Letter to Chair of the Board of Trustees

I understand that you are looking to Wheaton College as a model for the co-ed Wilson. Rather than look to the women's colleges that have gone co-ed, please look at the women's colleges that are succeeding.

 

Hollins is exemplary [www.hollins.edu]. Their motto is "Women who are going places start at Hollins." Look at their Web page entitled, "Why Hollins?"

Why does Wilson College have to fade into the oblivion of a ho-hum coed school nestled between Gettysburg, Dickinson, and Shippensburg and under the shadow of Penn State? Pennsylvania has lots of small co-ed schools.

 

Wilson is and always has been unique. Use the moneys aimed at going co-ed to make her even better for the 21st century.

 

Put the money necessary to provide male dorms and athletic facilities into our facilities for the Women with Children program, for our athletes including the gymnasts, and for the new programs needed to make her even more attractive to the women of the 21st century.

 

Please note that I have donated $1100 to Wilson in the past two months, and I am working with two high schools students to get them to Wilson. And I am just one alumna who is willing to put my money and my time into the women's college that gave me so much.

Sincerely your,

Beth Ashby Mitchell '69

December 3, 2012

48 years ago today, I received my acceptance letter from Wilson College. I had applied for "Early Decision" [I agreed to apply to Wilson alone, and I would hear back in early December] because Wilson was the only place I wanted to go.

Set the Scene:
I lived in Bellevue, PA, the first suburb outside of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River, population ~5000. Bellevue High comprised grades 7 through 12. There was no cafeteria--and no school buses or parking lots--so all of the students walked to and from school all of the time, including lunch time.

However, senior year I had a part in a play, which rehearsed at lunch time, so I couldn't go home at lunch time to check our mail. Our landlady agreed to check the mail for me each day, and I would call her from school. On December 3, 1964, the letter from Wilson came; she opened it and read it to me. I think the entire high school heard my whoops of joy and excitement. And my teachers, office staff, and fellows students shared my enthusiasm. I think my mom and I went out to dinner to celebrate that evening.

I did not graduate from Wilson, and I have always been sorry about that. To cover the awkward questions, I just say that I finished at GW after I was married.

Wilson was my school; and one of my closest friends is my roommate from Wilson.

I was not part of the Save Wilson movement; I had just moved to Maryland with a 3-yr old and a newborn. One of my classmates was chair of the Board of Trustees, and I trusted her judgment.

However, in the fall of 1979, I reconnected with Sue Brooks who had been active in Save Wilson. She introduced me to the Baltimore Wilson Club and saw to it that I got back on campus. I met some amazing women and got involved in numerous projects on campus. Barb Tenney noticed me and nominated me for the Alumnae Board.

My three years on the board were life-changing. I was a stay-at-home mom with no intellectual outlet. On the board, I was a leader among many leaders. Wilson College gave me what it gives every graduate--an opportunity to grow and lead.

To be continued.

Today the Wilson College Board of Trustees begin a two-day deliberation on how to turn around the desperate financial state of the college. Among several options being put forth by the president is the option of going co-ed. The alumnae have been kept in the dark about the financial situation [running on a deficit budget for the past three years, plus millions of dollars of debt].

These are alumnae who in 1979 went to court and kept the college from closing. We have been known as Wild Wilson Women for decades. We know how to think outside the box [what box?], and we are very generous to our alma mater.

Alumnae are gathering on campus today and tomorrow in a vigil of support for the college. I am going up tomorrow. And in the meantime, I am keeping the entire Wilson community in my thoughts and prayers.

Wilson was established as a women's college in 1869, and has been dedicated to women's education ever since. It is one of very colleges who offer a Women and Children program for single moms that allows them to live on campus with their children.

Adding a few men to the enrollment will not save the college, especially in an area full of excellent co-ed institutions.

Four Corners Photographs

Having returned from our Four Corners Trip, I have created a Shutterfly page with my photographs. For now you will find a random selection of photos from the Four Corners.

starrmark.shutterfly.com