Policy Changes

A new policy regarding drinking and parties on campus began during the academic year of 1987-1988. The policy required that any group hosting a social event had to submit a Registration Form, 48 hours in advance, registering the social event with the director of Residential Life, Marty Redman. The policy also required that the group would have to obtain permission to host the event from the Head Resident or Resident Advisor in the area. A restriction on times of the social events was also a part of this policy.

The Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) passed a new policy in April of 1987 that required all fraternities on campus to have "dry rush" events. Any fraternity caught using "wet rush" events, or events with alcohol involved, would have resulted in a two week suspension of the fraternity from parties and other rush activities. The Dickinson Administration was supportive of the measure and made a point to state that it was not a policy that they forced upon the IFC.

On Monday, February 6th, 1984, the Academic Program Committee passed a motion making participation in a Freshman Seminar a graduation requirement for students graduating in 1985 and thereafter. The Freshman Seminar program was designed to introduce incoming students to college academic life and stimulate their critical thinking habits while focusing on a topic within the liberal arts framework. Originally, these seminars fulfilled a distribution requirement within the instructor's department.

Dickinson College adopted an honor system for the student body in regard to academic work. Any assistance either given or received on any examination or written exercise of the college was forbidden, and could result in a suspension or expulsion, if found guilty by an annually elected Investigating Committee. The purpose of the system was to promote honesty and good order without the need for faculty supervision.

During their midwinter meeting on Saturday, February 6,the Board of Trustees approved an increase of $1,005 to the cost of the college's tuition fee, pushing the total yearly cost to almost $9,000. According to then College President, Sam Banks, this increase in cost was essential in striving for the best quality in academic programs and professional faculty. President Banks also cited "tremendous cutback in federal assistance" and rising costs of maintaining the core of the institution as contributing factors.

On December 7th, 1981, Dickinson College faculty approved a resolution stating that professors will refrain from "administering tests and examinations on major Christian and Jewish holy days." The new resolution now allowed students with religious obligations the opportunity to sit alternative "make-up" exams for unavoidable conflicts. English professor David Krantz, chairmen of the Academic Program Committee, said that the resolution responded to occasional complaints from students facing conflicts while preparing for exams on religious holidays.

The faculty approved revisions of College policy in regard to alcohol abuse, based on alcohol related problems on campus including a 1981 incident with the Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity. The new policy instituted arrests and fines for public drunken behavior. Arrested students were required to appear before the Carlisle District Justice Meade Lyons, and pay a fine averaging from $40 to $60, but possibly as high as $300.  The individuals could also be brought before College Social Violations Hearing Board to be held accountable for their actions. 

A number of courses were added to the curriculum for the next school year. Some of these include courses on Biology, Fine Arts, Environmental Science, German, Spanish, Political Science, Dramatic Arts, and Religion. 

The faculty defeated a Student Senate resolution that would allow students and administrators sitting on the all-College committees a vote within the Faculty. The Faculty did however pass several other proposals concerning new courses, internship programs, and PE credits. 

To allow students to graduate by age 2o, the College on February 2 began a system consisting of spring, summer, and fall trimesters.  Students who had only completed three and a half years of high school were admitted to begin their college educations early.  The changes were to enable students to earn degrees before taking wartime positions.

President Fred Corson announced on January 15, 1942, that the faculty had approved the creation of a body of courses designed to prepare students for the war.  These included Psychology of Propaganda, Mathematics and Meteorology, and Nutrition.  Compulsory physical education courses, including first aid, hygiene, and civilian defense, were also created.

In an effort to decrease tardiness, the faculty approved on March 31 a new course schedule, in which classes would begin at 8:30am and last fifty minutes, giving students ten minutes between classes.  The chapel period was eliminated in favor of two or three chapel sessions each week as decided by the president and dean.

College-owned land next to Route 11 was cleaned up in an effort to clear the LeTort marshland of an immense quantity of junk dumped in the vicinity by the college. Efforts were made only after several complaints were made to the College. The area was cleaned up, and the college pledged to refrain from dumping in this area. Further suggestions were also made to increase the sustainability of the campus.

Because of a high number of recent thefts, campus security required that all vehicles on campus be registered. All vehicles not registered would be subject to a $5 fine for the first offense and a $10 fine for the second offense.

The Student Senate voted to abolish credit by examination, which will be enacted on October 15, 1972. This change was enacted in an effort to prevent a reoccurring abuse of the system. From this point on, it will also be possible for a student who plans to take only one semester's worth of classes to pay only $25 of the $45 Student Fee.

As a result of a growing concern over the issue of pets, the Student Affairs Committee drafted a proposal to restrict the presence of pets on campus. In response, Dean Wanner rejected this proposal and instead banned all pets from campus, citing several financial, medical, and legal reasons.

Two new courses were added to the registrar: Biology 105: Biological Aspects of Contemporary Problems, and Psychology 322: Advanced Experimental Perception. Other courses recently added include Religion 312: Studies in the Histories of Religions, which includes a trip to Jerusalem and Greece, Environmental Studies 111, and an Independent Studies course.

At their meeting on February 1, the faculty approved a resolution from the Academic Program Committee recognizing the Harrisburg Urban Semester (THUS) as a for-credit study abroad opportunity.

At their meeting on February 1, the faculty approved a resolution from the Academic Program Committee creating a study abroad program at Mysore Institute in India.

At their meeting on January 25, the faculty endorsed a Student Affairs Committee proposal to introduce co-educational housing to the Dickinson campus for the 1971-1972 academic year.  They planned to make Witwer and Morgan Halls co-ed residence halls and to review the policy by February 1972.

Dickinson Campus Security was renamed the Department of Safety and Security, and a new emergency number (extension 1111) was established.

The Student Affairs Subcommittee on Housing, part of the Student Senate, approved a resolution recommending that Witwer and Malcolm Halls become co-ed residence halls in the next academic year.  It came to this decision after two months of debate and a student body referendum.

At its July 9 meeting, the Carlisle Borough Council enacted ordinance number 1073, requiring a permit issued by the mayor 20 days in advance for any march, parade, or public gathering in Carlisle.  This policy would affect Dickinson students, who had a tendency to create spontaneous parades and protests.

On May 17, 1933, President Karl Waugh announced that the house mother recently hired by Phi Delta Theta fraternity was an approved chaperone, and that therefore female students would be permitted to visit the Phi Delta Theta house at conventional hours.

The newly-elected Women's Student Senate decided on April 25 to submit a petition to President Waugh requesting changes to the chapel program.  They requested the creation of a student-faculty committee to arrange chapel programs, the allocation of one chapel service each year to each of the major student organizations, and an elongated chapel period.