Approximately 125 Guilford Women marched to New Garden Hall last Tuesday afternnon to protest
a change in the homecoming open house policy. Meeting with the students is Associate Dean of
Students, Barbara Rau.
Guilford Women Unite
The women of Guilford
united and rallied last week to
protest suggestions made by
Dean Barbara Rau, associate
Dean of Students, concerning
the Open House policy for
Homecoming. The trouble,
which Dean Rau feels "was
basically due to a breakdown of
communication," began when
Martha Carter, president of
Binford Hall, met with Miss Rau
to discuss Open House. After
discussing hours and
refreshments, Miss Rau said she
would like for someone,
preferably a member of the
House Council, to be in the
dorm at all times during Open
House to greet visitors and check
on the girls' rooms.
Miss Rau's statements were
presented at the floor meetings
in Binford Monday night. Most
of the girls interpreted her
statement as "an obvious lack of
trust and juvenile treatment."
One resident felt that her change
in policy "showed complete
disregard for the honor system."
Second floor residents
decided to take their gripes to
Miss Rau and invited first and
third floors to join in the
campaign. By Tuesday afternoon
a march to New Garden Hall had
been organized and included
girls from the entire campus.
Miss Rau met the group of
approximately 125 determined
girls with a gracious smile and
seeming loss of words. Val
France read a petition defining
Open House "as.a free visitation
and inspection of our residential
rooms by friends, parents,
relatives, alumni, faculty, and
administration." It further
stated that "The added
responsibility placed on the
House Council members and hall
proctors by this change in policy
is unfair since it deprives these
students of equal enjoyment of
the Homecoming activities." .
Dean Rau smiled as she
repeatedly emphasized her
complete trust in the girls. But
she still thought "overseers"
should be on hand in the dorms.
After hearing the comments
from the crowd, Miss Rau left
with the agreement that she
would talk to Dr. William
Lanier, Dean of Students, and
see the girls again Wednesday.
Miss Rau failed to appear for
the second meeting with the
marchers. In her place Martha
Bradshaw, president of the WSC,
read the following statement
which was the result of a
meeting of the dorm presidents
Dean Rau, Dr. Lanier, and Dr.
Jerry Godard: "We, the women
students of Guilford College,
feel that Homecoming is a
matter which should be left up
to the responsibility of each
resident hall's House Council
with the full cooperation of all
residents..."
