This open letter criticizes the decision to close Wilson College, arguing that similar women's colleges are experiencing growth, not decline. It claims the administration provided a misleading image to trustees of declining prospects in order to push the closure. The letter argues Wilson still has great potential given modest investments in leadership, creativity, and goodwill. Closure would be an "appalling indignity" rather than a dignified choice, and leadership could recruit a small number of new students through innovative ideas to turn the college around.

2. Smile
These days, pouring oil on
troubled waters only riles
them up a bit more.
Public Wednesday, Febri
(ISSN 0033-3808) 110th Year No. 182
Nearly 100 Wilson
WCGA president Gretchen Van Ness reads speech at Wednesday rally
in front of Norland Hall, the President's building.
Statement read by Gretchen Van Ness, President of the Wilson
College Government Association, at the rally at 10 a.m., Feb. 21, 1979.
We are here today as members of the Wilson College community
because we refuse to let one hundred and ten years of education, life,
struggle, love, and achievement become merely a memory.
We are here today because we refuse to forget the thousands of
women who have found their hearts, souls, and voices on this campus.
We are here today because Wilson is more than a set of buildings, a
particular body of students, a budget, and a Board of Trustees.
We are here because we are Wilson.
The decision to close the college at the end of this academic year
comes as a shock to all of us. We realize there are problems, some of
them very serious, but we refuse to accept the Board of Trustees'
decision that there are no viable solutions.
We are rallying today to show the strength and commitment of the
community to this entity called Wilson College. We feel that Wilson's
demanding academic program, her excellent resources, and her
numerous extra-curricular activities continue to make her a strong
and relevant institution. Some of the qualities that make her great,
such as the Honor Principle, are elusive and hard to sell, but they exist
nonetheless and every effort must be made to promote them at this
time.
It is impossible for us to imagine a world without Wilson. We declare
through our presence here today to do everything in our power to
maintain and improve our college. Wilson College, as a tradition, as an
ideal, as a way of life, deserves our utmost effort and this we are
committed to give. Students gather in front of Riddle Hall.
Photo by Susan White
Students gather at the entrance to Wilson College to demonstrate
Support for the College. Photo by Christopher Shatzer, Public Opinion
Students Den I V / l l v / k l UkVr
photographer.
Devotion for College
"""•• •"

3. Rain
Opinion
jary 21, 1979
AB A Gannett Newspaper
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Clearing by late tonighi
Details, map on page 2
36 Pages, 20 Cenl
Students gather on Norland porch to demonstrate opposition to the
trustees' seemingly hasty decision ^°tl° |?^£istopher Shatzer> Public °Pinion
Residents of Prentis Hall used the snow to their
advantage, building a snow-woman to demonstrate
the trustees' decision to close Wilson College.
Her name, "Wilson", was scrawled beneath the
lopped-off head, which lies in the snow to the left.
. — Photo by Susan White
Signs abound during the demonstration. A favorite was "Odd or Even
— We Won't Be Leavin'." Photo by Christopher Shatzer, Public
Opinion photographer.

