THE WOMEN By Louise EVER underestimate the power of
N a — all right, let's admit it — woman. The word is no longer barred. The fragile flowers of femininity, long represented on our campus only by snapshots in an engineer's wallet, are taking T-squares in hand and heading straight for one of the greatest masculine strongholds in our country today — your Alma Mater. You probably know the story. The Women's Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta petitioned the Board of Regents several months ago, saying that nowhere in the state could a woman obtain an education in either engineering or architecture. They called it discrimination, and so, you'll have to admit, it was. Georgia was the only state left which did not offer engineering and architectural training to women. The final action took place at the meeting of the State Board of Regents on April 9 when, after a stormy session, the women won out by a vote of 7-5. As an alumnus, your first question will be how is this affecting the school. First of all, there was a loud and irate protest at the very idea. One member of the Board of Regents, after bitterly declaring that "the women are getting their noses under the tent at last," moaned, "we'll have home economics and dressmaking at Tech yet." And you can well imagine how the student publications played it up, burlesqueing the women who have already become known as "Nells of Engineers." Actually, it will not cause nearly as much clamour as some fear. The Board decreed that women should be admitted solely to study for engineering degrees not available at other state schools now open to them. They also emphasized that there must be no change in the curriculum or in academic standards at Georgia Tech. When you consider the amounts of math and chemistry needed for admission, you will realize that not many women would be so qualified. Chancellor Harmon Caldwell has said that the action would apply to only about 25 women seeking engineering degrees. Of course, there are some problems that are already arising. One concerns Dean George C. Griffin. Since his title is Dean of Students, will it now be Physics Mr. Earle E. Bortell, associate professor, September 1, 1921. Textile Engineering Mr. Ralph H. Hill, associate professor, September 1, 1926. May-June, 1 9 5 2
Harkrader
Dean of Women also? When asked, he grinned and said he expected they would have to get someone else to take that over. And where will the women be housed? Answers to questions like these will have to be found in the near future, but Col. Van Leer is not worried about this. Long one of the foremost proponents of the co-ed plan, President Van Leer says it is a matter of equality to admit women to the only tax-supported institution in the state offering engineering courses. It must also be remembered that his wife studied architecture at the University of California, and his daughter is a chemical engineering graduate of Vanderbilt. The Atlanta Constitution has come out wholeheartedly in accord with the Board of Regents' decision. "In this day and time when skills are so heavily in demand, there is no logical reason why women should be prohibited from training in any vocation in which they are capable of serving," they maintained. "Georgia Tech offers courses in many scientific fields in which women are needed and can fill the bill. Their services in technical fields are more in demand daily." The students as a whole are determined that no traditions be changed for the members of the fairer sex. Bill Dean, editor of the Technique, said, "When they show they have the ability, then they'll be accepted as one of us." Roland Holt, senior class president, touched on a point of contention when he ventured the opinion that "if they come here to study student engineers instead of engineering, they won't stay long." W. C. Carmichael, registrar, warned the girls recently in the Atlanta Constitution that if they were "just seeking a Georgia Tech husband they'd be farbetter off to enroll at Agnes Scott and meet him under more favorable conditions." He warned that a woman won't be her most glamourous self after an hour in the machine shop and its grease, the foundry and its dirt, and the woodshop with its sawdust. But generally, now that everyone is getting used to the idea, most of the talk has died down. The prevailing sentiment seems to be, "We've got 'em, God bless 'em." And though the stalw a r t Ramblin' Wrecks maintain that nothing will be changed for the women, there are some of us that won't be too surprised to see an occasional shoeshine, more clean-shaven jaws, and maybe time will even bring about a
ATLANTA CO N STITUTl O N-B ALDY
change in the now standard garb of T-shirt and dungarees. (Ed.'s Note: Just in case the above has not been sufficient to ward off your worst fears as to what is taking place at your school, we hasten to add that at the time of publication, the registrar's office reports only four women have made application for admission. Of these, only one is fully qualified at the moment: the balance need to make up some slight deficiency in required units. One Atlanta applicant is 17-year-old Mary Joan Coffee, Roosevelt High School senior and daughter of William B. Coffee, Tech Alumnus, GE '28. The other Atlanta applicant is Mrs. Elizabeth Herndon, World War II widow and mother of a nine-year-old son. Mrs. Herndon is at present employed as an accountant. Both women claim interest only in technical subjects and a degree in engineering, although Miss Coffee has contacted the director of the band about becoming a majorette, which she was in high school. The other two applicants are from Washington, D. C. and Houston, Texas. Little is known about them. The one from Houston is fully qualified for entrance right now. The Women — will undoubtedly be continued at some future date.)
Shown above is a model sewage disposal plant designed and exhibited on Engineer Day by the Civil Engineering School. The Civils won the award presented to the School or Department with the best display. This was only one of their displays. 17