RSS
Facebook
Twitter
E-PrinceReader Comments
Breaking the glass ceiling: 40 years of coeducation
Published: Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Vera Rubin, who discovered that at least 90 percent of the observable universe is invisible and unidentified “dark matter” — a finding that dramatically altered the conventional understanding of the universe — was never given the opportunity to apply to Princeton.
After ...
(back to the article)
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual commenters and do not necessarily represent the views of The Daily Princetonian Publishing Company, Inc. We do not take responsibility for the opinions, facts, or claims presented by individual commenters, and reserve the right to moderate or delete inappropriate comments.
It is too bad that after all these years, neither the Prince nor certain denizens on Nassau Hall, can do away with the term "coeducation." This archaic term-- and its counterpart, "coeds"-- only serves as a reminder of a time when women were not accepted as students at Princeton. Why not celebrate the "education of women" as students at Princeton? Do we talk about the Intergration of the Student Body? No!
Bury the term "coeducation" as a label that may have been meaningly during the transitional period when women were an uncommon presence on campus-- but now, we're here, we're not so "queer" (in the sense of unusual; some are "Queer"-- celebrate that too), and Get Over It!
There are women all over Princeton! Celebrate that, not an old fashioned word, like Coeds!
For the record, while the Class of 1973 carries a sign proudly stating "Coeducation Begins" in truth, women from three earlier classes preceded them as Princeton graduates.
The Class of 1970-- which celebrates its 40th Reunion this weekend-- includes several women who were on campus under the auspices of the Critical Language Program. The "critters" essentially attended Princeton during their junior year, concentrating on language studies that were not offered at their respective institutions. When the Trustees decided to begin accepting women for degrees, many of the crit lang students applied for transfer, and you will see some of them in the P-Rade.
They were followed by other transfers who are members of the Classes of 1971 and 1972, as well as several transfer students who joined their sisters originally accepted into the Class of 1973.
Imagine what it must have been like for those daring pioneers in the early days when women were still a rarity as students in the classroom. Cheers to all those brave women in the Classes of 1970,1971, 1972, and 1973.
"Intergration"? "Meaningly"? "Denizens on"? Concerns over usage should start at home.
Let's just be glad that Princeton now has a proud tradition of admitting brilliant and accomplished women.
@Alumnus of the First Class...
Mea culpa.
Integration. Meaningful. Denizens of.
Bad Typing? So shoot me. Or forgive me. Like you've never had sloppy typing, esp. on a website that doesn't offer Preview Prior to Posting?
Nice to know you were a Coed.
@ Alumnus of the First Class, pt. 2
by curious coincidence, please see Freakonomics Blog (and comments) in the NYTimes today:
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/2...
A couple days ago, I was in a meeting with several folks. One of them mentioned that he’s absolutely ga-ga over his new iPad.
A few hours later, he sent out a group e-mail from that very machine:
We too really enjoyed the meeting and so appreciate your thoughts, insights and excrement for the project.
I guess he still has to get used to Apple’s e-mail auto-fill. He was mortified but I told him not to worry: hey, excrement happens.
BTW, Alumnus, am I correct that you are in the Class of '70-- the first class to have women in their graduating class? If so, Happy Fortieth. Old Guard! Old Guard! Old Guard! ;-)
Pax vobiscum. Yes, The Great Class of 1970!
One of the nicest aspects of marching in the P-Rade with my Great Class of 1970 (we were just behind the class banner for its women graduates) was the warmth and enthusiasm with which we were cheered by the women in younger classes. What a great university!