D-Book

D-Book

Dickinson Collegep.o. box 1773

carlisle, pennsylvania17013

RevisedMay 2010

dickinson college d-book2

Old West

Contents

Authors’ Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Our People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Our Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Our Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Our Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

Our Engagements . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Our Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . .118

3


Authors’ NoteThe stories of Dickinson College and the stories

of those herein span more than 200 years.Every year, our college welcomes a new group of

students as we continue the proud legacy of usefuleducation in the tradition of Dr. Benjamin Rush’svision.The D-Book, a small, selective depiction of our

community, was last printed on a regular basis in1961-62. Its purpose was to orient students tonumerous organizations and regulations.Because we are conscious of our proud heritage

and take inspiration from past Dickinsonians we, asstudents, undertook a revival of the D-Book.Today, when we embark on adventures on cam-

pus or abroad, our surroundings are filled with thespirits of Dickinsonians who came before. Takingeach step into the world that awaits us, we mustlook to our predecessors for insight and solace, asour successors will look to us, knowing always thatour way through college and through life may beunique but, in the end, all is lost without remem-brance.

Student Writers:Elizabeth Glynn ’06Tim Kuppler ’07Peter Lake ’06Daniel Makosky ’06Gregory Moyer ’06Michael Sauerwald ’06

Contributors:William G. Durden ’71Andrew Ferguson ’06Jim Gerencser ’93The Office of

Communications

Please note: The D-Book is an incomplete historyof Dickinson College. It does not contain everyperson, event or organization that has shaped thecollege. Rather, the authors sought to include abroad representation, in random order, of activitiesand influences. The college plans to continue pub-lishing the D-Book for future classes. If you havesuggestions for additional content, please [email protected].

5

Old Class RuleFreshmen shall keeptheir hands out of theirpockets and, whenwearing a coat in pub-lic, shall have at leastone button buttoned.

�

Important Dates inDickinson College History

1751 Carlisle was established as the CumberlandCounty seat.

1773 Thomas and John Penn donated land toestablish a grammar school in Carlisle, thusfounding what later would becomeDickinson College.

1782 During an evening on William Bingham’sporch in Philadelphia, Benjamin Rush andJohn Montgomery decided to start a collegein place of a grammar school.

1783 Dickinson College was granted its charter bythe Pennsylvania state legislature.

1785 Charles Nisbet became the first president ofDickinson College.

1786 The Belles Lettres Society was founded.1787 The first Commencement ceremony was

held with nine graduates.1789 The Union Philosophical Society was founded.1795 Future U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice

Roger Brooke Taney graduated as vale-dictorian.

1796 Students were first divided into classes (fresh-man, junior and senior).

1803 The first college building burned down, andthe cornerstone was laid for the building thatwould become Old West.


1805 Old West was completed.1809 James Buchanan, future 15th president of the

United States, graduated.1833 A law school was authorized at the request of

Judge John Reed.1836 East College was built.1837 Enrollment was more than 100 students, and

the first senior class under Methodist leader-ship graduated.

1840 Spencer Fullerton Baird, future professor ofnatural history at Dickinson and future sec-retary of the Smithsonian Institution, gradu-ated.

1847 Professor John McClintock was tried andacquitted for instigating a slave riot inCarlisle.

1863 Confederate forces occupied Carlisle.

timeline 7

Charles Nisbet

1872 The first issue of The Dickinsonian was pub-lished by the Belles Lettres and UnionPhilosophical societies.

1885 Jacob Tome Scientific Building, now knownas the Stern Center, was completed.

1887 Zatae Longsdorff was the first woman tograduate from Dickinson.

1890 Microcosm began annual publication.1892 Dickinson acquired Allison Memorial

Church for $40,000.1896 Denny Hall was constructed.1904 Denny Hall burned down.1905 Rebuilt Denny Memorial Hall was dedicated.

1909 Judge Edward William Biddle, class of 1870,donated land in the open lots between Highand Louther streets for use as athletics fields.

1921 The college dedicated a plaque in Old West’sMemorial Hall in recognition of the 15Dickinsonians who gave their lives during


Fire in Denny Hall

World War I.1923 The first alumni magazine, the Dickinson

Alumnus, was printed.1924 The first Homecoming celebration was held

Oct. 31-Nov. 1.1926 Dickinson, Gettysburg, Franklin & Marshall,

Muhlenberg and Ursinus colleges formed theEastern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

1929 The Alumni Gymnasium, which later wasrenovated into the Emil R. Weiss Center forthe Arts, was dedicated.

1931 The Dickinson football team defeated PennState, 10-6.

1943 The first midyear graduation in collegehistory was held through the accelerated-graduation program, which helped make menavailable for service in World War II.

1951 The U.S. Army War College opened at theCarlisle Barracks.

1952 Drayer Hall was completed and dedicated.1952 The ROTC program started on campus.1954 Mary Sharp Foucht became the first female

trustee.1956 C. Scott Althouse donated $300,000 for the

construction of a new chemistry building,then the largest gift in college history from aliving individual.

1962 WDCV-FM began broadcasting.1963 Old West became a registered National

Historical Landmark.

timeline 9

1964 The college announced its affiliation withThe Johns Hopkins Center for InternationalStudies in Bologna, Italy, which led to thelaunch of Dickinson’s first study-abroad pro-gram.

1966 The Holland Union Building (HUB) wasdedicated.

1967 The college community moved the library’sentire collection from Bosler Hall to the newBoyd Lee Spahr Library in a one-day bookwalk, and the new library was dedicated inNovember.

1968 The faculty approved the five-day class sched-ule, which replaced the six-day schedule.

1969 Dickinson announced the foundation of aSports Hall of Fame and inducted its firsthonorees.

1969 The first Declare Day was held.1969 Newly built Kinser-Woodward was used for

summer-school housing with women in onewing and men in the other. This coed hous-ing is carried over into the normal schoolyear.

1970 Dickinson responded to the Kent Stateshooting with a strike and a peaceful marchon the U.S. Army War College.

1972 The Dickinsonian celebrated its 100thanniversary.

1979 Identification cards became required to eat inthe dining hall.


1979 The Three Mile Island accident caused thecollege to cancel classes for a week.

1980 The Kline Life/Sports Learning Centeropened.

1981 The first freshman seminars began.1984 The college secured a $1,000,000 Challenge

Grant from the National Endowment for theHumanities for study-abroad and foreign-language programs.

1984 Dickinson purchased Rainbow MicroComputers for public use, and studentsbegan to have computer accounts.

1987 As a gift to Dickinson, the owners of a 2.68-acre limestone quarry in West PennsboroTownship sold it to the college at 10 percentof its true value.

1990 Common Hour was instituted.1992 Admissions received applications from all 50

states for the first time.1992 The Devil’s Den opened.1993 The Centennial Conference, founded in

1983 as a football conference, began compe-tition in all sports.

1995 The new student social space, The Depot,opened. It replaced The Lumberyard, whichcollapsed the previous year due to heavysnow.

1996 Internet access became available in residencehalls.

1999 The board of trustees announced William G.

timeline 11

Durden ’71 as its choice for the college’s nextpresident.

1999 Dickinson librarian Yongyi Song and wifeHelen Yao were detained by authorities inChina. Yao soon was released, but a six-month campaign was necessary to secureSong’s release.

2000 Carlisle and the college organized a UnityRally in response to a Ku Klux Klan rally intown.

2003 Dickinson announced the receipt of thelargest restricted gift in the college’s historyfrom the estate of the late Robert A.Waidner ’32.

2004 As part of an increasingly global communityon campus, the college hosted scholars from18 countries for the U.S. Department ofState Fulbright American Studies Institute.