4. Alumnae List ATnTs
An informal group of alumnae,
students, faculty and friends of 5 ur«
5. We propose that the com-
Wilson College met on Saturday, munications network be im-
Faculty Resolution
March 3, 1979, to discuss the proved in order to accurately A resolution towards President
Board of Trustees' decision to inform the alumnae. Waggoner's resignation was
close the College. The meeting 6. We propose that there will be introduced by Prof. Townsend
took place in Thomson Chapel an examination of the curriculum and was passed by the faculty at
and was chaired by Nancy and that the suggestions sub- their monthly meeting on May 1.
Adams Besch. mitted by the Middle States The resolution is as follows:
During this meeting Mrs. Association be implemented
Elizabeth Diely, President of the immediately. The faculty requests that
Alumnae Association, announced 7. We adopt a vote of no con- Margaret Waggoner resign,
two resolutions that had been fidence in the decision of the immediately as President of'
adopted earlier in the day by the Board of Trustees and the Ad- Wilson College and remove,
Alumnae Association Board of ministration to close the college. herself from all affairs related to,
Directors. The first resolution 8. We proposed that the the endingof the college year and
stated that the Alumnae alumnae support the formation of from the negotiations among
Association would remain alive the necessary committees to trustees, alumnae, faculty, and/
and intact. The second stated that implement these proposals. students regarding the closing of-
representatives from the Fundamentally, those present the College. We consider that she.
Alumnae Association would were calling for the Board of no longer represents any con-,
request to meet with the Board of Trustees to be held accountable stituency in the College and that
Trustees regarding additional to the Wilson community for its her continued involvement Is
pertinent information concerning decision and actions. detrimental to the welfare of the
the closing of the College. The motion was approved to College and all its constituencies.
A group of alumnae adopted establish the C. Elizabeth Boyd
the following proposals: Fund specifically to provide Also at the faculty meeting, the
1. We challenge the Board of resources and legal counsel on Academic Procedures Com-
Trustees' decision to close the behalf of the alumnae in- mittee reported that they have
College and enjoin them to vestigating the policies and revised and finalized the
reverse their course of action. procedures of the Board of procedures to be followed by
2. We propose to further in- Trustees. Contributions should be juniors who wish to receive a
vestigate the criteria upon which sent to the C. Elizabeth Boyd Wilson degree. The procedures
the panel of experts based their Fund, 122 Park Ave., Cham- were passed by the faculty and
suggestions, and upon which the bersburg, PA, 17201. This fund is copies were distributed to
Board of Trustees subsequently completely independent of the students through the Post Office.
made their decision. Alumnae Association and the
3. We propose that the efforts College.
to recruit students should be The motion was approved to
thoroughly reevaluated. We will appeal to the administration and
support an intensive recruiting the Board of Trustees to stop all
program and volunteer our ef- publicity regarding the closing of
forts. Wilson College until the Alumnae
4. Alumnae will be com- Association Board of Directors
prehensively polled to determine meets with the Board of Trustees.
resources for recruitment, The alumnae intend to tap their
communications, professional great potential and skills and
talents, and finances. keep Wilson College a
vital institution.
"Top Administrative Positions Available. No
Previous Experience Necessary. Interested? Call 9-5,
weekdays: 264-4141"
^Aff.
.>*

