Attempted Name Changes of MUW after Coeducation
Zoom Link
https://muw.zoom.us/j/95717735793
Department
History, Political Science, & Geography
Format of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Research Category
Humanities
Description
In 1982, the Mississippi University for Women made the transition to coeducation, which was a controversial decision, and was quickly followed by the issue of should the name of the university be changed in order to accommodate the changing gender standards and norms throughout society. MUW is one of only two public universities that has opened its doors to men without changing its name. This research looks at the attempted name changes through the lens of archival documents within the Beulah Culbertson Archives as well as comparing these events to fellow women-only universities' path to coeducation and name changes. The research looks at the motivations for the proposed name changes as well as the reactions of university officials, students, and alumni. This study reveals that establishing trust between university officials, students, and alumni will be critically important if a name change is desired, and proponents would be wise to focus careful attention to the preservation of the university’s women-focused history and mission.
Recommended Citation
Dawkins, Bayleigh, "Attempted Name Changes of MUW after Coeducation" (2022). Undergraduate Research Conference. 1.
https://athenacommons.muw.edu/urc/2022/humanities-i/1
Attempted Name Changes of MUW after Coeducation
In 1982, the Mississippi University for Women made the transition to coeducation, which was a controversial decision, and was quickly followed by the issue of should the name of the university be changed in order to accommodate the changing gender standards and norms throughout society. MUW is one of only two public universities that has opened its doors to men without changing its name. This research looks at the attempted name changes through the lens of archival documents within the Beulah Culbertson Archives as well as comparing these events to fellow women-only universities' path to coeducation and name changes. The research looks at the motivations for the proposed name changes as well as the reactions of university officials, students, and alumni. This study reveals that establishing trust between university officials, students, and alumni will be critically important if a name change is desired, and proponents would be wise to focus careful attention to the preservation of the university’s women-focused history and mission.
https://athenacommons.muw.edu/urc/2022/humanities-i/1