2005 The Harold and Ethel L. Stellfox VisitingScholars and Writers Program was establishedwhen Jean Louise Stellfox ’60 bequeathedmore than $1 million to the college. The firstrecipient of the award was British novelistIan McEwan.

2006 The college formed the High I Partnership toassist in the revitalization of downtownCarlisle. Dickinson’s Office of College andCommunity Development was the first col-lege office to be located downtown.


2006 On May 5 Dickinson began construction onthe keystone phase of the Rector ScienceCampus with a groundbreaking ceremony atNorth College and West Louther streets. Thecomplex, designed to match the college’sinnovative, nationally recognized science pro-gram, will be the most “ambitious andpotentially ‘useful’ building project in ourlong history,” said President William G.Durden ’71 at the ceremony.

2006 Pi Beta Phi received the Balfour Cup as thebest chapter in the nation.

2006 The public phase of First in America:Fulfilling Our Destiny capital campaignkicked off Oct. 7 in Philadelphia’s NationalConstitution Center on Independence Mall.The campaign’s $150 million goal is thelargest in the college’s history.

2006 The second recipient of the Harold andEthel L. Stellfox Visiting Scholars andWriters Program was Rita Dove, a PulitzerPrize-winning poet and two-term poet laure-ate of the United States.

2007 U.S. Senator Bob Dole was the college’s2007 Poitras-Gleim Lecturer during thePublic Affairs Symposium (PAS). Dole’skeynote speech, “Laughing (Almost) All theWay to the White House,” was part of thefive-day symposium titled No LaughingMatter: Humor in a Complex World.

timeline 13

2008 The Center for Sustainable Living(Treehouse) was the first college residencein Pennsylvania to receive gold LEED(Leadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign) certification.

2008 An institutional Women’s Center was estab-lished focused on providing resources andsupport and creating a more inclusive com-munity around issues of gender, race, classand sexual orientation.

2008 Thanks to a $1.4 million grant from theMellon Foundation, Dickinson establishedthe Center for Environmental andSustainability Education.

2008 James and Stuart halls of the Rector ScienceComplex were dedicated and received goldLEED (Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design) certification.

2009 Dickinson established agreements with fiveleading community colleges to pilot theCommunity College Partnership, a programthat prepares full-time, highly motivatedhonors students for transfer to Dickinson.The agreements are with two communitycolleges in Maryland—Howard CommunityCollege and Montgomery College—andthree in Pennsylvania—Montgomery CountyCommunity College, NorthamptonCommunity College and Harrisburg AreaCommunity College.


2009 The college celebrated 125 Years of Womenat Dickinson: A Legacy of Success.

2009 For the second year, Dickinson received anA- on the 2010 Green Report Card, thehighest overall grade given by the SustainableEndowments Institute (SEI). Dickinson alsoearned recognition as an Overall CollegeSustainability Leader and a CampusSustainability Leader.

2009 A delegation of 15 students and two admin-istrators attended the United NationsFramework on Climate Change 15thClimate Change Conference in Copenhagen,Denmark, as part of a yearlong intensivecourse on policy development, climatechange, and public communication.

2010 Dickinson established a new certificate pro-gram in security studies, which includesopportunities for students through the U.S.Army War College and the U.S.Peacekeeping Institute

2010 Students organized a relief concert at theCarlisle Theatre for the victims of the devas-tating earthquake in Haiti and raised morethan $17,000.

timeline 15

Our People

Benjamin RushDr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of

Independence and the foremost American physicianof the 18th century, is the founder of DickinsonCollege.The curriculum of the college was slated to be

different from what Rush considered to be the“monkish” courses of study that remainedunchanged for 250 years in England and used incolonial America by the likes of Harvard University,Yale University and King’s College (ColumbiaUniversity).Rush intended Dickinson to advance the useful

knowledge that was beginning to be introducedthrough the Scottish Enlightenment and his almamater, Princeton University—Dickinson’s historicalsister college.This useful education would permit graduates to

join in building a just, compassionate and economi-cally sustainable democracy. Rush called for aDickinson education to be bold and “forward-look-ing” for a resourceful nation. He called Dickinsonhis “petulant brat” because of its boldness and spir-ited attitude toward changing times.For example, Rush argued against the study of

Latin and Greek. He was fine with the reading ofthese languages for the life lessons that might belearned, but he believed that acquiring the ability to


speak and write those languages would be a wasteof time.Instead, Rush wanted the curriculum to stress the

modern languages—German and French, evenNative American languages—which would havemore immediate applications.He also wanted the sciences to be a major feature

of the Dickinson curriculum, especially chemistry.He argued that knowledge was interconnected andhad to be approached in this way.He also argued that students should appreciate

how their new representative government func-tioned and urged students to walk downtown afterclass to sit in the Carlisle courthouse and “watchAmerica work.”Rush juxtaposed knowledge of America with the

need for selected students to study overseas andbring home the best practices of others to improvetheir own country.Rush was known as temperamental, impatient

and enthusiastic. He argued for American inde-pendence from Britain. He may have been the firstU.S. military officer (he was a surgeon general inthe Revolution) to speak out against a commanderin chief (George Washington) during wartime.Rush criticized Washington for the deplorablehealth conditions of American troops. Even so,their friendship did not diminish.Rush’s impetuous personality was tempered by

modesty. He would not name the college after him-

0ur people 17

self. Rather, he chose to name the college after hisgood friend John Dickinson.Rush’s first choice for a name was John and

Mary’s College, Mary being John Dickinson’s wife.But he decided the name was too reminiscent ofThe College of William and Mary, named for aBritish king and queen and far too “royal” for a dis-tinctively American college. Rush then settled onDickinson College.Rush refused to have anything at the college


Dr. Benjamin Rush

named in his honor. When he thought that his fel-low trustees might name the current Old West afterhim, he wrote, “Should I hear of my unworthyname being stained upon any of your walls, I shallemploy a person to deface it.”In his autobiography, Rush described extensively

the character traits of his fellow signers of theDeclaration of Independence. Of himself, he statedmerely, “He aimed well.”Rush was passionately revolutionary and fought

for important causes. He is considered the founderof battlefield medicine and dentistry in America.He argued for the humane treatment of the mental-ly challenged and established the first free mental-health clinic in America.Rush fought against slavery and secretly funded

(and then attended) the first African-Americanchurch in America. He advocated for a U.S. navy,spoke ardently against capital punishment andadvanced the substantive education of women anda national university system.Rush is considered the father of American psychi-

atry and was this country’s first professor of chem-istry (at the University of Pennsylvania). He wasphysician and adviser to the Lewis and ClarkeExpedition and introduced the infamous Dr. Rush’sBilious Pills (laxatives), known to the explorers as“thunderclappers.”Some criticized Rush’s cure (bleeding) of those

suffering from a 1793 yellow fever epidemic in

0ur people 19

Philadelphia. However, he was one of the fewphysicians who stayed in the city and treated thepoor at no cost, while most of his colleagues fled.Others criticized his experiments in mental

health, including the use of the tranquilizer chair,described as “the most complete restraint of apatient’s every move ever devised.”Rush founded three colleges including

Dickinson—Franklin College (Franklin & Marshalltoday) and the Philadelphia College of Physicianswere the other two.And lastly, he was perhaps America’s first major

networker. He was responsible for the reconciliationof Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in the latterphases of their lives.They were close friends during the Revolutionary

years, but the presidential election of Jefferson anda differing of political perspectives caused the twofounding fathers to sever their contact for decades.But Rush wished to have them correspond andleave for posterity a record of their dialogue aboutthe founding of the country.Rush even predicted that they would die on the

same day, which they did—July 4, 1826—50 yearsto the day from our declaration of independencefrom Britain.

