(no subject)
Twenty years ago, I was in my apartment in Ithaca awaiting two phone calls. The first was from someone from the Mills College Alumnae Association (Yuri Mok, maybe?) with the news that the Board of Trustees had voted in favor of going co-ed. The second was from Cornell health services to let me know that the illness I'd been suffering from for the past few weeks was mono, not hepatitis. This was comparatively good news.
The next morning I boarded a plane for California, to attend a weekend workshop for class agents on reunion gift giving. Upon arrival at the Oakland airport, the student who picked me up filled me in on the state of things: the students were staging a strike. Needless to say, the workshop was canceled. Since Mills Hall, the main administration building, was still under repair from the Loma Prieta earthquake the previous year, the administrative offices were being temporarily housed in several campus buildings, and the students had set up blockades in front of each. I had been scheduled to stay in Alderwood Hall, but since that was one of the blockade locations, that wasn't possible.
The events naturally drew area alumnae to campus as well, including some of my classmates. It didn't take long to find a few friends (and a place to stay -- thanks, Chris and Cheryl!). Given its dependence on the college, the Alumnae Association was in a tough position, not really willing/able to take a definitive stand or action, so an "Alternative Alumnae Association" quickly formed to give voice to the reactions of alums. Our headquarters was Kimball House, home of the economics faculty; Marion Ross was particularly supportive (she even gave us her code number for the department copy machine). I also remember Nancy Thornborrow spending time with us, sharing what had gone on with the faculty vote (the faculty voted in favor of remaining a women's college the day before the trustees vote) and the proposals they were making to attempt to reverse the trustees' decision.
It was an incredibly active weekend. We were fielding phone calls, making sure the students manning the blockades were fed and warm, holding strategy sessions, writing press releases, organizing a protest in front of board chair Warren Hellman's San Francisco office. There was much anguish and frustration at that point, but a certain amount of exhilaration as well, just seeing the energy and determination of everyone involved. I was extremely grateful to be there.
Unfortunately, I had to return to Ithaca on Monday. I was home in time to see the Phil Donahue broadcast (with some of my classmates in that audience). And, hallelujah, two weeks later, the decision was reversed. Mills remains the unique experience for women that it has been for so long. And will welcome Nancy Pelosi as this year's commencement speaker!
The next morning I boarded a plane for California, to attend a weekend workshop for class agents on reunion gift giving. Upon arrival at the Oakland airport, the student who picked me up filled me in on the state of things: the students were staging a strike. Needless to say, the workshop was canceled. Since Mills Hall, the main administration building, was still under repair from the Loma Prieta earthquake the previous year, the administrative offices were being temporarily housed in several campus buildings, and the students had set up blockades in front of each. I had been scheduled to stay in Alderwood Hall, but since that was one of the blockade locations, that wasn't possible.
The events naturally drew area alumnae to campus as well, including some of my classmates. It didn't take long to find a few friends (and a place to stay -- thanks, Chris and Cheryl!). Given its dependence on the college, the Alumnae Association was in a tough position, not really willing/able to take a definitive stand or action, so an "Alternative Alumnae Association" quickly formed to give voice to the reactions of alums. Our headquarters was Kimball House, home of the economics faculty; Marion Ross was particularly supportive (she even gave us her code number for the department copy machine). I also remember Nancy Thornborrow spending time with us, sharing what had gone on with the faculty vote (the faculty voted in favor of remaining a women's college the day before the trustees vote) and the proposals they were making to attempt to reverse the trustees' decision.
It was an incredibly active weekend. We were fielding phone calls, making sure the students manning the blockades were fed and warm, holding strategy sessions, writing press releases, organizing a protest in front of board chair Warren Hellman's San Francisco office. There was much anguish and frustration at that point, but a certain amount of exhilaration as well, just seeing the energy and determination of everyone involved. I was extremely grateful to be there.
Unfortunately, I had to return to Ithaca on Monday. I was home in time to see the Phil Donahue broadcast (with some of my classmates in that audience). And, hallelujah, two weeks later, the decision was reversed. Mills remains the unique experience for women that it has been for so long. And will welcome Nancy Pelosi as this year's commencement speaker!