Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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The Ring-turn Phi, July U, ]»e4. Page 3 Wilson: Integrity, honor ' make W L unique Following are excerpts n m an interview with President Wilson conducied at Lee House following tiie July H press con- ference. Q. — Throughout the meetings this weekend, was there ever a point at which ou thought the board might not be able to reach a decision? A — Well, we spent a long lime discussing the pros and cons of delay, simply to defer a decision until students and alumni could become more fully acquainted with the whole range of issues that the board was struggling with That might be efficacious, but the board finally decided that would be a very bad thing to do. that it would be better in a way to reject it than to stretch it out and to keep secondary schools, prospective students, current students and key alumni all wondering what you were go- ing to do I don ' t think it was really necessary It ' s been a long study, really, about a year Q. — What can students uhoare here now and will be entering in the fall do to help smooth the transition to coeducation? A — That IS a very, very crucial part of the whole success that we hope to achieve I ' m no t sure I have a blueprint in mind now I think III Sit down with the Ex- ecutive Committee i in the fall) and get their suggestions on how that might work We ' re going to name a steering committee on coeducation — they ' ll give us ad- vice and counsel on that But you know finally it ' s going to depend upon the generosity of spirit of Opinion — continued from page ' 1 If they had visited Richmond, would they have toured Virginia Commonwealth University ' ' Perhaps not Although both are good universities, they are missing something that Wash- ington and Lee has Its an in- tangible that ' s difficult to describe, but it extends t)eyond the all-male spirit of which we are so proud Perhaps it has something to do with the stately Colonnade, its freshly painted columns shining in the summer sun, the ivy climbing up the back of Its buildings Or perhaps it is the new library and Law School, modern buildings that blend in so well with those constructed 200 years ago Or perhaps it is the statue of George Washington atop the buildmg named after him. visible from anywhere on campus, seeming to watch over us all Now, though, we can make the further improvements and changes necessary to return to that upper echelon of colleges and universities Washington and Lee can once again become a force to be reckoned with, rather than a small, liberal arts school in the Shenandoah Valley that IS offering a choice fewer and fewer coliege ge students the Washington and Lee men to say that we have a good thing and we want to share it The board has decided we have to share it with women students equally and let ' s see how to make it easiest for these girls ' Q. — Do you think the first few classes of females might have a problem fitting in? A — I believe that that ' s been the experience at other places — that they have felt they ' re going to be a very small minority for some years while the numbers build up And that ' s alw problem with feebng a little bit special and a little bit different before they become integrated into student life on the newspaper staff, the radio sta- tion, student government That will take probably a few years I am sure there are ways of doing things, ways of talking, ways of pretending women aren ' t there that we ' ll have to try to remold, all of us It will require some sensitivity At ' ' ale I think thev found a lot of their organiza- tional structure had to change The Outdoor Club never dreamt that there would be women ap- plying Well, they applied But I trust we ' ll have little difficulty with that But I must say, at first, when I discovered last fall how strongly the students felt, or at that time felt. I was never sure whether the students were simply reacting to the idea or whether they were taking real thought about the future and well-being of their alma mater I think, as the year went on, as more and more factors were brought out into the open, ttiat some of that sharp antagonism tended to soften y — Why did you take so long to express directly your opinion on the issue? A - Let me say this, that my opinion was formed, again, over an evolutionary process over time I had a meeting with my staff up on the mountain in July of last summer Of course. I ar- rived in January My faculty conversations began then in earnest. I had had fall conversa- tions with staff about vario us aspects of university life Then when I got here, I started these faculty conversations and then my senior dinners went on that spring And by May I had learn- ed enough from the admissions side about the quality and declines in the key areas It is not easy to dismiss the fact that we have fewer students from the upper quintile of their high school graduating classes today than we had 15 years ago. remarkably fewer, you can ' t seem to want Washington and Lee ' s doors no longer will be closed to women . ' o longer will we have to turn away more than 50 percent of the