John DickinsonThe college was named for John Dickinson, a life-

long friend of the founder, Dr. Benjamin Rush.


When the college was chartered in 1783, Dickinsonwas president of the Supreme Executive Council ofPennsylvania.Born in Maryland, Dickinson studied law in

London and entered the British bar in 1757. Heserved in the colonial assemblies of Delaware and ofPennsylvania.

0ur people 21

John Dickinson

He is the author of Letters from a Farmer inPennsylvania 1767-1768, which was one of the firstkey documents arguing for colonial interests againstBritain.Dickinson was a member of the Continental

Congress, a brigadier general in the ContinentalArmy, governor of Delaware in 1781, governor ofPennsylvania from 1782-1785 and a signer (inabsentia) of the U.S. Constitution.Dickinson did not sign the Declaration of

Independence, although he was present up until themoment of signing. Some suggest that his is theexiting leg in the doorway often depicted in paint-ings of the signing.Dickinson, in contrast to Rush, was a cautious

and deliberate man, and he believed that the fledg-ling nation would not be in a position to win mili-tarily against Britain, as war surely would comequickly upon the signing. Once the Declarationwas signed, however, he enlisted in the ContinentalArmy.Dickinson was the first chairman of the college’s

board of trustees. His gifts to the college included200 acres in York County, 500 acres in CumberlandCounty, $500 in cash and a highly valuable selec-tion of books from the library of his father-in-law.This 18th-century collection is on display in thecollege archives today and is used frequently by stu-dents and scholars from around the world.


John MontgomeryCol. John Montgomery, born in 1727, was one of

Dickinson’s three original founders and a U.S. con-gressman. He was a significant leader in the mili-tary, in government and in the community.Among the citizens of Cumberland County, Pa.,

Montgomery was known as a man of many talents.Over the years, he was a storekeeper, farmer, soldier,lawyer, judge and politician.Along with his friend, Dr. Benjamin Rush,

Montgomery would prove to be the strongest advo-cate for Dickinson College, credited with theschool’s early survival and with being the mostactive of its local trustees. He served the collegetirelessly until his death in 1808.

Moncure Conway, class of 1849Moncure Conway was born in Virginia and grad-

uated from Dickinson in 1849. An ordainedMethodist minister, his abolitionist views causedhim to move to Boston, where he met his lifelongmentor, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and graduatedfrom Harvard University in 1854.After leaving the Methodist church, Conway

moved to Cincinnati and became a Unitarian min-ister. He became outspoken on free religion, votingrights and the Spanish-American War. He befriend-ed Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Elizabeth CadyStanton and Andrew Carnegie.It was Conway’s connection to Carnegie that

0ur people 23

caused the latter to donate $63,480 to Dickinson.Originally, Carnegie’s gift was meant to rebuildDenny Hall after it was destroyed by fire, but thegift was redirected, with Carnegie’s consent, to con-struct a new building that would be named forConway.Conway Hall was completed in 1905 and was a

preparatory school and, later, a residence hall untilit was razed in 1966 to make way for the Boyd LeeSpahr Library.


Moncure Conway

James Gordon Steese, class of 1902Gen. James Gordon Steese was part of the Army

Corps of Engineers and worked on the building ofthe Panama Canal and the Alaska Highway, part ofwhich is named for him. By 1934, he had traveledmore than 420,000 miles and had gone around theworld in five weeks, at a pace that he described asleisurely.

James Buchanan, class of 1809As the 15th president of the United States,

Buchanan was the only president in American his-tory to be sworn into office by a fellow alumnus,Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, class of 1795.Buchanan was encouraged to attend Dickinson by

Dr. John King, a Presbyterian minister, familyfriend and member of Dickinson’s board of trustees.At Dickinson, Buchanan excelled in the class-

room, gaining high marks from his professors.However, Buchanan also enjoyed having fun with

his friends. He was—and always would be—asocialite, enjoying parties and dinners throughouthis life, often becoming inebriated.Most likely, it was for this behavior as well as

numerous pranks that he received a letter in thesummer of 1808, requesting that he not return toDickinson in the fall.But because of his family’s close relationship with

King, still a trustee, Buchanan was reinstated for hisfall semester.

0ur people 25

Buchanan was slated to be a primary orator at hisgraduation, but because of his near expulsion, hewas denied this prestigious opportunity. Though hisdisciplinary record at Dickinson was rocky at best,


James Buchanan

he managed to graduate with honors.Evidence shows that Dickinsonians considered

him with great respect, even requesting his repre-sentation before the board of trustees, citing hishigh reputation.He also was honored by Dickinson when he was

awarded an honorary doctorate of law. Buchanan’srelationship with his college would come to servehim well as he rose through the political ranks,eventually to the presidency of the United States.

Zatae Longsdorff Straw, class of 1887Raised by parents who surrounded their six chil-

dren with books and emphasized the significance oflearning, Longsdorff was instilled with an intellec-tual curiosity that would shape her remarkable life.Eschewing the traditional roles that society held

for the women of her day, Longsdorff translated herpassions for literature and French into an offer tojoin Wellesley College’s freshman class at the age of17.Her stay there was short-lived, though, because

she learned that her first-choice college, Dickinson,had completed the necessary preparations to wel-come its first women to campus. Following in thefootsteps of her father, uncle and brother,Longsdorff transferred to Dickinson, joining thesophomore class as the only woman in a class of 93men.Though her transition into the Dickinson

0ur people 27

community was by no means seamless, she becamethe college’s first female graduate and garnered thecollege’s highly distinguished Pierson OratoricalPrize along the way.Longsdorff later continued her academic pursuits

at the Women’s Medical College. With her medicaldegree in hand, she moved to Blackfoot, Idaho,where she became resident physician to a NativeAmerican reservation.Longsdorff married shortly thereafter and briefly

held a seat in the New Hampshire legislature before


Zatae Longsdorff Straw

leaving to become the state’s first female presidentof the Republican convention in 1926.She remained active in local and state politics for

decades, holding prominent positions on the cam-paign staffs for U.S. House and Senate hopefuls.Professionally, she continued her medical practice

with great success and eventually was named theAmerican Medical Society’s first female president.In 1937, Dickinson awarded her an honorary

doctorate of science.Reflecting on her achievements, Longsdorff cited

Dickinson as having played a crucial role in hersuccess. “I simply wanted an education, and thatdesire and [attending] Dickinson were one andinseparable,” she said.

Spencer Fullerton Baird, class of 1840Five years after his graduation from Dickinson,

Baird returned to the college as a faculty member.Offering to serve his first year without compensa-tion was one of many reasons that Baird becamepopular with students and staff.His efforts to advance his field led not only to his

ascendance to the chairmanships of both the natu-ral-history and chemistry departments but also tohis greatest legacy: his leadership at theSmithsonian Institution.Recognizing the importance of hands-on experi-

ence in order to fully develop an understanding of

0ur people 29

the natural world, Baird distinguished himself as aninnovative instructor by leading his students intothe field. Though common today, fieldwork wasconsidered groundbreaking in his day.Baird was appointed as the Smithsonian’s assistant

secretary in 1850 and secretary in 1878. He wasrecognized abroad, as well as at home, as among the


Spencer Fullerton Baird

very foremost scientific men.When he traveled from Carlisle to Washington,

D.C., to begin work at the Smithsonian, it requiredtwo freight cars to transport his collection of birds,lizards, fish, skins and skeletons, weighing 89,000pounds. This became the foundation of theSmithsonian’s natural-history collection.The U.S. National Museum, which later was

organized into divisions such as the Museum ofNatural History, opened through his encourage-ment and under his supervision.