5. nfom Appears Phantom, con'f.
College. There was certainly no
To Dispel Rumors need for the Board to consult with
By "The Wilson Phantom"
staff, faculty, students and
alumnae, since the Board is wiser
In these troubled times, rumors President would certainly not act than all that riff-raff.
are running rampant and in such an undignified manner, (7) "The College failed
clouding the real problems. As a especially considering her because of poor management."
public service, we have decided respect for the faculty. Why, the This rumor is the silliest of all.
to list all those rumors that are next thing we might hear is that The fact that, in the last 3%
absolutely, unequivocally and the locks on the doors are being years, we have had 4 deans, 3
positively false. Comments are changed. business managers, 3 public
added to some of the rumors. (5) "The Board of Trustees information people, 3 student
(1) "The campus will be doesn't care about the plight of services directors, 2 alumnae
turned into a girls' reform staff, faculty and students." We affairs directors, 3 admissions
school." all know how deeply concerned directors, a complete turnover of
(2) "MW has dumped JM and the Board is; witness the fact that admissions staff at least twice,
plans to elope with DD." they have set up the Wilson and a massive turnover of staff in
(3) "After the vote to close College Foundation to provide the office of development and
Wilson was taken, the President lifetime employment for at least public relations has nothing at all
of Byrn Mawr — a Wilson trustee one Wilson person. to do with the demise of Wilson
— leaped for joy and rushed to (6) "The Board failed to study College. We must look at the
the dorms to recruit students for all options carefully." We all positive side: we have had only
Byrn Mawr." know that the Board — and the one President in that time.
(4) "The President is keeping trustees are all honorable people (8) "Alumnae are a valuable
a list of library books checked out — spent an unusually long time asset to the College;" Nonsense.
by faculty members." This kind (at least 10 days) consulting with Alumnae are a necessary evil for
of rumor simply adds to the a variety of experts and the only obtaining money on occasion.
tension on campus. The viable option was to close the Nevertheless, the College
(Continued on page 4) decided to go to the trouble and
expense of informing the
alumnae that the College is
closing, although we were able to
keep expenses low by mailing the
notices at bulk rate. (We tried
mailing them postage-due, but
the Post Office wouldn't accept
them.) The College continues in
its never-ending battle to balance
the budget at all costs.
66 (9) "The College, after
Save Wilson February 19, gave notice of non-
renewal of appointment to two
faculty members." How silly!
headquarters open Why would the College do that
after announcing the closing of
Had the Save Wilson Com- cheers and finally Dean Disert the College?
mittee realized that most Wilson and WCGA President Gretchen (10) "Faculty and staff plan to
students would not be in Van Ness stepped up to cut the sue for severance pay." Faculty
Chambersburg on the Monday fluttering blue ribbon stretched and staff certainly have no right
following Easter, they might before the door. "For all Wilson to expect any extra pay just
have planned it differently. But students," Gretchen began, "and because they have been at the
the opening of the Save Wilson all Wilson alumnae," added Dean College for 1, 10 or even 30 years
Headquarters on N. Main St., Disert, "now and forever!" and and will probably be unable to
Chambersburg, happened as they cut the ribbon together. find other employment anytime
scheduled on Monday morning, A brief reception and petition soon. Their salaries have been
April 16, at 9:00. signing followed. Save Wilson too high anyway.
The Wilson students who had Headquarters will be open *.(!!) "The College will not
stayed on campus over the Long Monday through Saturday, 9:00 close." No way. The Board, by
Weekend started gathering a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Volunteers are publicly announcing the closing
around 8:30 a.m. to walk to the needed to help with all facets of of the College without consulting
new Headquarters together. the Save Wilson Campaign. those most affected by the
There were between 20 and 30 of Please contact the Headquarters closing, has ensured that the
us altogether and when we if you would like to help. College shall close.
reached Headquarters we were The address is the "Save
joined by many alumnae from Wilson" Headquarters, 127 N.
the area and several professors. Main St., Chambersburg. The
Marji Halpine led several telephone number is 263-5184.