population No longer will the fine education of Washington and Lee be available to men alone Tfiat. I believe, is the crucial point What right does lor did) Washington and Lee have to deny an education to a woman ' ' Those tourists this weekend, those Summer Scholars, ob- viously found the Washington and Lee campus and atmos phere enjoyable and enlighten- ing Several female Summer Scholars promised to apply here next year for the fall of 1985 They realize that the first few classes of women at Washington and Lee may have difficulties, but they were willing to risk that for a chance to participate in the Washington and Lee experience And we have no right to deny them that opportunity, based on a philosophy that became out- dated in the mid-l900s and seems archaic today The Board of Trustees made the right decision this weekend — the decision that had to be made In many cases, they may have put their true personal feel ings aside for the betterment of this university The debate over coeducation undoubtedly has been long It has lasted sporadically for more than 15 years Opinions have fluctuated wildly Students, faculty and alumni have disagreed on the issues There has been a great deal of discus- sion about this university and its place in American collegiate society But this introspective discus- sion, whether for or against coeducation, has been helpful We have undergone a rigorous process of self-examination and have found faults with the system in areas other than those related to coeducation Without question. Washington and Lee has lost something by the deci- sion — but we have gained more With the settlement of the coeducation question, we can now turn to fixing those other problems Now is the time to put aside the arguments and the bit- terness. the slogans and the bumper stickers We all must join together, so that Washington and Lee can stride txildly and aggressively into the future — as the two great men who gave us our name would have wanted us to do. just say. ' Well, heck ' That ' s an important factor in keeping this place strong and in keeping the respect of the school When I spoke to the alumni association in May, I said. ' I ' m gomg to mention something you ' re not going to want me to mention but It ' s something I think we ' re go- ing to have to look at ' That was in May. but I was still a long way from knowing what my own mind would be Last summer, when I was up on the mountain with my staff — just the ad- ministration, we spent two days up there — and that was only one topic, but it was the last one, and we talked it all through At that point, I said, I really do think this IS something that the board ' s going to have to look at ' But I am not sure even then that I was then tending toward a positive evaluation of the pro- spect But I have — oh, I can ' t remember how many alumni groups I ' d met by that time, there were rot all that many, it was in the next year that I went out to some 30 or 40 I talked to people from the paper I wrote in October, I started to get feed- back And that ' s when you start to question yourself 1 had self- doubts about this all along I did think It was right to raise the questions associated with it But I was perfectly prepared, for ex- ample, to have the board say. I think It ' s the right thing to do. probably, but this is the wrong time to do it or that the alumni disaffection might be so strong as to make it not wise ' So 1 didn ' t declare myself early because I hadn ' t really made up my mind m any firm, fu-m way until fairly recently It was pret- ty widely known that I wouldn ' t have permitted the subject to arise at all if I had found it an ab- solutely unacceptable alter- native to the university That ' s what upset some of the alumni They assumed that I must have come here with my mind made up I came here, having talked with the board about it. the board committee on presidential search, and that committee said. ' How do you feel about coeduca- tion ' ' How do you think about coeducation ' ' ' We talked at some length, and I said I thought that the insbtution ' s decision in the earlier years not to endorse coeducation was admirable if it was proud of what it was doing and if It was healthy and it was expert at educating men in isola- tion, then I had not any logical difficulty with that If. on the other hand, we entered into difficulties. I said that then I wouldn ' t hesitate to raise it with the board And they said. ' Well, we would want you to do that ' Q. — Which of the advantages of coeducation was the most impor- tant to the board? A — The academic quality, without question, Q. — Even more than the demographics? A — Oh. yes The question that the board asked is ' How can this institution improve its academic standing, ensure its reputation of academic excellence ' ' ' That was the question And by re- maining all-male, what chances dowehaveof thaf By changing, what chances do we have of thaf ' The tioard committees all reported out in due course The Campus Life committee con- cluded in Its examination that co-curricular life. extra- curricular life would on balance be better with men ajid women together The Academic Affairs