Differing Opinions
These are the results from the Coeducation Alumni Opinions Board Meeting that took place on July 13-14, 1984. Many of the quotes and ideas from this board meeting display the impacts of coeducation on the student body and university community. From the board meeting, it is clearly evident that the opinions of whether the school should go coed or not ranged all over the place. At the beginning of this piece, the results of 429 letters were received on the topic of coeducation. These results were placed into pro, con, and middle categories with 25% pro, 64% con, and 11% middle. However, these letters only represented roughly 2.7% of the 16,000 alumni of Washington and Lee. The rest of the document summarizes the opinions of the alumni. Many of those opposed to coeducation stated that it would be a threat to the honor code and thought why fix something that is not broken? One alumni even said, "In the event of the University going coed, any donations from me will discontinue". Those that supported coeducation had reasons along the lines of higher academic excellence and that the school would have a better reputation if it accepted females.
"I'm personally against it. It kills the tradition the school is known for. You don't have the camaraderie." - Blair Severe '88
"Coeducation is great because it will help end the closed-mindedness. Women in the classroom will help the atmosphere. Tradition's great, but there should always be room for change." - Brent O'Boyle '87
"I think it's great. I've been having a great time. It's a great school. I don't see why only boys should be utilizing it. People here will learn a better relationship between boys and girls. It's not a healthy relationship now." - Brigitta Carson
"I've been pretty ambivalent all the way along. I guess it had to happen eventually." - Bruce Partington '87
"I'm for coeducation because there will be more academic competition, and also because of the way some guys think about women. It will give people something to talk about." - Felton May '87
"I'm totally pro-coed. It's going to drastically change the way people socialize around here. You can't get a good education if you think 50 percent of the world is a commodity to enjoy on weekends." - Paul Knight '85
"(Coeducation) makes it a whole different school. It will bring in a little diversity we are in desperate need of." - Phil Skillman '87
"I'm not going to be here next year, so I don't much give a damn. They ought to bomb this place back into the Stone Age." - Richard Washburne '85L
"I think it'll turn out okay, but I don't think I'll be able to get used to wearing a dress." Whitney Gadsby '85