Male alumni from Miami University will share their thoughts on being students in the minority at the Western College for Women Tuesday, March 24.
The Western College Alumnae Association, women's studies program, Western College Memorial Archive and University Libraries will sponsor the panel of the first men enrolled in Western College who will discuss their experiences from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in 212 MacMillan Hall. The panel will consist of a female student who graduated from Western College in 1974, three male students who attended Western College and a current Miami University undergraduate.
According to Jacky Johnson, Western College archivist, the panel will be held in recognition of Women's History month.
"Every year we have something in celebration of Western archives," Johnson said. "We wanted to have the men come because when they came, they were the first class of males, and we thought we could discuss how they felt being the new people."
Johnson said she hopes the talks will generate discussion on co-ed education as well.
"All of the men and women have gone on to have very successful careers," Johnson said.
Johnson said Western College has produced an unusual number of accomplished graduates for its time.
"That is what set Western apart from other women's colleges," Johnson said. "They were expected to go out in their careers and be successful."
History will also be an important function of the forum, according to Judy Waldron, director of the Western College Alumnae Association.
"We are just trying to keep the history of the old Western College alive so students and faculty can learn what it was like and how it did influence the Western College program," Waldron said.
When Western College opened its doors to male students in 1972, men were able to reside on Western and enroll as a Miami student, Waldron said.
Nicholas Toth, current professor at Indiana University, was enrolled as a Miami student before he became a Western College student. Toth said he was able to attend a study abroad program through the college and used the time to make contacts for his graduate program at Oxford University. Toth said he thought there were many other opportunities in Western College that were valuable to both women and men.
"I liked the liberal arts program-they allowed you to design courses around your interests," Toth said.
Western College also allowed students to design beyond the curriculum, according to Toth.
"It taught me a lot of skills, which is something I will be talking about at the panel," Toth said. "The students did a lot of policy decisions; it's kind of an unheard of level of responsibility. It really made you grow up quickly and mature."
Toth said the experience opened his eyes to different women's issues. Although he said he thinks women's rights are improving in today's world, Toth said salary inequities are an example of an unfair practice that still occurs. Johnson agreed that women's rights are changing.
"I think the traditional role of women being homemakers is no longer that common," Johnson said. "I think women are focused on their careers just as men are."
For those still residing on Western Drive, Toth offered a piece of advice.
"I'm a very passionate guitarist," Toth said, "We use to have jam sessions in the stairwell of Peabody, the acoustics are great."
The panel is free and open to the public.
