion, (financial, etc.) can be regarded as being equally important. If women were admitted to Wabash the quality of classroom lectures would remain basically unchanged. In terms of pure actual knowledge the quality of education would not change. But is it not true that Wabash places ereat emphasis on classroom discussions, seminars, and discussion sections? Is it not true that students derive a finer education from this type of approach to the accumulation of knowledge? I feel that there is great value to this type of education — one which allows for the diversity, curiosity, and differences of opinion among students. The admittance of women to Wabash could only serve to enhance the educational quality of the college. To feel otherwise would be tantamount to admitting that women can add nothing to the discussions of men. This is nonsense. The goal of a liberal arts education is to produce a well-rounded individual — is this possible when an individual is only in minimal contact with half of our society? — and even then on a purely social, non- academic basis? It would seem that the purpose of any college should be to present the best possible education. And I contend that admitting women could only serve to improve the quality of education at Wabash. Shouldn’t Wabash take steps in this direction”? The majority of students at Wabash attended co-educa- tional grade schools and high schools. In considering Wa- bash they are certainly aware that it is all-male, but 8

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: IF (with apologies to R. Kipling) If you can devour paper upon paper and read 700 pages a week, When all about you are getting out, If you can run the race against the rising tide of due dates While those (ugh) others study as the mood motivates, If you can qualify, intellectualize, and theorize, Without realizing that a grade by any other school afaik just as sweet If you can confront a woman less than once a week And be unconcerned about deep thought and If you can drive and drive for a date And care not about the pinch on the pur If you can cruise the Burger Chef and or bar: And withstand the slings and arrows of ou bitions, | And cast yourself unselfishly u If you can wholeheartedly leap int And always fight, If you can prove your prowess in And earn your cloak of accept If you can do all this and maintain a B To keep your scholarship, If you can borrow from parents and th And can spend five years paying off, Then yours is the Wabash experience And you, sir, are a Caveme n.