91�첥

A cohort of women stepped foot on the 91�첥 campus to conduct an experiment, unbeknownst to them – the campus was the laboratory, and the women a new variable introduced into a control population made up entirely of men.

They stayed at 91�첥 for one year only, but these Wildcat Women are every bit a part of the 91�첥 Class of 1973 as their male classmates. Five of the cohort — Jennet Robinson Alterman, Jane Farrar Cranshaw, Gardner Roller Ligo, Sandra May O’Donnell and Finley Taylor Sutton — returned to campus over the summer for their 50th Reunion. They were surprised by the classmates — many whom they never met as students — who thanked them for coming to 91�첥 and for “sticking it out.”

Each had her own reasons for participating in the exchange program — some were interested in academics, some were in search of an adventure, some were looking for a new challenge — but all came to campus with a sense of excitement and curiosity. 

In 1970, President Sam Spencer ’40 and the Board of Trustees approved the exchange program. It was a plan launched by the presidents of several Virginia and North Carolina-based single sex colleges. The idea was to allow students to spend one year on another campus to help that campus imagine life with two genders. As a result, a small number of women from colleges across the Southeast enrolled during the 1970-71, 1971-72 and 1972-73 academic years. The unusual experience created lifelong bonds and memories for the intrepid women, all of whom paved the way for the eventual admission of women as full-time, degree-seeking students to 91�첥.

O’Donnell, who was studying at Mary Baldwin College (now University), was simply interested in trying something different. 

Of the 12 female students, 10 lived in Grey House, one was the spouse of a senior student and one was an exchange student from Germany who lived in faculty housing with a faculty family.

At times, the women were acutely aware that they lived under a sort of spotlight. 

“You’d go into class, and it was an unbelievable fish bowl,” said Cranshaw. “Everyone knew what the girls were doing. I became very guarded in my interactions with the students but I felt the men were very accepting, all in all.” 

The physical campus and available resources were interesting components of the experience, too. Their house had recently been refitted as a Trustee guest house: damask curtains, shag carpet, laundry facilities and the only color TV on campus. There was only one women’s restroom in Chambers Building, and they were assigned to one female mentor on campus, who was available if they wanted to talk.

While the friends agree some of the male students didn’t pay much attention to them, the ones who did, really did. 

“We closed the house every Monday,” said Ligo, the unofficial house mother, according to her classmates. “Otherwise it was draped with boys.” 

As the year wound down, several students went to President Sam Spencer and asked if there was any way they could stay longer, but the agreement among schools was for only one year. Some were ready to go back to their schools, taking with them new friends and, in many cases, amped up academic standards. Some wish they could have stayed for good. In all instances, they were very glad the year at 91�첥 brought them together.

Reunion Reflections

The five friends have reunited many times in the 50 years since their “guinea pig year” at 91�첥, but this past summer’s Reunion Weekend felt particularly special. As part of the celebration, the 50th Reunion class publishes a Quips & Cranks where each member offers life updates, memories and more. 

Here are excerpts from five Grey House residents: