Mount Holyoke College Dissimilarities

Jessica K. Gordon

Mount Holyoke College, while standing in the same place physically, has evolved into quite a dissimilar environment than it once was in the early 1950s. From academics to physical education to extracurricular activities, Mount Holyoke evokes an image much different than half a century ago. The student body now prides in our diversity, independence, and potential as career women. We focus on expanding our worldly opportunities starting on campus by involving ourselves in proactive student organizations as well as excelling in the classroom. We see ourselves as capable young women whose possibilities stretch beyond the horizon. We are able to do anything, we are told, and this we believe. Years ago, it seems, women here were not told the same. True, Mount Holyoke women have always been educated well and given the resources to achieve a life full of accomplishment; but the question still lingers, were they really meant for that dream? Or, were they being molded into what society deemed the role of educated, well brought up, young women… wife and child caretaker? In my essay, I will address the fantasy-like images pressed upon the young Mount Holyoke women of the 1950’s as related to dances here on campus compared to what seem like parallel social events that take place on campus today. The hops, proms, and winter wonderlands created a fairy-tale dream for the young women that is not available for us today, the dream of finding prince charming and making a wonderful life with him underneath the stars. Social events now even further our independent roles as well as leave us even more encouraged to create the life we dream of, on our own.

Mary Elizabeth Browning is a wonderful example of the pressure felt by young women on campus in the 1950’s. Her obsession with her weight and whether or not she has a date to the upcoming formal litter her frequent letters home. Mount Holyoke encouraged women to date the young gentlemen from Amherst, Massachusetts State, and Springfield colleges. The only people allowed to the dances were the members of the college and their guests (1947-1948 MHC calender). Mount Holyoke women had to invite a date to go to the dances. Many times, the girls had blind dates, but dates nonetheless. The Llamarada 1952 demonstrates the importance of attending these dances. There are whole spread pages dedicated to each of the formal dances themselves. The significance of the dance to the students is quite evident. One captioning reads, “It starts with a letter and a shriek of pleasure from the direction of the mailbox. Then there are plans, plans, plans, the room that you almost didn’t get (three miles out but he likes to walk anyway), and the two-day-wonder diet to fit the gown. But everything turns out just right, he’s only an hour late and it doesn’t rain, even for the picnic in poison ivy” (50). There are four formals presented in the yearbook, each one has its own spread page. “Winter Weekend”, “Junior Prom”, and “Senior Ball” are some of the biggest events of the year. In fact, they are given much more attention in the yearbook than any other event. It is not a surprise either. After all, “If it’s spring, if it’s junior year, then it’s time for the fanciest dance of them all, for Junior Prom. A year that begins with Show could hardly end with less than a weekend that has been anticipated for at least three years. It begins on a Friday evening in May, a warm clear night when the dates begin to arrive, filling the quiet campus with their cars and the CI with couples laughing and talking. Saturday brings hiking and canoeing and picnics on Mount Tom, a gala dinner with a gay party, and the dance itself, a dream of sea-shells and shifting lights and music drifting across the floor and out onto the cool gallery. The evening may end at two but Prom lasts until the News has accounted for every new pin and recent engagement” (64). The dances not only brought young gentlemen to campus, but future husbands! These events marked an important time in every young Mount Holyoke woman’s life.