6. Statistical death
They're killing Wilson immeasurably greater than its financial
or numerical strength. It has always ,
been a good investment, judged by the
human return.
Now we have been told that there is
despite its potential' courage in killing the college with digni-
ty. Balderdash!
This is an appalling indignity.
There was some courage in living
The article below is an open letter as Margaret Waggoner has been cited", with faith, as this college has done
addressed to the Board of Trustees of 'for the mind's sake' alone. Ivory tower through its more than one hundred stu-
Wilson College by Raymond K. An- idolatry was not for a school of Wilson's dent generations. It is quite simply EVIL
derson, associate professor of religious calling. to let it die on statistics.
studies at the college. Anyone standing by the first Since its base is modest, only a
Dear Colleagues: judgment of the college's "inability...to painfully modest investment of creativi-
A number of concerned people, who attract students" under the "leader- ty and good will will be necessary to
think of themselves as part of the life of ship," as it was reported, "of President make the college work. The Presby-
the college, have been calling my atten- Waggoner," must sooner or later sadly terian Church has not begun to be
tion to the recently published news item recognize the evidence that this trag- mobilized in a hearty effort to save one
below (Editor's note: A copy of an ically bungled administration is not to be of its own closely related schools. (Ap-
article from Working Woman entitled attributed to "declining prospects' of the parently concerned students visiting
'New era for women's colleges?' was institution, as those who want a cover-up leaders of this 2.6 million member body
attached) as one more piece of evidence would have it. in New York to ask what could be done
that the well-intentioned persons who All of this would be irrelevant if the to keep Wilson open were the first ones
were party to the recent decision to kill administrative and human relations faiJ- even to let these people know that one of
the college have been wronged by having ure had put Wilson past any hope or help. their schools was in real jeopardy!)
well-woven wool pulled over their eyes. But it is not by any means beyond hope It will take only a modicum of hu-
The item in question documents how or help.' mane leadership with a vision to make
institutions of a nature and mission Its resources and immediate pros- the college work. There are a number of
similar to ours have been experiencing pects—especially its human resources persons even among our talented alum-
vigorous growth and increasing expecta- and potential for service—are many, nae who could provide such leadership.
tions. To all who are close to our many times greater today than when the If they can only be freed of the nay-
situation the image which was pushed college was founded by the vision of sayers!
off on the Trustees of the declining Jonathan Edwards' grandson and that What would such leadership have to
prospects and irreversable weakening of other minister. Wightman. one hundrgd achieve?
an institution such as ours is becoming and ten years ago. The only thing of A dozen handfulls of newly recruited
clear as a fabrication unwarranted by all reduced stature today is its leaders' students, perhaps, ten or twelve strong,
the facts. vision. To pursue "excellence" to the each attracted through a different up-to-
Unhappily, it now must become pub- exclusion of service is small, humanly date and appealing new idea?
licly apparent that to have painted such small. It is small to prefer death with The self-investment, perhaps, of a
a picture of inevitability around Wilson's dignity to a life of compromise with few hundred of the thousands of in-
demise makes sense only as part of our human needs. terested people?
long-faltering administration's last- The real need for a private and Effective mobilization of church and
ditch effort to cover up its own severe churcn-related college in a society community support?
and continuing ineptitude in admissions, whose higher education is increasingly Enlistment of a score or two of major
public relations, staff relations and dominated by the state is more crucial contributors?
(more to the point) in human relations in than ever in its history. A dollar bill from every Presby-
general. We can still move out to serve today's terian, perhaps? Has anyone asked
The failure to mobilize the college's young people in their career needs in them?
human resources has become manifest— today's real world, where they must— It's all pretty small potatoes! Noth-
and this is an even more screaming both men and women—earn their way. ing impossible about it; and nothing
blunder than the mismanaged financial Ex-Dean Martha Church took Wilson's _jnevitable about the death of £his com-
resources (although the latter has meant liberal arts finest with her to Hood munity. ~~ ~ •—
failure to maintain our program at the College, a weaker school in many ways, But death with dignity? I ASK you.
'critical mass' attractive to a broad where she has been successful through Now for a serving community that
group of students). On the crucial, hu- leading in just that kind of service. has lived on faith to be killed by
man relations side, the administration's Wilson's liberal arts tradition and the statistics because some of us in leader-
record shows fiasco after fiasco. And changes in character necessary to better ship are "small-faiths'" may be tragic.
there has been little or no vision for the serve in a new day are not mutually But that any of us should be party to a
contemporary potential or goals of a exclusive, as the decision to close pre- misuse of statistics to project a lie
church-related institution, whose man- sumed. obscuring the institution's potential—
date has always been to serve the needs Our college has always lived on a that is a crime against all the living
of an actual human community with shoestring financially. Yet, a bit like the people who are the college and against
flexibility, rather than to follow an proverbial lump of yeast, it has had an all those, still unborn, who are still to
elitist academic abstraction and exist, influence for good in the larger society benefit from it.

