The Centennial of Women's Admission and the Women's Rights Hearings

On February 25th, 1972, two years after the centennial of women at MSU, President Clifton Wharton hosted the Women’s Rights Hearing by the request of women students in the Union in front of the Board of Trustees. One hundred and two years after the first women were admitted to the university, the hearing was requested to address gender discrimination and injustice at the university. The hearing started at 2:30 PM and lasted for six and a half hours. Twenty-eight women spoke at the hearing with the State News reporting that at one point the crowd size reached 300 people. Representatives from various women’s organizations on campus spoke including the Faculty Women’s Association, Chicano Staff, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MECHA), the MSU Women’s Alliance, Black Women Employees, the Married Students Union, and the Association of Women Students.

Recommendations from the women who spoke included pay equity, promotion opportunity for women, leadership opportunities for women, a women’s center, a women’s ombudsperson, increased funding for women’s athletics, and an increase in the number of black women faculty members. In March of that same year, 1972, United States President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law with the aim prevent sex and gender discrimination in education.

Associated Women Students Handbook, 1970-1971.: The Association of Collegiate Women published the Associate Women Student Handbook each year. The handbook provided information on organizations, honor societies, and social rules for women students.; The entire handbook is digitized on the University Archive's On The Banks website.; From University Archives (Archives Serial 753)

Booklet cover with four women and 'Whos Who and Whats What' Written across the top. Across the bottom is written '1970-1971 A Service of Associated Collegiate Women.' Entire cover is bright pink.

Crowd at the 1972 Women's Rights Hearing in the Union.: Listen to the recordings.; From University Archives (A009274)

a crowd of people in the MSU Union. Most people are seated but there are several people standing at the back.

1972 November Alumni Magazine.: Interview with Myrtle Craig Mowbray, the first Black woman student and graduate.; Cover and article are digitized on the University Archive's On The Banks website.; MSU Libraries LH1.M53 M5 vol 18

Magazine article titled 'Myrtle Mowbray, '07: MSU's first black graduate, remembers M.A.C.' Article includes a picture of an older Black woman seated.

1972 July Alumni Magazine.: Cover story on the 1972 Women's Rights hearings called by President Wharton.; The cover and cover story are digitized on the University Archive's On The Banks website.; MSU Libraries LH1.M53 M5 vol. 18

July 1972 issue of the Michigan State University Alumni Association Magazine. Cover story is 'MSU Women: Their Battle Against Tokenism.'