Evening star., 1949-06-24
Co|IegeWon1en
Quit j. ). Group,
Change Name
Chapter Says Issue
Was Autonomy, Not
Negroes Admittunce

American Association OF Universe
ty Women today plans to COM
plete its secession from the par
ent group by formally changing
its name to the University Wom-
ems Club, Inc.
The Washington group with
drew from the national organiza-
ton last night Immediately after
the AAUW convention at Seattle
voted overwhelmingly to guaran-
tee membership to any woman
graduate Of an accredited college,
regardless of race.
DR.. Elisabeth w. Conrad. presi-
dent of the Washington branch.
was quoted by the Associated
Press as announcing Immediately:
This means that our branch is
now out of the association.
Shortly before the convention,
the Washington branch won its
court fight here to screen ap-
plicants for membership. The con-
troversy grew out of the branch's
refusal to admit a Negro college
graduate to membership.
Plan to File Papers Today.
The Washington branch was
notified by telephone last night
that DR.. Conrad had handed DR..
Althea K. Hotel. association pres
ident. letter notifying the AAUW
that 1t has lost its Washingto
branch.
A group of officers of the Wash
tngton branch planned to go to
the recorder of deeds today to file
papers changing the name Of the
group.
Withdrawal of the branch from
the parent organization was in line
with a resolution adopted by the
branch in May that if the national
bylaws were amended. in a way
that would restrict or eliminate
the autonomy Of branches, the
Washington branch would with
draw its aff1liation.
Action on the controversial by
laws revision came at the final
session of the associations con-
vention. The vote was 2,168 for
the bylaws revision and IS against
1t. DR.. Conrad, heading the six
member Washington delegation.
said the 20 Washington votes were
cast against the revision.
Autonomy Called Issue.
Before the voting. DR.. Conrad
said. 1T is not. a color issue and
that was not our point. Our
point is autonomy. We believe
that branches should have the
right to assemble a group Of
women who can work in harmony
with a similar approach to the
problems the branches are under
taking"
After adopting the changed by
laws. the convention called upon
the Board of Directors to take
action to seek dissolution of the
court ruling under which the court
enjoined the association from ex-
cluding the Washington branch.
Despite stout opposition, the
convention voted for a plank in
the legislative program providing
for public housing for low-income
families for which private in
dustry is unable to provide.
A resolution in support of an
equal rights amendment to the
constitution was defeated in favor
of a plank. presented by the Legis-
lative Committee, which called
for:
Continued opposition to any
equal rights amendment to the
Constitution unless such amend
ment provides safeguards for the
health, safety and general welfare
of women"
DIR. Helen White Gets Award.
A spokesman said this meant
protection such as provided by
numerous individual State laws
on hours working conditions, etc.,
for women.
The associations next conven-
ton will be held in Atlantic City,
N. j., in the spring Of 1851.
At yesterdays evening session.
the association presented its $4,000
achievement award to DR.. Helen
C.. White, author and professor of
English at the University of Wis
consin.