Wilson College students balk at co-ed idea

“But they are also trying to let the financial numbers that they received weigh against the Wilson experience,” she said. “I don’t think they are putting any weight or value into that.”

While many of the protesters and signs are highly charged, Wills said most of the students want to be heard.


“I think there’s been a lot of issues for many years and students are finally fed up with it,” she said. “They really wanted to do something and remind faculty and administration that students have a strong presence on campus and they need to be heard and whenever we say something, action needs to be taken about it.”

Senior Elizabeth Angel doesn’t understand why Wills is the only student representative on the commission.

“It’s about us being heard. There are a lot of decisions being made right now and we don’t feel as though our voices are being heard,” Angel said. “I don’t think it (co-ed) would be the worst thing ever, but tradition-wise, we’re a very traditional college. I think the students here are a little afraid of how that will be impacted.”

She doesn’t think co-ed is the only option and that the commission was shortsighted in its recommendations.

Senior Lauren Kershner worries about the possibility of graduating from a college that could close.

“I’d like to see us stay women’s centered and stay where we are now, but I understand the need to be able to grow and we need to be able to survive,” Kershner said. “To do that, we might have to change the way things are on campus, and if that’s what the commission feels needs to happen and if that’s what the board of trustees feels needs to happen, I’ll stand behind that.”

She is not just concerned about her future, but recent alumnae and how it will affect their job possibilities to have graduated from a defunct school.

“If Wilson closes, how is that going to affect my degree or a job?” she said.

Junior Katie Snyder said the campus is divided over the co-ed issue.

“I am in support of whatever is going to make Wilson successful and help us stay open,” Snyder said.

Based on the statistics provided by the commission, Snyder said she thinks creating a co-ed campus is what will move Wilson forward.

“I think one of the biggest things that students don’t realize about going co-ed is that it is going to draw in more women rather than men,” she said. “I don’t see us opening up to men and going co-ed and a swarm of men come in here taking over Wilson.”

With less than a week left until the board is expected to make a decision on the recommendations, Speer said the college supports the students in their expression of opinions.

“All of these decisions are not being taken lightly and nothing has been predetermined,” Speer said. “There is an ongoing conversation about how to move Wilson forward so the college can survive and can thrive.”