Serious discussions for the acceptance of female students into Davidson College began in 1968, when the administration felt the introduction of coeds would better prepare its students for life after college. Secondly, with the introduction of coeds, they believed the College would be able to attract stronger students and thus become more competitive nationally. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, research conducted showed that a lot of Davidson students were interested in bringing female students into the College (Commission on Coeducation).
Most of the students felt that having women on campus would positively affect academics, as far as the overall quality of applicants was concerned. In contrast to the alumni, most of whom rejected the idea of coeducation on financial grounds, “nearly two-thirds of the faculty deemed benefits gained by coeducation worth the expenditures involved” (Commission on Coeducation). Those members of faculty who were against the idea indicated that they felt coeds would distract or inhibit the students and possibly reduce classroom participation (Commission on Coeducation). In retrospect, not only were their concerns unfounded, but the 1983 graduating class included Davidson’s 20th Rhodes Scholar, Elizabeth Kiss. During the same year, the awards for excellence in the study of chemistry, economics and constitutional law all went to women (Commission on Coeducation). It was obvious, as President Spencer put it, that the decision to go coed was “…the best thing we ever did” (Inman).
In athletics, as in academics, there were certain misgivings about the impact women would have. Speculations about providing funding for women’s sports led many to feel athletic programs would suffer. Director of athletics, Thomas Cartmill felt “it would be harder for Davidson College to compete in intercollegiate sport especially football, if women’s numbers [eventually] increased and men’s decreased” (Camerra). Again, the non-believers were put to shame when in 1973-74, less than three years after they arrived, not only were the women competing, but the women’s tennis and basketball teams were established. Dee Mayes, Coordinator of women’s sports and head field hockey and basketball coach, attributed the success of women in athletics “…to the type of students that come to Davidson, they want to do well in whatever they attempt. Therefore, the athletes we get are very willing to work, and they learn very quickly; and because of that attitude Davidson’s women’s sports have been successful and continue to prosper” (Harris). Many other women’s teams have been established and Davidson is proudly still a Division I school in many sports.
Davidson students "shake their groove thing" at
a 1982 dance.
(Photo courtesy of 1983 Quips and Cranks)
As far as social life was concerned, the coming of the women was expected to have a great impact. Some students felt that coeducation would give them a chance to know more about women, while others were mainly interested in a little weekend action. The alumni, who for the most part did not favor coeducation, disagreed and said that the introduction of coeds in the long run would cause more problems than it was likely to solve. However, when the women finally arrived, it was a different more positive story. Mark Armstrong ’77, best summed up the effect the introduction of women had on the men of Davidson College: “Life at Davidson before coeducation was like living at the YMCA…once the women enrolled, students bathed and shaved more often” (Pita). Weekend activities on campus flourished because students no longer deserted the campus to look for dates (Inman); the introduction of coeds also brought about a lot of alumnus/alumni marriages.
Today, the student body is almost equally represented between men and women, and Davidson’s female students continue to make great strides in all aspects of college activities (Arthur). Tony Abbott, Professor Emeritus of English, believes that “going coed was an absolutely essential step in Davidson being the kind of school it is today,” because, concerning the coeds at the College, “they have been clearly among the most exciting students Davidson has ever had” (Arthur). Being a woman at Davidson College, I couldn’t agree with him more!