Specific or individual

I think one of the real issues here is to seperate RMWC’s problems from that of single sex education.

I am a product and believer in single-sex education ... but it’s harder to do today for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is student expectations. There must be a active and able program for community building that allows for heterosexual activies and a perceived normal social life. Without that, not even the most outstanding educational program will prosper unless it is supported by some spiritual ideal -

Okay ... RMWC ... the school failed, in my opinion, on several fronts. Not only did they fail to adapt to the changing social environment by putting strong social programs together for Non-Virginia students but even failed to promote strong relationships with Lynchburg College or Liberty (both of which would be hard given the intellectual position of RMWC and these institutions) ... but even a regular “exchange” with EH or VMI would have helped ... but no ... you either came to RMWC with a social life outside of the school (ie from a VA high school) or you sat idle — played with webcams with internet “dates” ... or ... well, whatever ...

The school advertised a strong honor system yet blatant honor violations and rule violations were allowed to fester and were tolerated by the administration — rules were not, indeed rules — including “dating” the kitchen staff. The Alternative Lifestyle issues became a blatant hallmark of the school ... all of which led to a general breakdown of the appeal for the school. It was not the school it was or even the school its admissions staff advertised ... If they couldn’t see the Freshman to Sophomore drop rate as siginificant, they were institutionally blind ...

So ... I believe RMWC’s issues were not only those of single sex ... but one of a school who had not adapted to its setting nor encouraged a “winning” strategy in attracting students that would allow it to prosper.

Cinelli, at 11:05 am EDT on September 7, 2006

Response to Cinelli

I was fascinated by your comments. You are obviously a recent grad and have experience with the college that is so valuable to this decision. Compared to those of us that have been away so long we have donned our rose colored glasses about our beloved college. I was curious all along if the “Alternative lifestyles” issue had become and overwhelming concern. I have wondered all these long years how the social fabric was pieced together. I graduated the year after W&L wend coed. I am shocked to hear about Honor code violations. It truly sounds like it is not the school that I loved.

Mary, at 5:45 am EDT on September 9, 2006

response to “Cinelli”

I also found Cinelli’s comments interesting. I just recently graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College this past May and I have to admit — yes, R-MWC has had its issues with the honor code. But, in response to Mary’s comments, I DO believe that R-MWC is still the school you knew and loved, and let me say why. For the four years that I was a student there, I found that the majority of students took the honor code very seriously. In comparison to the sorts of things that occur on other campuses (and I am basing this statement on both personal experience and the knowledge of my many friends who have attended big, coed universities), R-MWC is absolutely amazing. In no other place have I encountered students who, on a regular basis, wondered about the “honorability” of their actions and decisions. The honor code was a big part of my life and the lives of my peers. Especially now that I have left the red brick walls behind, I realize what an amazing impact the concept of the honor code has had on my personal development and growth. I feel that the code has impacted the way that I behave (and will behave) not only within academia, but within social and family spheres. Many of my alumnae friends have made it clear to me that they didn’t realize the full significance of the honor code, and its impact on their psyche, until they left R-MWC and gained a new perspective on the everyday occurrences in the “real world.” Again, yes I think that the school’s emphasis on the honor code has slipped somewhat, but this is completely remediable, as the code’s presence on the campus remains very strong.

Admittedly, some things have changed, and that is understandable given the evolving social times and the impact that this has had on incoming classes. I agree with Cinelli (whoever she is, and from what class) when she says that the school has failed in providing adequate social opportunities for its students. But it is also important to note that to a large degree, the quality of one’s college experience rests upon the INDIVIDUAL. I quite thoroughly enjoyed my time at R-MWC, partially because I made it a point to find social opportunities. During my time at the school, I traveled to Knoxville, DC, Charlottesville, Sweetbriar, Roanoke, Charleston (South Carolina), Virginia Beach, and in each place I developed some of my favorite memories with my fellow R-MWC ladies. When I left at the end of my four years, I left with an absolutely wonderful group of friends, who incidentally provided slave labor at my wedding this past summer, and they did it while smiling and exuding an amazing sense of warmth that, I believe, characterizes the R-MWC community. Yes, the first year and sophomore atrition rates are shameful, but weigh that against the fact that R-MWC sports some of the most loyal and dedicated alumnae in the nation. I think THAT says something.