committee report said on balance, in fact, the academic quality of our students would im- prove and the quality of discourse in the classroom and the whole ambiance of the academic side of hfe Q. — ' ou said that Washington and Lee was unique in ways other than being all-male. Now that we are coeducational, what are some of those other ways in which we are unique? A — Of course, any institution can make claims of that sort, but I do think there ' s a pattern of success here that is traceable to a heightened sense of mutual caring I don ' t want to exag- gerate that, but I think the students have a lot of respect for each other and look out for each other and have a lot of respect for the faculty and vice versa, so that creates an environment of, we call it civility, but of mutual trust That translates still fur- ther into an absolute willingness by the faculty to meet with students and to be of help to them, in their personal hves as well as in their academic work, and that, in turn, I think, has managed to contribute to the cultivation of self onfidence, and ultimately we have a greater measure of success in the world I think that it is im- portant for us to try to recruit classes with the same human qualities in our women students that we ' ve managed over the years to have represented m our male student population In other words, I think character and integrity and honor and a desire to learn — all of these things are important parts of Washington and Lee and I am most anxious to ensure that those qualities are enhanced by our women students Q. Do you think we ' ll h«ve any problem recruiting women? A I think the whole admissions area is going to tie very difficult for all colleges and universities, when the University of Penn- sylvania opens a West Coast of- fice of admissions, and Oberlin ends out messages to its alumni )iat new admissions efforts are oing to be required to get Jirough this decade — these are strong insbtutions, coeduca- tional institutions — I have no doubt that our work will be cut lilt for us think this decision will help us in that work, but I don ' t think it will provide some quick solution. 10 The Year on Campus

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Page 2, The Ring-turn Phi, July 16, 19B4 Opinion No, we ' re not going to hell in a handbag By MIKE ALLEN Chief EdiUH- ' msde btHtnry totisy. atvthf future. indole litsKlinM Ferrari Painful as it was, the time had come to wake up. smell the cof fee. and admit women to Washmgton and Lee The no go co forces have reached their Appomatox Now it ' s time for a little reconstruc tion The well-intentioned anti-coed people who fail toseethata well fought battle is over are wel- come to take their marbles and go home . the rest of us are going to attempt to make coeducation the best thing that ever happen- ed to W L It ' s hearlsickening to realize that when I think of the people who love Washington and Lee the most and would do anything for it. 1 think of people adamant- ly opposed to coeducation Those people have to feel betrayed The hope has to be. though, that their regard for the institution is greater than their devotion to one particular aspect of it This has been a most unplea- sant civil war During his 1984 commencement address. Presi dent Wilson told the graduates. I know It has concerned you that we seem to be divided on this important matter, students, faculty, alumni and staff But that may tie inevitable on a mat- ter of such significance, and I live in the faith that it will not be a permanently disabling condi tion We have to hope he ' s right Dr Wilson is not, contrary to popular opinion, the Grinch that Stole Single Sex He is a person who was willing to be the point man. and consequently to be subject to unmitigated garbage, for a change which he. rightly or wrongly, believed was the best path for the insUtution he ' d been hired to serve The Board has said what the policy will be It IS now incum- bent upon us. through a com- bination of respect and coopera- tion, to assist Dr Wilson and his administration in implementing that policy as effectively and as smoothly as possible Ttie student government will be an important component of that effort As you study history, it seems that strong leaders ap- pear when they are most needed For the W L student body, such a man is Cole Dawson His IS a lough position He follows the incredibly dedicated Bob Jenevein, who, like all pro- minent men, had vociferous, persistent critics Cole, who is capable, willing to listen, and possesses integrity of the highest order, is up to the challenge Once an opponent of coeduca- tion, he changed his mind upon further research and reflection He was, like us, willing to wholeheartedly support single sex if that was what was re- quired of him The trustees, however, made what he came to believe was the better choice He, by the way, should be credited with offering one of the most cogent observat ions to sur- face during the coeducation debate Everyone ' s talkins about male camaraderie ' What about ema fcamaradene ' ' The trustees have reached a conclusion similar to that of General Lee in April of 1865 It was time to