7. The greater shame, if, as has been t;
case, the administration assumes a posi-
tion of conflicting interests, (is) hoard- signs of that courage which will recog- We hope you realize that if it comes
ing college resources as assets of an s as nize when a judgment has been made on to an impasse for you, there will be great
yet, nonexistent "foundation" against a wrong basis. They will be watching for personal honor for you, if having served
the claims and interest of the living the courage to reverse position, as new so long and conscientiously in difficult
persons who are the college. (As a facts come to light, or in this case, as times, you choose graciously to step
student of the Bible, I can'f help recall- new life becomes apparent in a patient down at once if unable to go forward
ing that ail-too clever Pharisees made already presumed dying. with a self-renewing college, so (that)
themselves notorious by having a special What would you think of the doctor others, who are also worthy of the public
term for that sort of thing: "Corban," who tried to shut out of the sick room all trust, may make their further self-
they called it. See Mark 7:11.) This other conserned specialists brought in by investment here, where you and I may
particular Pharisaism is simply the the family to help the patient this doctor come to feel our own must end.
crowning deed in a long series displaying has declared beyond his own ability to Respectfully:
a mentality that repeatedly has put heal? RAYMOND K. ANDERSON. Th.D.
abstract ideas above human beings and And yet this past week we have been Assoc. Prof, of Religious studies
which now places a would-be legal enti- treated to the spectacle of the chairman Wilson College
ty, a foundation (which would at best be of our board approaching alumnae, who
a non-personal institution), above actual happen to be on the college's staff, to
living people of life-long loyalty, and threaten their jobs under title of "con-
their families' needs. That is evil. No flict of interest." Such persons had the
other word for it, however well-in- temerity to support the life of their Alma
tended. Mater. A sorry spectacle indeed!
For those of us who worked with and And yet this fastidious legal concern
often respected a leader despite her and apparently remains oblivious of our
our manifest faults, it is terribly painful chief administrative officer's blatant
that all of this must become public now: conflict of interest. To the bystander the
Partly through the bills of particulars chief difference between the two cases
which expose the three-year pattern of can only be that the staff persons in
bungling in admissions policy, partly question are showing concern for the
t h r o u g h wide discussion of the living persons who are and will be the
deplorable ineptitude in human relations college, while the individual who is
which has been frustrating this college's supposed to be administering this col-
growth. All of this is especially sad for lege in its best interests has publicly
an administrator who apparently hates assumed a stance against the manifest
publicity about her actions and who interests of those who are the college.
strikes people as suspicious of what the Maturity knows that many things
public might do. may be done in good legal form—even
Unfortunately, all the people have with a glossy show of "dignity"—which
are plain wrong in human terms. w *r
M. g.
3 2
been comparing notes: they have noticed
the record number of petulant firings, Those Board members who come to
forced resignations and staff walk-outs recognize how things were misconstrued
which have occurred among those she and who either begin to support those
has hired. Any businessman looks at that claiming vision of new prospects for the
college, or step down in their favor, are
O S'
and says, "Well, if you want to kill an
organization..." And the people must going to be known and remembered for
their own vision and courage.
M O
wonder if there is a record so dismal in
There may be others, as it would
all the annals of higher education.
We know from communication with
officers and members of the Board that
appear, who are teetering on the verge
of losing their own good name and public P 2.
they, like us, have long been quietly
wringing their hands over this problem,
hoping for improvement. And we know
they have shared our own dismay, as one
future wherever a suspicion of an unwar-
ranted "conspiracy to turn Wilson into a
private little foundation" will be re-
membered with repugnance among a
l
ft
m =; 5§
CD
after another of our college's constituen- general public, who are beginning to
cies has been alienated and its good will understand all too well "how it has
Q.
been." o-<o Q
bungled away. HOC
As it becomes clear that all the living ICJD
But i s i t a p p r o p r i a t e t h a t t h e constituencies who comprise the college
mnv
Trustees' flagging confidence in their would have chosen some of the other
administrative officer should be occa- options which were considered by the
sion for despairing of the college's poten- ^?5
board, rather than kill it, and as new
tial? It is understandable that under the 3 "o «O
facts continue to emerge, suggesting ^ S-
circumstances individual members may >0
there is potential beyond the cover-up
feel weary of carrying a burning concern for successfully updating its response in ?
for Wilson; but other Wilson friends, <O
its calling to serve,'please re-consider
who are still fresh, would be glad to pick your own position on the therapeutics of u
up the torch. o^
prescribing death for a community. For
The entire public will be watching ja college is a living community.
those it entrusts with responsibility for