It isn’t a wonder the dances were so popular, besides the hurrah surrounding them. The young women on campus had very restricted lifestyles when it came to their evening social life. It must have been quite a fun and exciting change to be able to stay out past midnight with the young gentlemen! The Student Government Association of Mount Holyoke handbook 1947- 1948 lists all of the regulations placed on the students here on campus. Quiet hours were from 10-12:30 pm, 2-5 pm, and 8- 9:30 pm Monday thru Friday. On Saturday the hours were free from 12:30-10 pm. There were also regulations concerning the closing of houses. Upper-class houses closed at 11 pm Sunday thru Friday and at 12 midnight on Saturday. During the first semester, freshman houses closed at 10 pm Monday thru Thursday and Friday thru Sunday were the same as upperclassmen. During the second semester, freshman houses began to follow the same rules as the upper-class houses. There were many details concerning these hours, for example, if a student was to be late, she needed to register for permission from her house representative. If she was 10 minutes late, she would lose all privileges for an entire week! There were specific times when permission could be obtained, such as if a student was to go out on a date she was allowed to return at midnight, but no later, and the hall representative needed to know where she was going and with whom! This also pertained to overnight stays with family or friends! Another rule stated in the SGA handbook states, “a man shall not be admitted to a hall after the regular closing hours except after a formal dance”, this included fathers (36, 4e). It is no wonder the young ladies were so excited to stay out until 2 am with their dates on formal dance nights!

The Freshman Handbook outlines many interesting facts for the new students to know about Mount Holyoke life. It was necessary to inform the new students about all social activity. “The social life on this campus is also very important to us and our dances are big events. In the fall comes Llamie, the all college formal. The proceeds go to the senior yearbook, the “Llamie”. While there is still ice and snow, we have Snowball, another all college formal, and during that weekend, weather permitting, there is an ice carnival and sleigh rides. In the early spring, the sophomores have Soph Hop, and in the later spring term, after vacation, come those super weekends (just for juniors and seniors, we’ll admit) of Junior Prom and Senior Ball. We are also urged to come to Wilbur about once a month to the informal Saturday night dances, known to one and all as “Studes”. These are very gay and lots of fun! Sometimes a Stude turns out to be a square dance and then we all get a real whirl!”  (37). This type of written encouragement must have made the students quite anxious to attend the dances and surrounding activities. Mary seemed to be quite enthusiastic about the events she participated in. After all, her March 6, 1948 letter was full of details covering her Soph Hop weekend with Paul!

As a student here now, I look at the material from 50 years ago and wonder, wouldn’t it be fun to have all that hype surrounding dating, dances, and other fun? Llamarada 2002 covers the more popular dances on campus such as Las Vegas Night, Senior Ball, and the Sophomore Semi, but not much emphasis is given to their importance on campus. The dances have no required dress code and so are much less formal than previously. Some girls bring dates, but most go singles or with friends. Also, the sexual dynamic on campus has changed radically since the 1950s. There is an obvious homosexual presence on campus. The sexual revolutions during the last few decades have caused acceptance of many different types of relationships. As a result, men have become less prevalent at social events. There are some young men that come from other schools to join our fun, but there are not half as many compared to previous years. For this reason, the dances have lost their romanticism. For sure, the young women today would not expect to read about who was pinned or which engagements were made over the weekend in Monday’s News!

Women on campus today are pretty much allowed to do as they please. We have no regulations set up to ensure our arrival back to the dorms before a certain hour, nor do we have to tell anyone where we are spending our time. Men are allowed in the dorms at any hour and may stay for as long as they like (as long as the roommate doesn’t mind). For this reason, I assume many Mount Holyoke women see the dances as just another option to the array of nightly activities taking place on the weekends. They are not such as big deal as they were in the past. Romances are less likely to spring up at these events, so we are left finding prince charming on our own, with no help from our private institution. 

The social life on the Mount Holyoke College campus has changed. The young women are given more independence and thus the social activities have become more diverse, along with the student body. We are not being primed for our future husbands. Our school does not bus in men for our enjoyment. Instead, Mount Holyoke focuses on providing us with the ingredients for a successful future as career women in a fast-paced world. Sometimes I find myself wishing we still had the dreamy dances of the 50’s. However, the truth is the dynamic on campus and in the world has changed so much that I feel there is no place for that sort of activity anymore.

Bibliography

Llamie, Llamarada, 1952, p 50- 68

Mount Holyoke College Calendar, 1947- 1948

Student Government Association of Mount Holyoke College Handbook, Student Government Association Regulations, 1947- 1948

The Freshman Handbook, 1947, p 37

The Lions Tail Llamarada, 1948, p 40-60