Jennie Taylor, class of 1889Jennie Taylor, vice president of the class of 1889,

was the first dental missionary to Africa. In 1893,Taylor sailed from New York to England to Africa.She spent a short time in Liberia then a few monthsin Congo Free State but most of her time inAngola. Her first dental patient there was her futurehusband, Charles Gordon, who had spent a decadewith the African mission. They married in Angolaand had a daughter, Florence, in October 1896.Taylor, known as “Dr. Jennie,” died of hematoricfever, which is related to malaria, 14 months later.Newspapers across the United States carried reportsof her death in Africa at age 30 in December 1897.

Gilbert Jones, class of 1906Gilbert Jones, class of 1906, charted a first for an

American of his race. In 1909, two years after he

0ur people 31

left Dickinson with an M.A. in hand, Jones becamethe first black American to earn a Ph.D. from aGermany university, according to Black Firsts. Heearned his doctorate from the University of Jena.With his expertise in languages and multipledegrees (B.A. and B.S. from Wilberforce University,bachelor of philosophy and M.A. from Dickinson)he was known as one of the leading black scholarsof the early 20th century, authoring books and arti-cles on education theory and German literature. Hewas awarded honorary doctorates from Dickinsonand Howard and Wilberforce universities beforedying in 1966.

Joseph PriestleyThe Priestley name may be most recognizable to

Dickinsonians as the namesake for the college’sannual Priestley Award, given to prominent scientists.For Priestley’s name to be attached to such a cele-

brated prize is appropriate, for it was this British-born man who was responsible for the discovery ofoxygen and eight other gasses.Priestley, primarily a theologian, had earned a rep-

utation as a highly accomplished man and thus wasreceived by prominent figures like BenjaminFranklin and Antoine Lavoisier.It was only in the waning years of his life that he

emigrated from his native England to the UnitedStates. He settled first in Philadelphia but soonrelocated to central Pennsylvania.


Though not necessarily among his mostrenowned works, Priestley took note of the signifi-cance of a liberal-arts education in a book pub-lished in 1765. He spoke of the necessity of broadcurricula designed to exceed the typical boundariesof exclusively professional educations.He felt that all those who could affect the course

of public affairs should be exposed to diverse fieldsto avoid being “mere novices upon our entering thegreat world.”After Priestley’s death in 1804, Dr. Thomas

Cooper, a professor at Dickinson College andfriend of Priestley, arranged the purchase of a col-lection of his scientific apparatus for the college.Among the items purchased was the burning glassPriestley used in his gas experiments. Today, thePriestley collection is located in the college archives.

Jesse PeckIt was after the retirement of President John

Durbin and the short tenure of President RobertEmory that, in 1848, Jesse Peck was selected tohead the college. Peck was an intimidating preacher,but he lacked a college education, a fact that wouldfill his term with unfortunate embarrassments.Peck was a man of considerable Methodist and

academic presence and was a member of a long lineof mid-19th century Methodist thinkers. It was thehope of a newly formed board of trustees that Peckwould revive the college after its shutdown in 1832.

0ur people 33

In becoming the college’s next leader, Peck haddefeated the overwhelming choice of the students,the beloved Professor John McClintock, for whomMcClintock Hall is named. Persecution by the peo-ple of Carlisle for his role in the riots of 1847 hadforced McClintock to resign in the late summer of1848.When Peck became president, Moncure Conway,

class of 1849, was a junior. Conway and Peckclashed over matters of academia, and, on one occa-sion, Conway was chided by the president forrepeating the phrase “high moral tone” in anaddress to the chapel. Conway was humiliatedwhen Peck proclaimed, “We will dispense with therest of Mr. Conway’s address.”Conway considered leaving the college after the

incident but was buoyed by faculty members, whobeseeched him to complete the oration. At the nextchapel declamation, he resumed with the words,“As I was saying …”

Jim Thorpe and Frank Mount PleasantOut of the Carlisle Indian School emerged one of

the nation’s most acclaimed football teams, whichoften clashed with the Dickinson Red Devils.The Indian School graduated luminary athletes

like Jim Thorpe, whose captaincy of the 1912squad resulted in a near-perfect 12-1 season.Thorpe’s team trounced Dickinson 34-0 that year.Thorpe became one of the United States’ finest


Olympians, winning the 1912 pentathlon anddecathlon by an impressive margin.Frank Mount Pleasant was the first Native

American from the Carlisle Indian School to gradu-ate with a Dickinson degree in 1910. His prowesson the football field was legendary.Mount Pleasant was chosen captain of the 1909

football team, and the editors of the 1911Microcosm saw fit to give him the title of “greatestand headiest football star to ever play for the Redand White.”Some say Mount Pleasant paved the way for

Thorpe’s domination of the 1912 Olympic Gameswith his own success at the Fourth Olympiad inLondon in 1908.Mount Pleasant served in World War I as a sec-

ond lieutenant, winning decoration for bravery inEurope.Mount Pleasant was inducted posthumously into

the Dickinson College Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Roger Brooke Taney, class of 1795Born March 17, 1777, Roger Brooke Taney grew

up on a plantation in Calvert County, Md. Hisfamily originally came to America as indenturedservants in the 17th century. But they became pros-perous tobacco farmers, and Taney had a privilegedchildhood.At Dickinson, Charles Nisbet, the first president

of the college and one of the most prestigious edu-

0ur people 35

cators of his day, recognized Taney’s intellectualgifts, and Taney flourished under Nisbet’s fatherlyattention.Taney was prominent in the Belles Lettres literary

society and won the then-elected position of vale-dictorian at graduation.Taney began his legal career in Frederick, where

he met his wife, Phoebe Charlton Key—the sister


Roger Brooke Taney

of Francis Scott Key.In 1833, Taney became involved in what would

be his first national controversy. Taney was nomi-nated as secretary of the treasury during a contro-versy surrounding the role of the Bank of theUnited States. He served temporarily in this capacity,but the Senate refused to confirm his nomination.The Senate also refused to confirm his nomina-

tion to the Supreme Court. However, persistentpressure from Andrew Jackson ensured his nomina-tion to replace the legendary (but deceased) JohnMarshall in 1836.Taney’s downfall began in 1856, when he wrote

the majority opinion in the case, Dred Scott v.Sanford. The decision confirmed slaves as propertyand went much further by declaring the shaky1820 Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional,since slaves as property were constitutionally pro-tected from being disallowed in territories.This case was a landmark in the downward spiral

toward the Civil War. Taney became the target ofbitter Republican ridicule, even though he alreadyhad released his own slaves and despite his leader-ship on opinions such as Ex Parte Merryman, con-cerning the rights of civilians in wartime. He diedin October 1864.

John Robert Paul Brock, class of 1901Dickinson’s first known black graduate, John

Robert Paul Brock, was an impressive student

0ur people 37

regardless of his role as a trailblazer. CollegePresident James Henry Morgan, class of 1878, aprofessor of Greek, librarian and dean of the sopho-more class during Brock’s time at Dickinson,described him as “an efficient and inspiring leader.”He was active in the Union Philosophical Societyand graduated as one of the nation’s first 10African-American members of Phi Beta Kappa.After graduating, Brock taught in the Carlisleschool system for several years, then relocated toNew Jersey. There he continued his career in educa-tion, rising to become the supervising principal of“colored” schools in Atlantic City, N.J., beforedying of heart failure in 1922.

Marco BiagiIn 2001, Marco Biagi, an adviser, teacher and

longtime friend of Dickinson’s Bologna, Italy, pro-gram, was murdered by terrorists outside of hishome near the Nilsson Center.The perpetrators were captured, and in 2005 they

were sentenced to long prison terms. The tragic lossof Biagi still is felt by the program.