8. Wilson
College
Chambersburq '"^Panr
9. Pennsylvania 17201
717-264-4141
March 2, 1979
TO: Members of the class of 1980
FROM: President Waggoner
I am advised that Wilson can arrange to award
the Wilson degree in June, 1980. We will arrange
to do so!
turn

18. / 4tf

22. VO -it-tf. ••S.'r^-l' : '.' ( .'^l> , .V.

23. II f* _ _ _
Save Wilson" hearing
set for Monday
- Some charges reviewed
By Katie Buchler
The Save Wilson Committee
and its attorneys are currently — Breach of contract with
trying to reverse the Trustee currently enrolled students at
decision to close the college by Wilson College and with all
taking court action in the form of accepted prospective students.
a lawsuit. A petition was filed in — Violation and gross
the Franklin County Court of deviation from the original
Common Pleas by attorney charter and amendments
Robert L. McQuaide, on March thereto supplemented by 110
27. years of history and practice.
The court will hear arguments — Failure to adequately or
concerning the suit on May 7, in competently recruit new
the courthouse in Chambersburg. students or to utilize alumnae (Continued from page 1)
The hearing will begin at 9:30 in the recruitment effort.
a.m., and will be open to the — Failure to sufficiently people have already signed the
public. curtail expenditures in view of petition, and 6 thousand
The ultimate goal of the lawsuit income, and to secure signatures is the goal.
is to remove all 24 members of adequate funds to meet The Save Wilson Committee
the Board of Trustees, and to general operating expenses. welcomes community donations.
obtain a permanent injunction — Failure to adequately The C. Elizabeth Boyd Fund is
against the closing of Wilson. reorganize and maintain a being used to pay for all legal and
Plaintiffs in the suit include competent and effective ad- mailing expenses. Contributions
alumnae, faculty, and members ministration staff, and to to this fund can be made in cash
of the student body who are in- devise and implement a plan or check form. Contributions to
volved in intense campaigns for faculty retrenchment as the Preservation of Wilson
against the closing of the school, the facts and circumstances College Trust must be made in
which was announced by the warrented. the form of a pledge, since that
Chairman of The Board of The Save Wilson Committee is sum will be applied to the
Trustees, Martha B. Walker on also engaged in reviewing operating costs of the school only
February 19. potential trustees so that they in the event that Wilson stays
The petition charges the Board may serve in the event that the open as a teaching institution.
of Trustees with 17 counts of college stays open. Alumnae that Anyone who would like further
mismanagement. Some key support the committee are now information about what the
charges are: conducting an enormous fund- committee is doing should write
— "Failure to fully imple- raising drive, and have already or call the Save Wilson
raised approximately $650 Headquarters at 127 North Main
ment a report submitted to the thousand. Their &v*i is one —" goal is one Street, Chambersburg, Penn-
f a c u l t y , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , million dollars by the date of the
million dollars by the date of the sylvania, 17201, telephone 717-263-
trustees and students for use in hearing. It ;is• •
hearina ! > < hoped ••J that the ef- 5184.
1979-80 and following school forts of the fund-raising drive and Help save our beloved school!
years by the Commission on the availability of qualified
Higher Education of The successors for the current
Middle States Association of trustees will influence the court
Colleges and Schools, choosing favorably,
instead to -I, mi in me the
.„ terminate me Interested community
college less than a year later
notwithstanding a degree of members can sign a petition
optimism expressed by the urging the Board of Trustees to
report as to the college's reconsider their uecision to closemen decision
financial picture." Wilson bv paying a ---•-•• •to the
by navir,rf « visit
Headquarters. About 3 thousand
(Continued on page 4)

24. ;

26. J