Naomi, Grad Student, R-MWC Alumn ‘06 at UC Berkeley, at 10:00 pm EDT on September 9, 2006

Faith, Hope ... Work

I am impressed by the character and level of discussion ... okay, it’s a rather small and select group that would be here ... but it’s a great discussion ... an example of what RMWC does and is ...

I’ve also got to confess ... I’m not a grad, I’m just a dad. A dad with a history, but a dad all the same. I can’t really tell you too much more because my daugher would kill me but if you look around the Inet and figure somethings out, I spent about every weekend at or around RMWC from 1969 to 1973 (and published some of the stories)

My insights are the result of my daughter’s failed investment at RMWC and that of the similar experiences of the daughters of both friends and fraternity brothers. During the process I spent hours on the phone with administration and urged certain programs to no avail.

Some thoughts.

RMWC is a national treasure in terms of acedemic performance, foundational learning, and intellectual development — thought so then, think so now.

RMWC is “out of fashion” but more importantly, has not adapted it’s community to attrack the students, allow them to thrive in all their desired aspects of their lives — in enough numbers to keep the school viable.

RMWC is in Lynchburg — rightly or wrongly an ideological capital of the US that has lots of bagage and in many areas contrary to the RMWC life and thought style.

My belief is that RMWC must go Co-ed to NOT shed the positives. I was intimately involved in W&L changing it’s world and believe it is the reason it is a success today. But, then W&L to me is a school of present not just memory.

One of the things RMWC must do, IMHO, is to institute programs that bring the alumni back to campus actively and as a part of their life-learning process ... it didn’t end at graduation. I have been on the board of W&L’s alumni college and it does foster real alumni activity with the school as it stands, not as they remember it.

Secondly — trying to be PC here — The “Alternative Lifestyle” issues must be muted along the lines of what the administration and adminissions people advertise NOT what is evident on campus to both parents and the students. Rightly or wrongly it has become an unmistakeable part of the campus — it is somethine we as thinking people accept about the world — but is it something in which you want to be immersed. On my Parent’s weekend (attended by less than 30 groups of parents) it was advertised at many, many levels. The students I know/knew said it part of their daily lives and one of the major stresses of an isolated lifestyle — which is what RMWC provides.

The honor code must become internalized to all aspects of the student body ... not just the leaders.

There is much more ... but I appreciate saying what I’ve said. W&L and Mary Washington have done so much since they changed ... you can too.

Cinelli, at 12:30 pm EDT on September 15, 2006

response to cinelli

I think it is important to note that homosexual women and men comprise roughly 10% of the population. Regardless of where you stand on the morality of the issue of homosexuality, it still exists. During my years at R-MWC I worked with a group consisting of straight and gay students, as well as counseling center staff, that helped to develop “Bridges". Bridges is a group dedicated to building alliances and nurturing understanding between the straight and gay community of R-MWC. The counseling staff was very supportive of the students, however we came up againt quite a bit of opposition from the administration, as we worked to include the group as an officially recognized organization (devoted to tolerance mind you)of the school. In retrospect there seemed to be a sort of “don’t ask don’t tell” policy toward homosexuality on campus. This is possibly due to the fact that women’s colleges have been historically, notoriously suspect as hot-beds of rabid lesbian recruitment. But to all this homosexual fear I would say look to any college campus today (with the exception of schools bearing a christian/religious affiliation) and you will see a wealth of out and proud gay students. It is unfortunate that some young women and parents of R-M feel discomfort at having to witness acts of affection between two women (not sure if this is what you are implying in your post- just what I picked up on). It is also unfortunate that many young women in the past (I am sure now as well) have felt absolutely tortured that their emotional and romantic desires were for their own sex; because we are all, in my opinion, as God has seen fit to make us. This is the point where I have to use the old hackneyed cliche of ‘how many times a day are gay people forced to view blatant acts of affection between heterosexuals?’ But truly, at the end of the day, this is all smoke and mirrors. The relevant questions parents should be asking are not do students have adequate hetero-social encounters and opportunities, but are they receiving the best education money can buy and why does it look as though the board has failed in their duty to the college? Respectfully,Brenda Bailey 1989

Brenda Bailey, at 12:20 pm EDT on September 21, 2006