The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08
CO-EDUCiTION At UESLETiN.
Fewer Women There This Year Owing to
the Opposition Of the Male students
Women Strong Competitors in Study.

MIppLETowN, Conn. Oct 1.-THE entering
class at Wesleyan University this fall will mum.
Der not far from 100. At the opening, 81 men
registered and more were expected later; but only
seven women joined the class OF 1904 This is
an increase II from II 10 Is men and a decrease
uf Is women compared with the entering class
last year The decrease in the number Of female
students is due to the opposition TO co education
made By the male students last year when the
student body by rising vote. including all but
seven men ont Of 270. declared itself opposed to
co education One thing has been greatly mis-.
understood The OPPOSITE II directed at the
system OF co cducatiua and not at the young
women now in college. The latter are earnest,
faithful students and have always been treated
with respect They have never complained about
the way in which they were treated personally
though the fact that the male students were so bit
tery opposed TO CO education made il unpleasant
for them
The young women OF the junior class In pre-
yious years have been asked to pay So each ioc
the support Of the college annual, but had no rep
rcsentaton on the Ola POdridG, as il is called.
Last year the men in the junior class thought
this was unfair and decided 10 excuse the young
women from paying the assessment and passed
the following resolution, That the names Of
ladies Of the college be omitted entirely from the
1900 Ola Podridd and that a statement be printed
in the opening pages Of the book signifying that
il is published in the interests Of the male members
OF the college.
The increase in the number Of women students
had been great enough before this to alarm the
young men In the fall Of 1872, the trustees. in
spite Of the protests Of the students and the alumni
voted to open the doors OF Wesleyan TO women
-Four women entered and were graduated in 1870
In 1877 two women received diplomas There were
no more until 1879, when there were two In 1882
there were two: in 1883, one; in 1884. two in 1885
six in 1885, three: in 1887, three; in 1888 three;
in 1850, two in 1890 five; in 1901, three; In 1892
three, From this time on there WAS a rapid in
crease I'll the class OF 1902 had twenty Ave female
members In the past ten years the number Of
students at Wesleyan has increased from 100 10
33l, gain Of about "a per cent Tho increase
in the number Of men was As per cent while
that Of the number Of women was AT the aston
shing rate of 4S5 per cent This fact started the
opposition and caused much anxiety 10 some Of
the alumni To them il looked as though Wesley
an was trying 10 be spelt Wellesley.
II must be admitted that the young women
| have even taken higher stand in scholarship
| than the young men. Four Of the five 10 take
! honors at the last commencement were women.
| But tho opponents OF Co.eduCatiOn say that last
! years class was one Of the weakest ever turned
! around college that the young women could have
| beaten the male members in athletics Al the
annual field day held in May last, the class Of 30
Of The twenty six prizes Offered by the University
| last year not q single one was won by a woman
What the result will be no one knows The
subject Is TO be officially investigated by a com
miilcc consisting Of four members Of the Hoard
Of Trustees, two alumni, and two members Of the
faculty, beside President Raymond. The trustees
appointed are John + Andrus New York city;
Philadelphia; Joseph f. King. Fort Edward
The members elected by the alumni are; Seward
Middcown. The faculty members are Prof
NJ. Van Week and Prot {. I. Winchester :