James Henry Morgan, class of 1878James Henry Morgan was an 1878 alumnus, pro-

fessor, dean and later president and trustee ofDickinson. He played an integral role in the historyof the college during his nearly 60-year associationwith Dickinson.


As a student, Morgan was recognized for his ora-tory and in 1878 gave the Latin Salutatory atCommencement.After teaching at several preparatory schools,

Morgan returned to Dickinson in 1882 as the headof the Dickinson Preparatory School. He becamean adjunct professor at the college in Greek. In1890, he was promoted to full professor and mar-ried Mary Curran, class of 1888.

0ur people 39

James Henry Morgan

From 1893 to 1900, he was the librarian, oversee-ing the consolidation of three college libraries intoBosler Hall. He also became dean during this period.After President Eugene Noble’s retirement in

1914, Morgan assumed the presidency. Retiringafter 14 years, Morgan furthered his mark on thecollege by writing a history of Dickinson. Heassumed the presidency twice more in temporaryroles and also became a trustee. He died in 1939.Morgan Hall bears his name.

Mary Curran Morgan, class of 1888Success stories of Dickinson’s first female students

abound, and the breakthrough to coeducationin the late 1880s signaled the college’s modernevolution.Mary Rebecca Curran came to Dickinson in

1886. She received the Pierson Medal for oratory in1887 and graduated as valedictorian and Phi BetaKappa in 1888. Like Zatae Longsdorff, Curran wasissued a master’s from the college in 1891.In 1890, Mary Curran married James Henry

Morgan, class of 1878, professor of Greek, librari-an, dean and president of the college. The couplewas active in the Methodist Church and YWCA ofCarlisle, and Mary established the Carlisle chapterof the American Association of University Women.On April 22, 1927, during her husband’s tenure

as president, Mary Curran Morgan died of a heartattack while traveling to a conference of the


Methodist Church. In remembrance, Dickinsonended classes at noon on the day of her funeral.

Isaac NorrisIsaac Norris was prominent in Philadelphia society.

He became a member of the Pennsylvania Assemblyand eventually its speaker. In 1751, Norris commis-sioned the manufacturing of a bell, which we knowtoday as the Liberty Bell, from a company inLondon.With a passion for learning and as a scholar of the

0ur people 41

Mary Curran Morgan

liberal arts, Norris amassed a huge collection ofbooks from around the world. After his death, hisestate passed to his only surviving daughter, Mary,who later married John Dickinson.In 1784, the Pennsylvania Gazette reported that

“His Excellency the President of the state,” JohnDickinson, had laid the foundation for DickinsonCollege’s library by donating a principal part ofIsaac Norris’s personal library—about 2,000 vol-umes—to the college.These books are a centerpiece in the college’s rare-

book collection in the Archives and SpecialCollections. The Isaac Norris Collection is now oneof the few remaining private American librariesfrom the Revolutionary era.

Marie Rossi-Cayton ’80Maj. Marie T. Rossi-Cayton ’80 commanded the

159th Aviation Battalion’s Company B of the 24thInfantry Division during Operation Desert Storm.In this esteemed position, Rossi led one of the firstunits across enemy lines while providing crucialammunition and fuel to front-line units.The day after the cease-fire, Rossi’s helicopter

crashed as a result of poor flight conditions, killingher and three others aboard. The U.S. Army for-mally recognized her historic achievements when itrenamed its Dover, N.J.-based small-arms researchand development facility the Major Marie T. Rossi-Cayton Building Armament Technology Facility.


Though notable for being the only casualty sus-tained by the Dickinson community in the GulfWar, she also was the only female casualty of theconflict to be interred in Arlington NationalCemetery in Virginia, where her inscription reads,“First Female Combat Commander to Fly intoBattle.”

Josephine Brunyate Meredith, class of 1901After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1901—and

doing so in only three years—Josephine BrunyateMeredith returned to the college in 1920 as itsfirst and longest-serving dean of women, earning a

our people 43

Josephine Brunyate Meredith

reputation for being “firm but sympathetic.”While dean, Meredith joined the English depart-

ment as an associate professor in 1922.In 1943, she was the first woman to reach the sta-

tus of full professor and, upon her retirement, shebecame the college’s first professor emerita.She was awarded an honorary doctor of letters in

1952 as part of the celebrations surrounding thededication of Drayer Hall.

Esther Popel Shaw, class of 1919Dickinson’s first black female graduate, Esther

Popel Shaw ’19, illuminated injustice through herpowerful poems. Shaw was born in Harrisburg in1896. At Dickinson she studied French, German,Latin and Spanish and graduated Phi BetaKappa. She was a modern-languages teacher inWashington, D.C., middle schools. She is bestknown for the poems she published in importantAfrican-American journals that were sparked by theHarlem Renaissance. Race and racism were centralthemes in her poetry. “Flag Salute” is one of hermost acclaimed poems.

Neil Santoriello ’02On Aug. 13, 2004, 1st Lt. Neil Santoriello was

killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive devicedetonated near his mounted reconnaissance patrolvehicle. He is among the Dickinsonians honored inOld West’s Memorial Hall.


Zachary Abendong ’60Few have engaged the world to a greater extent

than the college’s first African student, ZacharyAbendong ’60.Immediately after his time at Dickinson,

Abendong left the United States to become an inte-gral player in the reunification of Cameroon, WestAfrica. No longer under British rule and striving tocome into its own as a country, Cameroon was indire need of stability. Abendong used his educationin political science and international relations in thenegotiations to join the two former Camerooniancolonies.

our people 45

Esther Popel Shaw

His efforts garnered him popularity throughoutWest Cameroon, facilitating his launch to thesecretary generalship of the Kamerun NationalDemocratic Party (KNDP), making him theyoungest elected deputy in the country.Abendong’s life came to a premature end, however.

In 1963, while riding with West Cameroon PrimeMinister John Ngu Foncha, members of the Unionof the Population of Cameroon intercepted themotorcade and opened fire, killing Abendong. Hewas 24.

George Yuda ’47George Yuda ’47, whose father was Montreville

Yuda, an Oneida Indian, is the last remaining linkto the Carlisle Industrial Indian School. GeorgeYuda is sought out by scholars, journalists anddocumentary filmmakers to talk about his father,the last Indian School graduate to live in Carlisle.Yuda recalls Indian School graduates who visitedthe family home, including Olympic gold medalistJim Thorpe. His album of photos featuring hisfather and other Indians at the school is now in theYuda Collection at the Cumberland CountyHistorical Society.


Our Times

Founding DatesDickinson College traces its roots back to a

Carlisle grammar school, land for which was grantedby Thomas and Richard Penn on March 3, 1773.In 1783, the trustees of the grammar school consid-ered expanding it into an academy.When Philadelphia native and signer of the

Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush

our times 47

Old Class RuleEvery freshman shallwear, during the firstsix weeks of the collegesession or until afterthe close of the inter-fraternity rushing sea-son, a tag on which hisname is legibly printed.

�

learned of these plans, he proposed to Col. JohnMontgomery the idea of establishing a college.After gaining support from prominent figures like

John Dickinson and James Wilson, Rush and theother trustees successfully petitioned thePennsylvania Assembly for the establishment ofDickinson College.On Sept. 9, 1783, six days after the signing of the

Treaty of Paris and the international recognition ofthe United States, Dickinson College’s charter wasgranted and signed by the trustees, makingDickinson the first college chartered in the newnation.Thus, Dickinson College was founded in 1773

and chartered in 1783.

ConvocationEach year, new Dickinsonians gather in front of

Old West’s venerable stone steps. Literally etchedwith history and scuffed by centuries of students,these steps have been part of Dickinson’s mostimportant traditions.Some of the college’s oldest traditions were

revived by President William G. Durden ’71.During Convocation, new students walk throughthe Academic Quad, process up the old stone steps,enter through the open doors and sign into the col-lege, a tradition that was practiced from the late1800s until the early 1900s.The doors of Old West symbolize Dickinson’s


connection to its noble past and act as a virtualgateway to its future.