cut their losses while what they had was still worth saving Lee realized tfiat the losses he was sustaining were unacceptable, that to continue would invite further decimation of his turf, and tfiat his men ' s commitment to the cause was waning The trustees have made a similar decision We have the rare opportunity to take a unique and still strong institution and propel it to even greater distinction The trustees aren ' t trying to take our paradise away from us, they ' re making it possible for us toenfianceit The pursuit of excellence, both in ourselves and in future students, is the key to the con- tinued vitality and superiority of the University The time IS now The chance is ours The fate IS Washington and Lee ' s W L going firs I class By BRLC ' K POTTKR Chief Editor Last summer, before the ques tion of coeducation was placed squarely on Washington and Lee ' s agenda, I was talking with a co-worker who graduated from William and Mary College, a relatively small but highly regarded coeducational school in Williamsburg The conversation turned to colleges, and, inevitably, to Washington and Lee coeduca tion Although partially in jest, a comment my colleague made that day forever will remain in my mind Washington and Lee is tieing dragged, kicking and scream- ing, into the 20th century, he said I believed then that his com- ment was fairly accurate, and since, 1 have come to realize that it was even more so .Now. after last weekend ' s decision, we have really entered the 20th cen tury .And if each of us works at making coeducation succeed. Washington and Lee once again can join the ranks of the most il- lustrious colleges in the nation — a position the school certainly deserves No longer will we have to be dragged into the 20th century We can now move into the 21sl century with our head held high, knowing that we had the courage to make a decision — in many ways unpopular and in all ways difficult - that will benefit this university Many people assume that Lex- ington and Washington and Lee are quiet during the summer This IS not entirely so A group of 17-year-olds, rising high school seniors known as Summer Scholars — both male nd female — were on campus this month, participating in various programs the university offers Also on campus this past week were tourists — again both male and female — from all over the country They, too, marveled at the beauty and grace of Washington and Lee, and ils history and quality We must ask: If they had visited Blacksburg, would they have toured Virginia Tech ' ' continued on page :t New student body president reacts to coed decision To the editors : The result of this weekend ' s decision is one that will no doubt hit a nerve in the heart of everyone associated with Wash- ington and Lee Never before in W L ' s history has an issue fostered so much controversy and stirred so much emotion Washington and Lee has survived many tiattles and coed will be another one —Washington and Lee is and always will be a distinguished university, due to its unique educational atmosphere It will continue to produce honorable, intelligent, well-rounded in- dividuals who will be the movers and shakers in our society Twenty years ago we were one of many all-male institutions We were not simply another all-male institution, we were uni que and will remain so, for the same reasons, far into the future. We hs ve a strong tradi- tion of honor, integrity and strength of character, along with the many values and ideals in stilled in our university by General Lee After the Civil War, Lee had been defeated — his beloved South had lost aU that it had believed in for so long But he came to Washington College with an optimistic attitude that the future would hold more than what many believed to be a hopeless destiny With his strength of character and will to succeed, he created a fine in- stitution — a better Washington and Lee This may seem trivial and trite, but we must have similar courage to strengthen our university — to use this op- portunity to bring W L up to its full potential The chemistry of W L ' s pre sent atmosphere will change, but the fundamental foundation of the W L experience will go on This weekend ' s decision is hard toswallow Walking around campus after the decision, I had a gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach that came from the ap- prehension and uncertainty of the future Will the intangibles so crucial to the W L experience be lost, or will the admission of women strengthen our universi- ty and all that it stands for ' ' At one time, Washington and Lee competed strongly with such schools as Davidson, Duke and U Va There is no question that W L provides a much more uni- que and broadening education than these schools , but as of 1983 those schools were only accep- ting 33 percent of their ap- plicants to fill their freshman class, whereas we now accept 60 percent of our applicants The percentage has gone from 40 percent in 1965 to 49 percent in 1982, 57 percent in ' 83, and 60 per- cent in ' 84 The education that W L offers, although unique and highly regarded by its students and alumni, is simply not that at- tractive anymore I know, as