Then how do you explain the protesters' banners and chants proclaiming "Coeducation silences women"? It can't simply be a matter of having more people on campus. The protesters claim that Wells can and should increase enrollment through better marketing. If that were successful, and, say, the number of students doubled, than the statistical chance of being a leader would be reduced regardless of sex.
To identify "coeducation" as the problem clearly reflects a fear that men are likely to dominate.
As for lesbianism on campus: several Wells students have estimated to me that 75% of Wells students are lesbians.
I have no problem with that, nor do I have a problem with students wanting an all-girls school that is a safe haven for lesbians. I only ask that people not be hypocritical. Don't demand single-sex rights for yourselves, while seeking to deny them to men at their colleges and clubs.
My point is that there are limited number of leadership positions, and with more males who assume leadership, there are fewer females whose voices are heard. All student leadership positions at Wells are filled by women, and for those who never were in leadership roles in high school, this can be very empowering building confidence and self esteem. Many young women do not need this, others may discover leadership potential for the first time. This is just one point of view.
I thought "cowering" was not an appropriate word choice. The young women want a long standing tradition to be maintained, they are not afraid. This may be the time for change. Many Wells students believe the transition is just not being handled in the right way.
Sorry--I graduated from Wells a very long time ago (Carter was president), but the figure of non-heterosexual students estimated today at 75% is hard to imagine. Change happens, but where's the validation of that number?
As of 1983, this was false. I graduated from nearby Cornell University. Went to several Wells parties. The Wells women were attractive, intelligent, fun, mostly well-behaved, and overall quite normal. No signs of lesbianism at all.
Homosexuals tend to inflate their numbers wildly, perhaps by a factor of ten (note that they still believe that 10% of the general population is homosexual, where its really about 1%).