Dickinson Firsts

    Entries drawn from the college history timeline


Extended Orientation Program Begins for Freshmen
Sat., Aug. 25, 1984

The freshman orientation program for the class of 1988 was the longest program in Dickinson College history. The week long program, which concluded on Sunday, September 2, was an attempt to schedule events more loosely, which allowed students to get to know each other. The program was well...

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

First Women's History Week Celebration
Tue., Mar. 5, 1985

The first National Women's History Week took place in 1982, commemorating the efforts of women's rights pioneers. Sponsored by the Women's Center, the first Women's History Week celebration held at Dickinson College focused on the desired to promote and inspire similar awareness of women's role...

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

GLAD (Gays and Lesbians at Dickinson) Hosted First Meeting
Wed., Mar. 30, 1988

GLAD (Gays and Lesbians at Dickinson) held their first meeting at Dickinson on March 30th at 7 p.m. at the Women's Center. Karen Ruocco, a senior that year, was the organizer of the group. Although the group was strongly supported by the Women's Center, it was not sponsored by the Center and was...

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

Alpha Phi Omega First Meeting
Thu., Apr. 7, 1988

Alpha Phi Omega held their first organizational meeting on April 7th at 9:30 pm in the basement of Adams Hall. Alpha Phi Omega (APO) was, and is still today, a service fraternity. Freshman Dennis Albertson started APO at Dickinson College in hopes of giving students another chance to do...

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

First Volume of Sheer Height Published
Tue., Apr. 12, 1988

The first volume of the student run paper Sheer Height Report was published on April 12th. The paper, a spin-off on another paper called Shere Hite Report which published false studies of sex,  published false studies of Dickinson College.  Only three issues of the report circulated...

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

Moscow Summer Program Agreement
Mon., Oct. 10, 1988

Dickinson College finalized their study abroad program with the Mendeleev Institute in Moscow, Russia on October 10th. The ceremonial signing that took place solidified the three year agreement between the Institute and Dickinson and allowed for students to study in the College's Russian...

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies, Dickinson Firsts

Student Founds "I Am Me."
Sat., Apr. 8, 1989

Junior Sara Hardon, founded the program "I Am Me" which teaches children of the ages of 10 to 12 to feel comfortable with themselves. The sessions  involved guest speakers for nutritional information and physical activity to keep the kids active. The main goal of the project was to instill self-...

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

Dickinson College Children's Center is Established
Thu., Sep. 28, 1989

The Dickinson College Children's Center (DCCC) was formed by September of 1989. The Center, which was a proposed idea by the Dickinsonians for Daycare group on campus, was temporarily located in Allison United Methodist Church. The permanent facility was located, and still is today, behind the...

Event Type: Buildings and Grounds, Dickinson Firsts

Run With It Stages First Performance
Wed., Apr. 3, 1991

Improv troupe "Run With It" staged their first performance at #10 Cherry Street in to a "relatively small audience," but "the laughter was always booming."

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts, Performances, Films, and Exhibits

First Digital Course Selection
Thu., Apr. 4, 1991

For the first time in College history, Dickinson students registered for classes using computer software owned and operated by the Office of the Registrar. The unnamed "management information system" also stored data about finance, alumni, and admissions.

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

Study Abroad Agreement Reached with Chinese University
Thu., Mar. 12, 1992

A cooperative agreement was struck between Dickinson and the People's University in Beijing, China to provide a study abroad opportunity for Dickinson students. The program was language-based and included an independent study project. Additionally, three professors from the People's University...

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

ALLIES LGBTQ Awareness/Activist Group Forms
Spring 1992

ALLIES, a support and activist group for LGBTQ students and their allies, is established under the leadership of Judy Bennett, the College's Director of Health Services.

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

College Receives Applications from All 50 U.S. States
Thu., Oct. 1, 1992

For the first time in its history, Dickinson received applications from all 50 U.S. states. More than 40 foreign countries were also represented in what the Admissions Office called "one of the most culturally-diverse" applicant pools to date.

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

223rd Opening Convocation

Mon., Aug. 28, 1995

The 223rd opening convocation ceremony was held on Monday, August 28, 1995. Beginning in the Library Plaza at 4:15 pm, the academic processional advanced to the John Dickinson campus. There, President Fritschler officially opened the college. The new Dean of the College was introduced, along...

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies, Dickinson Firsts

Pandora LGBTQ+ Activism Group Forms
1999 or 2000

Some time between Spring 1999 and Spring 2000, this student group formed for (what was then termed) GLBT students and their allies as a more activism-focused alternative to the ALLIES support group that also existed at the time.

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts, Protest and Conflict

First ALLIES Panel Discusses "GLBT matters"
Tues., Nov. 12, 2002

On Tuesday, November 12, 2002, the ALLIES group sponsored its first panel on "GLBT matters" in Memorial Hall in West College for the Dickinson community.

Event Type: Dickinson Firsts

Nancy Roseman Inaugurated as 28th President and First Female President
Sat., Sep. 28, 2013

On Saturday, September 28, Nancy A. Roseman, former dean of Williams College, was inaugurated as the 28th president of Dickinson College on the John Dickinson Campus in front of Old West. President Roseman was the first women to be chosen to serve as president of the College. Morton Shapiro,...

Event Type: Academic Ceremonies, Dickinson Firsts

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