Homecoming & Family WeekendThe Homecoming celebration is a chance for the

our times 49

Convocation

college community to assemble on campus andrejoice in the college’s past and present.Homecoming also is a time for the current stu-

dent body to boast its latest advancements in acade-mia and athletics. Festivities often are centeredaround the Red Devils football game.Many athletic teams schedule games for

Homecoming, and organizations like ROTC holdspecial demonstrations of their talents. The mostcommon sights are groups of once and foreverDickinsonians rediscovering the campus.

CommencementDickinson’s first Commencement ceremony took

place in 1787. The trustees, professors and studentsproceeded from the college to the nearbyPresbyterian Church for the ceremony where


Football game at Homecoming & Family Weekend

bachelor of arts degrees were awarded to nine stu-dents by President Charles Nisbet.Centuries of students have received their degrees

since then, and traditions have come and gone.Since 1962, the college community has gatheredbefore the stone steps of Old West. DuringConvocation, students walk up the steps and intoMemorial Hall to sign into the college. AtCommencement, students process out of Old Westand down the steps, symbolically exiting the collegeand entering the world of alumni.Another Commencement tradition is the ringing

our times 51

Commencement

of the Denny Hall bell. What started as a prank in1975 as a farewell to outgoing President HowardRubendall was then choreographed into the cere-mony under President Samuel Banks and has con-tinued for more than 25 years.

Dickinson and World War IKenneth Steck withdrew from Dickinson in 1917

and enlisted in the army. The corporal was the firstDickinsonian to die in World War I. He died ofpneumonia on April 24, 1918, at an army camp inAlabama.In total, 810 Dickinsonians served and 15 gave

their lives. After the war, the room now known asMemorial Hall was dedicated in memory ofDickinsonians who served their country. A plaquein their recognition was installed June 4, 1921.

Duel of 1815John Taylor Corbin, class of 1816, died on Dec.

8, 1815, from wounds suffered during a duel withclassmate Dabney Carr Terrell. Few details aboutthe duel exist. Both men belonged to prominentVirginia families. In fact, Terrell was a nephew ofThomas Jefferson.After the duel, Terrell received a letter from

Edward Govan, class of 1815. It warned Terrell of apending murder charge and suggested that he neverreturn to Dickinson. Terrell fled to Europe underthe guidance of the U.S. Minister to France Albert


Gallatin and finished his college education inSwitzerland. He later practiced law in New Orleansand died in 1827.

Hero of the Boxer RebellionThe Rev. Dr. Frank D. Gamewell, class of 1881,

was a professor of physics at Peking Universitywhen the Boxer Rebellion broke out in 1900. Hewas placed in charge of the fortifications of theMethodist mission where Americans were instruct-ed to seek shelter.These “refugees” were transferred to the British

Legation in Peking, where Gamewell took on thesame responsibilities. According to the Britishsecretary of state for foreign affairs, it was due toGamewell’s efforts that 3,500 people were saved.As a result, Dickinson conferred upon Gamewell

an honorary doctor of philosophy degree in 1901.

Civil War RememberedAt the 150th Commencement ceremony in 1933,

Capt. James Patterson, class of 1859, told of theoutbreak of war and how his “classmates simplyshook hands with each other, bidding farewell with-out emotion, but fully understanding each wasgoing to support the views he had espoused.”Patterson told how strange it was to encounter

fellow classmates on both sides in the war. Heclaimed, during the Battle of Spotsylvania, to havecaptured his own roommate, Pvt. David Stone, a

our times 53

member of the 46th Virginia Regiment.Patterson later was wounded at the Battle of

Petersburg and was relocated, after recovering, to theCarlisle Barracks, which was a mobilization center.

MicrocosmDickinson’s annual yearbook, the Microcosm, is a

student-run publication. It reflects the values andperspectives of the students from each period of thecollege’s history.The Microcosm looks very different today from

when it first was published. The first Microcosm waspublished by the fraternities in 1868 and containedonly text about each fraternity at Dickinson.In 1890, the junior class published the Microcosm.

Thereafter it became an annual, rather than occa-sional, publication. It contained mainly text and afew photographs. Students included the college his-tory, lyrics to class songs, student poems and sto-ries. There were no class photos or individual seniorportraits, only photos of athletic teams and otherstudent organizations.As Dickinson evolved as an institution, the

Microcosm grew and changed. Photographs of facul-ty, classes, student activities and campus buildingssoon emerged, and the amount of text decreased.Unlike today’s yearbooks, the Microcosm of the

early-20th century featured portraits of the juniorclass rather than the senior class because the juniorclass published the Microcosm.


It was not until the yearbook of 1946-47 thatjuniors and seniors had individual student portraits.From that year forward the seniors took over therole of publishing.The last Microcosm that listed the students from

every class was published in 1954. In subsequentyears, only the students of the senior class were list-ed. During the next decades, photographs becamethe dominant element of the yearbook.

Dickinson Goes to WarBy 1943, the Dickinson Alumnus reported that

there were at least 896 Dickinsonians serving inWorld War II. That year, Edward M. Griffithbecame the first student to re-enroll after serving inthe war. He had been wounded at Guadalcanal.

Military Training in WWIIIn 1943, the 32nd Air Training Detachment

began classes at Dickinson. The college provided afive-month course that included academic prepara-tion, military education and physical training. Inaddition, Dickinson held its first midyear gradua-tion in 1943 to allow more men to enlist early.

Bingham’s PorchIn 1782, Col. John Montgomery, a Carlisle resi-

dent and member of the Continental Congress, andBenjamin Rush, Dickinson’s founder, enjoyed post-dinner conversation on the porch of a grandPhiladelphia home belonging to William and Ann

our times 55

Bingham.Montgomery offered for discussion a letter detail-

ing a request from the Carlisle Grammar School forthe necessary financial support to convert it into anacademy. Following a spirited discussion, Rushinterjected an even greater challenge: to found acollege.In the years that followed, Rush and Montgomery

worked tirelessly on the endeavor. “Bingham’sPorch” was a phrase they shared in correspon-dence—a knowing aside between our two principalfounders.

The CharterIt was with a relatively brief text, titled “An Act

for the Establishment of a College at the Boroughof Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, in the


The College Charter

State of Pennsylvania,” that in 1783 the newlyindependent United States of America recognizedthe first new college established on its soil, trans-forming what was once the Carlisle GrammarSchool into Dickinson College.Within the 2,500 words comprising the college’s

charter—written by James Wilson, future U.S.Supreme Court justice, signer of the Declaration ofIndependence and original Dickinson Collegetrustee—the foundation was set for what wouldbecome one of the nation’s oldest liberal-arts col-leges.

The Shutdown of 1832In 1832, Samuel How was two years into his

tumultuous presidency at the college. Upon arrival,How was confronted by a nearly nonexistent stu-dent body and an almost exhausted endowment.Two previous presidents had appealed in vain toreligious organizations for the inclusion ofDickinson as a seminary.Dickinson’s struggle with enrollment plagued

How’s presidency. In 1829, 14 students wereenrolled. By late 1831, after fruitless appeals toalumni for contributions, dissension among facultymembers and little improvement in enrollment,How and the trustees agreed that the college shouldclose its doors.

our times 57

The College ReopensIn September 1834, the dormant halls of Old

West again were filled with students, under the aus-pices of President John Durbin, because MethodistChurch organizations wanted to become involvedin education. The Baltimore and Philadelphia con-ferences of the church assumed responsibility forDickinson.Lauded as a courteous, cautious and prudent

man, Durbin’s teaching style inspired students andfaculty. His legacy does much to illuminate thecourse of the college during the mid-19th century.As a preacher, he was given to startling his congre-gation with loud, unexpected outbursts, but hisallegiance to Christian principles won him therespect of the college community.During the next 10 years, Durbin swelled the col-

lege’s endowment, providing for the continuingoperation of a new Dickinson, which welcomedmore students each year than at any time in the col-lege’s short history.