I ' m sure you do, of many who con- sidered W L but shied away due to the single-sex factor —also, many guys who were W L material who came and trans- ferred due to the all-male character 1 will truly miss the mystical all-male quality of W L. but am confident that admitting women is a positive move and one that will make W L a stronger in- stitubon in the future Contrary to seemingly popular opinion. It was not President Wilson who brought coeducation to the forefront and it is not his fault (not a fault at all, in fact) that we are destined to tie a coeducational institution I real- ly tielieve that we are fortunate to have such an outstanding president Watching him in the May board meeting and this weekend, I have seen an in- dividual with as much dedica tion to Washington and Lee as any person I have ever seen His knowledge and emotions for the school are admirable and deep- rooted Lastly, let me add that our present Board of Trustees is the result of 15 years of careful and delitierate selection by our former president, Robert E R Huntley This board has been acknowledged as one of the strongest groups of individuals to govern the school in its history They are all deeply rooted traditionalists, each of them as dedicated to the univer- sity and to the preservation of the unique quality and character of education at W L as the next There were tears in their eyes as they said goodbye to a 235-year- old tradition, and literally near tears as they gave theu last sta tements before the vote I know many students and alumni think W L ' s traditions have been irrevocably lost I hope, though, tliat you will all pledge your support for a better Washington and Lee — the school we love so much The decision was a hard one — one that took into consideration both students ' and alumni ' s views very seriously Almost all day Friday was spent considering those opinions But the decision has been made and the future and desUny of W L has begun a new course Listening to W L ' s Latin motto, Non in cautus futun — Not unmindful of the future — remember this as you look to tomorrow We have so much to gain with a positive at- titude Sincerely. Cole Dawson eIl|E Eing-tum pi|i Chief Editors Business Mgr. Bruce Potter William Schoejfler Mike Allen SeusFdilor Paul Kouich Managing Kditor Read? Williams Photo tditor CoUonPunear I opv Editor Karen Merii rteporif r Paul Smith : turn Phi ■ . publi ihed r « r Thursdav during i nariK from ad frU tng and from a portion u Koartl clecU lli Chipr Kditw and RusUie« p mdependent The Year on Campus 9

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Pag« 4, The Ring-turn Phi, July 16, 1984 McHenry optimistic sign I Library guards steps leading lo Northen Auditorium, where the board of trustees met Tor the weekend to make its decision. (Photo by Cotton Puryear) Coed By PAUL FOUTCH News Editor Although Washington and Lee ' s athletic department will feel many of the effects of coeducation, Athletic Director William McHenry expressed op- timism that the changes will not be too drastic One of the major concerns in the athletic department was that coeducation without an increase in total enrollment — the change approved by the Board of Trustees July 14 — would reduce the pool of prospective male athletes, causmg a drop in the quality of W L sports But McHenry said in an inter- view after the decision that only the sports with larger squads —such as football, baseball and soccer — will feel the effects 1 think probably in some sports there won ' t be a negative effect at all. McHenry said At the press conference an nouncing the coed decision, university President John D Wilson predicted a $150,000 in- itial cost for the changes needed on the Warner Center McHenry said these will in- clude dividing the locker room in half, providing separate en- trances to the weight room and the old pool, and adding more of- fices on the upper level of the gym Another change required by coeducation will be the addition of female staff members, in- cluding a women ' s athletic directoranda trainer I would hope that there would not be an elimination of any of our current coaches and teachers. McHenry said McHenry predicted that addi- tional field space, which he said was needed even if W L remain- ed all-male, would include an ar- tificial, all-weather field, an all- weather track and one or two more playing fields The first female varsity sports to be introduced will probably be limited lo individual sports, such as swimming, track, go lf and cross-country, McHenry said, with five or six sports offered in the first two years and 10 to 12 within five years 1 continued from page I Some of the 17 fratermties could go under because of the decreased male population, Wilson said, although he noted that some of those are already financially unstable We do have a commitment to our fraternities, Wilson added Even now, they ' re undergoing some self-reformation, and we ' re going to encourage that in every way possible The possibility of sororities on campus will be discussed when the women arrive in 1985, Wilson said Twenty-two of the board ' s 25 members are alumni Thomas K Wolfe, who was elected