The State of Women’s Sport Pre-1972

Post Author: Jacob Houser Before the passage of Title IX, American sports had been essentially reserved for males since the inception of organized sports. Sports were seen as a way for men both young and old to build character and Continue reading The State of Women’s Sport Pre-1972

Dr. Leotus “Lee” Morrison: A Legacy at Madison College

Post Author: Jacob Houser Dr. Lonnie Leotus “Lee” Morrison was a coach and professor during her tenure at Madison College, later James Madison University. Her focus was on women’s sports, mostly to improve the quality of competition and equality of Continue reading Dr. Leotus “Lee” Morrison: A Legacy at Madison College

Carrier’s Influence on Campus Diversity

Post Author: Alexandra Kolleda While the first African-Americans were accepted during G. Tyler Miller’s presidency, it was Ronald E. Carrier, 4th president at Madison College, who truly raised the issue of diversity, and thus integration, to its current level of Continue reading Carrier’s Influence on Campus Diversity

Town-Gown Relations

Post by: Alexandra Kolleda As mentioned in the introduction, town-gown relations between Madison College and the city of Harrisonburg were not very genial in the 1970s.  In regards to the atmosphere of student protest that pervaded the entire nation, Harrisonburg Continue reading Town-Gown Relations

Mandated or Voluntary Integration?

Post Author: Alexandra Kolleda The first African-Americans were accepted at Madison College in 1966, and when Carrier took office as president in 1971, he increased efforts to diversify the population on campus (Jones, 168).  In 1973, an Affirmative Action plan Continue reading Mandated or Voluntary Integration?

That Awkward Adjustment Period

Post Author: Alexandra Kolleda Enforcement of Affirmative Action began only after President Johnson’s Executive Order in 1965 (Hasday, 111).  It’s implementation, however, was accompanied by opposition from the beginning, not simply after the University of California v. Bakke case in 1978 Continue reading That Awkward Adjustment Period

But What About Class?

Post Author: Alexandra Kolleda On December 10, 1992, The Breeze, Madison’s student newspaper, announced that a former minor would be reconsidered for the next year’s course catalog.  That minor, African-American studies, had originally been provided in 1980; however, it had faded away Continue reading But What About Class?

Massive Resistance or Massive Representation?

Post Author: Alexandra Kolleda After the 1978 Supreme Court decision in University of California v. Bakke, Affirmative Action received significant backlash from the public.  Whites were becoming frustrated with what they called “reverse discrimination” (Schulman, 69-70).  They feared that white Continue reading Massive Resistance or Massive Representation?

Weighing the Facts

The integration of Madison College certainly did not go off without a hitch; however, it appears as if the Southern, Conservative culture was largely countered by a more Liberal, college environment historically geared towards educating women.  This allowed integration to Continue reading Weighing the Facts