The Carlisle Indian SchoolIn the last quarter of the 19th and early-20th cen-

turies, federal railroad subsidies pushed expansionto a fever pace and, as Americans moved West,American Indian tribes felt increasing pressure ontheir settlements.Clashes such as those between the U.S. Army and

the Comanche and Cheyenne pushed American


Indians to relocate.During these campaigns for government suprema-

cy over the tribes, a young cavalry lieutenant namedRichard Henry Pratt took charge of 72 AmericanIndian prisoners at Fort Marion in St. Augustine,Fla.After three years in government care, the prison-

ers were given a choice to either continue their edu-cation in the East or return to the West. Dauntedby the prospect of returning to tribes resettled onreservations and thinned by conflict, many chose toremain.Pratt set to work bringing his idea of an Indian

school into reality. He obtained authorization toutilize the cavalry barracks at Carlisle, which hadbeen torched by J.E.B. Stewart before theGettysburg campaign and were largely abandoned.And, in October 1879, the first class of 82 studentsarrived to a warm welcome by the citizenry ofCarlisle.Pratt left little doubt in his vision for the school,

saying, “In Indian civilization I am a Baptist,because I believe in immersing the Indians in ourcivilization and, when we get them under, holdingthem there until they are thoroughly soaked.”As the students completed their new educations,

many excelled and sought additional training in thearts and sciences at the Dickinson PreparatorySchool. Of these students, at least 10 went on tostudy at Dickinson College.

our times 59

In 1896, one such student, Joseph Adams, stud-ied the regular curriculum but grew ill and died. Aremembrance by his classmates read, “He was trueto every trust, and greatly beloved by all who knewhim. He died in the noble attempt to free his peo-ple from their bondage.”

Student PranksIn the mid-19th century, the student population

was relatively small, so the students all knew oneanother well. The editors of The Dickinsonian pub-lished facts, anecdotes and embarrassing storiesabout their classmates and professors. There alsowere many memorable planks played on peers, pro-fessors and administrators.President Prank: In an 1849 joke that was regard-

ed as the very essence of college mischief, PresidentJesse Peck was a victim of a well-devised plan creat-ed by Moncure Conway, class of 1849.Peck was planning to attend a Methodist confer-

ence in Staunton, Va., and U.S. President ZacharyTaylor’s inauguration in Washington, D.C. Beforehis trip, Conway forged a letter from Peck to thesuperintendent of the insane asylum in Staunton.The letter said that a man described as having a

“temporary aberration of the mind” and the samephysical characteristics as Peck would be travelingto Staunton on the same train as Peck. The letterasked the superintendent to take this man to theasylum and keep him there until his friends arrived.


When Peck stepped off the train, the superintend-ent recognized him as the described man, askedhim to step into his carriage and took him to theasylum.First interpreting the carriage ride as special treat-

ment, Peck finally realized where he was going anddemanded to be let out. After Peck’s friends fromthe conference identified him, the superintendentapologized profusely, since “Dr. Peck felt very muchhurt over the cruel joke … ”Cow Prank: Horatio Collins King, class of 1858,

and his classmates corralled two calves intoProfessor Wilson’s classroom in South College.After attending morning prayer, they returned tofind Wilson “making ineffectual, not to say frantic,endeavors to get them down the steps.” The calvesknocked over the benches while the students“roared” in laughter. After finally driving the calvesdown the stairs and out of the building, Wilsonsaid, “Gentlemen, your class is large enoughalready.”

War in CarlisleA 1932 article in The Dickinsonian says that

General Fitzhugh Lee led a detachment ofConfederate troops toward Carlisle in 1863 anddemanded the surrender of the occupying Uniontroops.After the commanding Union officer refused to

give up, the Confederate artillery, commanded by

our times 61

Major Waters, fired on the town. Most of the firelanded on the town square, but some rounds didstrike the campus. One went through the roof ofSouth College; one exploded in front of Old West;and another hit President Herman Johnson’s lectureroom in East College.

Class RivalriesClass pride was prevalent at Dickinson in the

19th and early-20th centuries. Many sportingevents and school functions were organized aroundclass years.To be a first-year college student was truly an ini-

tiation process at some points in the college’s histo-ry. One of the freshman rules that was passed in1932 read, “Except between Saturday at 5 p.m. andSunday at 8 p.m., freshmen shall not accompany orcall upon any coed or lady of the town unless theywin the spring baseball game from the sopho-mores.”

S.S. Dickinson VictoryThe Victory ship-building program began in

1944 as an extension of the Liberty program, whichhad begun a few years earlier. The S.S. DickinsonVictory, named for Dickinson College, was the sec-ond ship of that series to be named after a college.It was launched from Terminal Island, Calif., onFeb. 9, 1945. It weighed 11,000 tons and was 455feet long.


It was deactivated from reserve-fleet status in1961 and, after being used in a 1995 study on theeffects of fire on a shipment of nuclear materiel, theship was sold for scrap in 1999.

our times 63

S.S. Dickinson Victory

Class Lectures: Then and NowIn December 1876, The Dickinsonian published

an excerpt from the memoir of Roger BrookeTaney, class of 1795, giving an account of his yearsat Dickinson:“Dr. Nisbet’s share of the college duties was

Ethics, Logic, Metaphysics and Criticism. Hismode of instruction was by lectures written out andread to the class slowly, so that we might write itdown; yet it required a pretty good penman andfixed attention to keep up with him.”Students in the 18th century were required to

write down every word, and transcriptions ofNisbet’s lectures compiled by students are held inthe college archives.Today, technology has transformed the way

students learn course material. In addition to a


Old Class RuleNo underclassmen shallbe permitted to carry acane.

�

pen and paper and the oral word of professors,students at Dickinson have Moodle as a study aide.Using the Internet and the Dickinson network,Moodle allows professors to post announcements,lectures and study guides online for students toaccess.

The Study of ChineseThe editors of The Dickinsonian remarked in

1875 that “perhaps the greatest benefit of a liberaleducation … [is that] it gives us the power of seeingthings as they are, and in their true relation to eachother, and to the whole.”In a review of a Chinese grammar book, the edi-

tors said that knowing the Chinese language willprove to be of great “practical worth” and that theimportance of learning it is “daily increasing.” They“who consider the great problems of nations or areinterested in liberal studies” should begin to learnChinese.

Dickinson and the MilitaryThe Carlisle Barracks is the second-oldest military

installation in the United States. As an ordnancefactory during the Revolutionary War, it suppliedtroops with weaponry and other combat equip-ment.Where Denny Hall now stands, George

Washington reviewed local Pennsylvania troopswho gathered to quell the Whiskey Rebellion.

our times 65

Before the Civil War, Dickinson’s student bodyrepresented the sectional tension that permeated theentire country. The class of 1857, for example, had19 members. Nine came from Northern states and10 from Southern states. During the war, threegraduates of that class served in the Union army,while four served in the Confederate army.Horatio Collins King, class of 1858, was awarded

the Congressional Medal of Honor for his serviceduring the Civil War.

