European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 23, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Agazine a visitor at for yet mawr the few prestigious Stltt Alt female colleges have ties with nearby co it pc tool. Better dead than coed single sex colleges decline Bomarc Idunn associated press Arilyn Flanagan was abit uneasy and somewhat suspicious last tall when eight male students moved Onlo the Vinci. Shaded Campus of Salon Hill College in Greensburg. Pa., which was founded by and for women More than a Century ago. The reason she and other students were told again and again was thai it was Moie convenient for he men who were officially enrolled Al nearby St Vincent College by studied theater communications music and Art Al Seton Hill her fear that Sean Hill was on the Way to becoming ugh coeducational was confirmed four months later when the College announced in would begin accepting men As prospective line arts graduates this fall. She has been fighting the decision Ever since Prol Esling Al meetings and in petitions and. Like others by wearing a sweatshirt Reading Bomer dead than  i eel in is a breach of Condrac because i came to school wanting an education Itom a women s cortege now i m a Junior and i m going to graduate from a school thai is going coed-1 Fec a i be been  said Flanagan. 20. On English major. Adding to the Piol Celers worry and Lury is the  of coeducation that has swept Over several of Solon Hill s sister schools in the past year. Tho latest Large scale changeover Wheaton College in Norton mass., announced earlier this year thai it would be Girt accepting men in the All of 19b6, pending a final vote by the trustees. Last year similar word came from Goucher College in Towson my and my mount College in Arlington a. In each Case a need Tor More Quality Stur Jenks was cited. It is an area of  said Bernice Sander director of to Asso Calion of american colleges project on the Lalus and education of women although most women arc educated in a coed institution the single sex colleges have played a real role in providing More  graduates of women s colleges. Are iwo to seven times As Likely to go on to whatever their accomplishment is compared to women who gradual e from any kind of coed institution agreed m. Elizabeth Tidball. Professor of physiology at George Washington University. Tidball attributes this in part to he higher proportion of Lemale faculty members and administrators at women s colleges. Other educators Point to studies concluding Hal male students receive Mote attention and encouragement in a card classroom than females. Since we know the environment of women s colleges Are especially promotive of women As Well As supportive in s a very Uso Lul and Good thing Hiil to at least maintain Honor and support a number of tuesday june 23, 1987 these ins dilutions Tidball said there Are 100 women s colleges in the Uralde states a modern Low duo primarily to a shrinking College ago population and the opening of All but a Icv men s schools to women according to Nicole Rehdorf associate director of the women s College coalition. There were 142 women s colleges in 1974 and a record 29b in 1960. They High school graduates go where everybody s going. And where most people go is a Largo coed school said Rebecca Stafford president of Pittsburgh s Chatham College. Chatham one Ohhet nation1 Fust four year colleges for women has maintained enrolment Levels by offering More pre professional courses along with the required Liberal arts and by developing a program for older women. High school students who choose single sex insiu1ions Como because of the Rop Lalion Desila the fact thai it s a women s College Stafford said. Then they stay because it s a women s  even the prestigious seven Sisters colleges rolled the trend. Vassar is now coeducational and Radcliffe has delegated responsibility or faculty to Harvard where both men and women reside and study. The remaining five Barnard Bryn mawr mount Holyoke Smith and Wellesley Aro still All female institutions bul have close ties with nearby coeducational schools. All the Timo things Are shifting. One of two colleges every few years Are going to decide to go coed Rindorf said. Bui she added the women s colleges Hal have decided to remain women s colleges Are very Strong. What has happened in the l,.St 25 years there has been a real consolidation a kind of  the very fact that the girls at Solon Hill Are Orot Esling. They know whal they be got. They know i Low splendid it is said David Riesman a sociologist at Harvard University. Founded in 1883 by Mother Elizabeth Ann Solon s Sisters of Charity Selon Hill College entered into a cooperative study agreement in 1969 Wilh is. Vincent College a men s school 10 Miles away in Latrobe is Vincent began accepting women in 1983, however dipping into Selon Hill s Pool of candidates. Since then Solon Hill s enrolment has dropped steadily. Ii now has 821 students compared to almost 1.000 in the late 1970s. President elect Joanne Boyle maintains that a Spilo the decline economics was secondary when the trustees decided late 1asl year to matriculate men in Fine arts. Marketing consultant had recommended Hal the Liberal arts College be More aggressive in recruiting Fine arts students due to its Strong reputation and the Scarcity o similar programs in southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition it was thought a coeducational program would make life easier for the male slide nos already studying Fine Arl s at scion Hill but earning degrees from.St. Vincent. They be had to neg hate with two admissions Olices ratios than one iwo academic Deans Ollices and so Forth said Gene Saraceni chairman of Seton Hill s theater and communications Dep ariment. Seton kill administrators insist the change won t Aller the College s dedication to the education of women. Philosophically intellectually in terms of our curriculum our program our interest in the woman learner we can remain a women s College and is ill address the needs of males in our institution Boyle said. By some male students Are concerned. Sophomore theater major Shawn slur Nick Lor example wonders whether he will Ever have a shot a i becoming editor of the Campus newspaper or president of the student government association. Ii also is not Clear whal will happen if he or other men Opl Lor double majors. One of the big arguments is that the women should have the opportunities to develop themselves. Ihler leadership abilities in an in restricting Almo Phem said slur Nick 19, one of Selor hit s male residents. But How can hey deny me the Opportunity id develop that is  the stars and stripes Page 13