to the board in December but has not been sworn in. did not attend the meeting because ol a weekend deadline on the serialized novel he is writing for Rolling Stone T Hal Clarke voted by telephone from Scotland, where he was traveling, and J. Alvin Philpott voted by telephone from North Carohna A number of press accounts of the event took note of the days on which the trustees ' discussions were held Yes. we know that yesterday was Friday the 13th and that today is Bastille Day, News Office Director Jeffrey G Hanna said in a press kit distributed at the news con- ference Wilson said m an interview before the meetmg that he hadn ' t expected the degree of broader public interest m the decision here The hoopla condnues around us, he said That all. frankly, surprises me. but it does in- dicate that Washuigton and Lee has a special place in Virginia and in the South, especially Peo- ple are interested in what hap- pens here Wilson, who assumed the presidency early in 1983. receiv- ed criticism from several quarters while the debate and study on coeducation were in progress Prior to the trustees ' meeting, he was asked how a decision one way or the other would affect him as a person and as an administrator There are some who do beheve that 1 came with a set- tled mmd on the question and are in some measure ahenated from me personally. he said If the decision is to admit young women to degree can- didacy, how soon will the students and alumni members who opposed it reconcile themselves to if Will they at all, and if so, when Mixed up in that, somehow, is how soon, if at all, they will be willing to give support to my administration The issue of coeducation has been debated frequently at W L, beginning in 1888 Campus reactions vary The Board of Trustees ' decision to begin admitting women to Washington and Lee in the fall of 1985 evoked many reactions from faculty, students and staff who were on campus for the decision • Former EC President Robert C Jenevein, who once vigorously opposed coeducation but says he has since modified his position, looked tired and disconsolate after the meebng. but said he hoped the students would make coeducation work They have to open their arms to the new Washington and Lee. he said That won ' t be impossible by any stretch of the imagina- tion • Nearly 100 faculty and students watched the press conference on television monitors in Held Hall For the most part, they greeted Ballengee ' s words with applause and listened attentively to the re- mainder of the press conference, chuckling appreciatively at the appropriate moments • Among those watching with interest was Peter Whitehead, who graduated in May but was one of the leading pro-coeducation students Whitehead had unfurled a banner at the Mock Democratic Convention that read Better Coeds than Deadheads I think the trustees made an unpopular decision, but it was a good one. Whitehead said I am pleased Now I think we ' ll see better male and female students • Another student who came to Lexington to hear the decision was Scott Tilley. a rising senior and opponent of coeducation 1 was very disappointed, Tilley said Up to the last moment, 1 didn ' t think they ' d do it 1 think Washington and Lee as an inslitution is going to thrive and will continue, but 1 have the feeling that as of today, the Washington and Lee I ' ve come to know and love no longer exists ' • Dr Louis W Hodges, a professor of religion and ethics who led a committee which studied coeducation in 1969, called it ]ust a splendid decision I can ' t imagine anything that would have done more to improve the education environment, he said The board is to be com- mended They worked at it very carefully, and rendered what is certainly the right decision ' • A faculty member who opposed coeducation and asked not to be identified because he says he plans to keep a low profile hence- forth, said the initial female applicants to W L are likely to be young ladies on the prowl Washington and Lee is going to become Fort Lauderdale North. he said Most girls are going to enroll here because this is Where the Boys Are ' • In the face of all the philosophical and academic viewpoints of the day. some were more concerned about the practical implica- tions of the decision Big John Alexander, who has been a W L custodian for 10 years, said he opposed coeducation Women are one of the most beautiful things God put on earth, but they ' re so much messier than men. he said very seriously • Betty Munger. who said she advocated coeducation in the 16 years she was the W L bookstore manager, was amused but not surprised at all the media attention given the vote It is interesting that a small college in the backhills of Virginia should be debating whether to educate women. she said • As President John D Wilson exited the news conference, he made a jesting reference to his daughter. Sara, who will be a high school junior in the fall I want you all to know my daughter won ' t be coming here. he said I didn ' t want to be accused of being self-serving The Ring-tum Phi Washington and Lee University P.O. Box 899 Lexington, Va. 24450 PAID TIME VALUE— DO NOT DELAY The Year on Campus 11