The Changes Centre College's Student Body Went Through From 1960-1970

A Review of the Student Handbooks

By Alice Ensign-George

This handbook shows the beginning of the merging between the men's college and the women's college. At the start of the 1960s, each college is a separate entity under one name. This handbook goes through the multiple strict rules and regulations each student body had to follow. There were two separate campuses, the only place the students would share were their classes. 

They each had their own dean, the men's was Dr. Cavnes and the women's was Miss Sweeney. Each student body had its own student government that allowed every student a voice. There are strict rules for each set of students. The women had to sign out of their dorms whenever they left. If they were in the company of a man even if it wasn't a date then they still had to sign out as "a date". Closing time was 10:30 on weekdays and on weekends it was 11:00 pm. 

This handbook continues to show the beginning of the merging of the men's college and the women's college into one Centre College. Within this handbook, there are rules and expectations the students will follow for this academic year. This yearbook shows some insight into what the students were allowed to participate in. The college doesn't specifically say whether or not women were allowed to participate in intercollegiate sports however, they were able to participate in intermural sports. The women also had the Women's Recreation Association that provided fun activities and new skills to be learned. All students were encouraged to participate in physical education programs. 

There were social activities such as dances where male and female students could mingle. They had homecoming, Christmas, valentine, Sigma Chi sweetheart, spring, gardenia, and carnival. During any of these dances, there were chaperones. The student government paid the chaperones with the “babysitting fund”. 

By the late 1960s, the college had one dean of the college. Instead of two separate deans for the student's body, there was now one Associate Dean of student affairs. The standards of dress are the following; for men: “slacks, jeans, or bermudas, and a shirt with a collar or a sweater over a shirt, and shoes”, for women: “dress, skirt, slacks, bermudas, or jeans, with a blouse or sweater, and shoes.” The end of the 1960s is the first time that women’s dress is introduced with the addition of pants or shorts in a casual setting of any kind. This change in school rules showed the changing world outside of the college. 

Even though athletics still doesn’t refer explicitly to whether or not women can play intercollegiate athletics, there are no intercollegiate athletic categories available towards women. Women still aren’t in intercollegiate athletics which is partially shocking but also this isn’t surprising because the school has successfully integrated the women’s college into Centre college. Female students still schedule intramurals in field hockey, softball, tennis, badminton, archery, and extra murals in field hockey and basketball. Centre has been successful in the integration on campus however, there is still a women’s council allowing all voices to be heard on campus. The student government during this time isn’t fully run by male students so women get a voice on topics of discussion and issues brought up within the student government meetings.

In the late 1960s, the school is very strict with its rules on alcohol and drugs. The school clearly states “Whereas the statutes of the Commonwealth of Kentucky prohibit the possession or use of alcoholic beverages by any person under 21 years of age, the possession or use of alcoholic beverages within the premises of the College is not permitted.” In the 1961 handbook, there is an explanation that alcohol isn’t allowed on campus because Centre is a Presbyterian college. In the 1968 handbook, this is the first time that the college mentions drugs. They state that the “misuse of drugs will lead to violations of College policy and can lead to Federal and State law violations.” Even though this clearly states that alcohol is still prohibited it was written as both a reminder for the students but also as a warning. 

There were still dances that the school had made into traditions. The dances during this year were orientation, homecoming, Christmas, turnabout, and carnival. The successful changes within the college and the merging of the student body also brought changes within dining. The dining changed from getting dressed up and sitting down to more of a casual dressing and cafeteria-style dining. This shows how the standards of the college change with what is acceptable within the world and society around the college.