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Randolph-Macon Students Sue
By Elisabeth Caldwell '08
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Though the picket signs and banners have been retired, the battle at Randolph-Macon Women’s College continues: in the court room. After the decision on September 9th by the school’s board of trustees to admit men beginning fall 2007, two lawsuits have been filed in the Lynchburg Court System against the college. The first was filed by several students and states that the college should delay the co-ed decision until 2010, when all current freshmen have graduated. The second was filed by former trustees of the college contending that the college must have legal approval to make the co-ed change.

So what’s the feeling on the RMWC campus? One student who wished to remain anonymous commented on the suit, “The board expected this. They had to. They even have a retiring president. It’s convenient.” Kathleen G. Bowman has been president of RMWC for 11 years, since 1994, but she will be retiring her post at the end of the 2006 school year.

Brenna Yeary, a senior at RMWC, commented, “I think students view the lawsuit as something that, even if it isn't successful in preventing the co-ed decision from being implemented, directly limits the college's current spending ability and continually keeps the displeasure of a segment of the community at the forefront of the Trustees' decision-making. I don't believe that many students are informed, including myself, of the progress of the lawsuit, and even fewer are directly involved.”

Students at Sweet Briar seem to be largely unaware of the suit, as well. When informed, though, most expressed approval and shared feelings on what their reactions would be if Sweet Briar were to go co-ed. Shaheen Moosa ’07 says, "It's a difficult situation. I didn't come to a women's college for a women's education. I came for a good education. But RMWC has an obligation to keep the college the same until the freshmen graduate. However, if the school had to change now or close, then they did what they had to do.” She suggests, “Randy-Mac girls should come to SBC! We need their money too!"

Jessica Gregg ’09 commented, "I totally agree with that, and I would do the same thing. The school violated their contractual obligations." Similarly, Caitlin Anderson stated, "It's their right. They entered into a contract." Nani Smith ‘07, who helped generate support on the Sweet Briar campus for the protestors, in October, remarked, "That sounds fair with me. I think that's what the school should have done to begin with."

The plans to move forward with the co-ed decision at RMWC have ultimately continued, and the school will be announcing its new name December 9th.