By: Emily Washburn, Contributing Writer
On March 9, 2017 Wofford hosted a panel discussion with Dr. Carol Wilson, Dean Roberta Bigger and Dean Beth Wallace as part of the programming for Women’s History Month. Wilson, Bigger and Wallace were among the first female students at Wofford to be full-time and residential. They shared their thoughts and memories about the time of transition.
“I sort of came in wide-eyed,” said Wilson. “Finding a roommate was an interesting feat because there weren’t many people to choose from.”
While the number of female students was small, the women quickly became close. Bigger recalled the women always asking each other, “when do you want to go to lunch together, when do you want to go to dinner?”
Wallace agrees that there was a special comradery. She reminisced on how the female students who had gone to Wofford before, but were not living on campus or integrated into the social climate of the school, welcomed the new co-ed class. “They really embraced and engaged us from their experience,” she said.
As exciting as it was being among some of the first residential female students at Wofford, the three alumni noted distinct moments of conflict. Wallace recalled some of the upperclassmen men being very vocal about their displeasure with the women being there. She said, “I remember thinking, ‘this is my school now just as much as it is yours’ and, ‘wow, they don’t want me here? I’m so excited to be here!’”
“For the longest time the only women’s restroom in Old Main was the one on the first floor,” said Wilson, recalling a more visible transition.
Bigger discussed an issue she was faced with when she and a few of her friends wanted to start a volleyball team. They went to the athletic director, who was also the head football coach, and told him they wanted gym time. He responded, “I’m sorry, you can’t have it. We have to save it for the men.” The women asked what time the men were not using the facility, and he told them 6 a.m. While he was probably trying to deter them from using the gym, the women responded, “Okay, we’ll take it.”
This period of transition at Wofford was ultimately successful. However, Wilson, Bigger, and Wallace acknowledge that as one phase of progression is over, the next one emerges. Wilson wishes to see other demographics feel equally as important to Wofford’s campus.
“I hope to see Wofford expand inclusivity for LGBTQ students” she said. Wallace added, “I don’t know if this is a steady increase or a big step, but I would like more diversity and inclusion. I think we are making big strides in that but we still have a long way to go.”
In sum, Wilson, Bigger, and Wallace describe their Wofford experience as positive, which could be why they all chose to stick around. Dr. Wilson ended by saying, “We were figuring out who we were in the midst of an awful lot of moving parts.”