Tropical Storm AgnesIn June 1972, Agnes struck Carlisle, flooding

much of the area near the Susquehanna River.Geology professor Noel Potter recalled that

“much of the area got 12-16 inches of rain in twoor three days,” causing the highways in and aroundCarlisle to flood, stranding many travelers.Despite being in the middle of its summer ses-

sion, the college staff and students worked with theCumberland County Red Cross to provide freelodging and meals to the evacuees and volunteers.Dickinson students helped sandbag the roads andorganized a locator service for those stranded.Fifty-four students and recent graduates helped

the relief effort during a four-day period, while 158people stayed overnight in Drayer Hall, and 550meals were served, not including the hundreds ofsandwiches and drinks handed out to workers.Potter and physics professor Ken Laws flew in


Laws’ small airplane to get an aerial view of theflood, taking photographs. Potter now possesses oneof the most extensive pictorial documentations ofthe flood.

McClintock Slave RiotsThe riots of June 2, 1847, stemmed from the cap-

ture of three escaped slaves, including the wife of afreeman living in Carlisle. The slave owners, JamesKennedy and Howard Hollingsworth, both ofMaryland, broke into a house harboring the fugi-tives near Chambersburg, Pa.The two men were imprisoned for breaking and

entering, but they received the help of a sympathet-ic sheriff who allowed their “property” to be heldwithin the jail.Blacks attending the hearings in Carlisle attempt-

ed a rescue, which failed. The courtroom was emp-tied, and deliberations continued.When Kennedy and Hollingsworth posted bail,

the slaves were returned to their custody to theindignation of a large and well-informed blackcommunity in Carlisle.John McClintock, a professor of mathematics,

Greek and Latin, rushed to the courthouse when heheard this. He proclaimed to all present that thesheriff had acted illegally. A new Pennsylvania lawpassed just eight weeks earlier stated that thoughthey could not obstruct slave chasers from otherstates in a search, commonwealth officers could not

our times 67

assist slave owners by taking fugitives out ofPennsylvania.Apparently, McClintock was the only one who

knew about this law, and the sheriff demanded tohave a copy of it. McClintock returned to the col-lege to retrieve his copy, but during the interveningminutes the presiding judge, Samuel Hepburn, gave


John McClintock

custody of the slaves back to their owners.As Kennedy, Hollingsworth and their slaves were

leaving the courthouse, a brawl ensued. During thechaos, Kennedy fell while chasing the slaves andseveral free blacks down an alley. He was trampledby the crowd and died a week later from hisinjuries.McClintock was charged with inciting the riot.

Two months later, he and 26 black freemen stoodtrial. Despite a multitude of fallacious testimoniesproduced against the “abolitionist,” McClintockand all others eventually won acquittal.

George Washington and the WhiskeyRebellionIn 1791, Congress passed a tax on whiskey and

other distilled liquors of two cents a quart. This taxangered the Scotch-Irish farmers of westernPennsylvania, resulting in unrest in Allegheny,Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.In 1794, 100 men attacked a tax collector and fed-eral marshal in western Pennsylvania.To President George Washington, such a revolt

was a threat to the legitimacy of the new nation.He called up the militias of Maryland, New Jerseyand Pennsylvania and, after dusting off his own warjacket, saddled up and rode westward.Meanwhile, in Carlisle on the night of Sept. 8,

the “Whiskey Boys” ran into the square and erecteda pole bearing the words “Liberty and No Excise.”

our times 69

When Carlisle residents loyal to the governmentchopped down this pole, 200 armed, angry menreturned on Sept. 11, erected a larger pole and tookpossession of the town.Washington arrived in Carlisle on Oct. 4 at the

head of an untrained and unruly column of militia.Washington stayed at Ephraim Blaine’s house at 5 S.Hanover St., while the militia men camped on whatwould later become part of Dickinson’s campus.Washington eloquently informed the townspeople

who were concerned by the military presence that“reason will speedily regain her empire and the lawstheir just authority.”On Oct. 5, Robert Davidson, a Dickinson profes-

sor and future president, and current college presi-dent Charles Nisbet delivered politically mindedsermons before Washington. Both extolled the mer-its of good order and good government, but Nisbetbranched off to the “evils of rebellion” to the almostdangerous displeasure of the unruly militiamen out-side.Washington insisted on drilling and training his

raw recruits before proceeding to Pittsburgh—thesite of the rebellion. Then, after a hasty march west-ward, Washington returned to Philadelphia, havingsuccessfully defended the rights of the federal gov-ernment and the rule of law.

The Bologna ProgramFounded in 1965 by Professor of Political Science


K. Robert Nilsson, the Bologna, Italy, study-abroadprogram was modeled after The Johns HopkinsUniversity’s Paul H. Nitze Center for AdvancedInternational Studies in Bologna, established in1955. This was the first Dickinson study-abroadcenter and has set the tone for future programs.The first 15 students in the Bologna program

sailed to Italy aboard the Castel Felice in 1965.Today, the Nilsson Center hosts 20-30 Dickinsonstudents annually, along with a few students fromother institutions.The program focuses on political science, history

and international relations. In the early years, stu-dents lived with Italian families. Today, they live inapartments with other students.The yearlong program allows students to become

integrated into Italian society, learn the languageand travel throughout Italy and Europe. Bolognahas never drawn an extensive tourist trade. For thisreason, students experience a truly Italian life.

Civil War StudentsAt the start of the Civil War in 1861, many stu-

dents left Carlisle to join the army, but few actuallyjoined and many returned to school to completetheir degrees.All but four of the Southern students left

Dickinson. One student wrote to his friend beforeleaving, “If I wear the Phi Kap badge, don’t shootme, Frank. Yours, fraternally, H. Kennedy Weber,

our times 71

Baltimore, Maryland.”Another student flew a homemade Confederate

flag in the square, headed to Hagerstown, Md.,changed his mind on the way, and joined theUnion Army.In 1863, final exams occurred just as the threat of

Confederate invasion came close. The school car-ried on, but diplomas were given privately that year.Shortly after graduation, the Confederate armyoccupied Carlisle.

World War II LifeOn Dec. 7, 1941, the United States became

involved in World War II as a reaction to the Pearl


World War II Mural

Harbor bombing. There was fear that Carlislewould be a target for air-strike attacks because of itsstatus as a “defense town.”The Dickinsonian printed instructions on campus

procedures in the event of an air strike.Much of the college’s male population joined the

military, while women organized several homeland-aid efforts.According to The Dickinsonian, “If it is any con-

solation to the men of Dickinson, most of thewomen have already whipped out their knittingneedles. The answer to the question of Pearl Harborwill be, for the co-eds anyway, to purl harder.”There also was a drastic increase in the number of

women wearing men’s fraternity pins.

Flight TrainingIn February 1941, Dickinson applied to the U.S.

government to offer flight training to its studentsunder the Civil Aeronautics Authority.

Safe HavenOn Nov. 1, 1945, The Dickinsonian printed an

article about Dickinson students who had found asafe haven at Dickinson after experiencing crisesduring the war.Elsbeth Walch was born in Manila, the

Philippines, of Swiss parents. Her home wasbombed, but her family managed to escape. Theylanded in San Francisco, where they lived next to

our times 73

the family of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Throughthese neighbors, Elsbeth attended Dickinson withhopes of becoming a doctor.Richard Gwiazdowski was born in Warsaw,

Poland. In 1941, he was suspected of belonging toan underground organization and was forced intopolitical prison in East Prussia. After six months, hewas released, but was still in danger from theGestapo.He befriended the Gaither Warfield ’17 family,

who hid him in their home until they were cap-tured and sent to a German camp. Gwiazdowskiwas captured shortly thereafter and returned toprison for two and a half years.When he finally was released, he realized he could

no longer receive a good education in Polandbecause the Germans had killed most of the educa-tors. He had heard about Dickinson from Warfield,and Gwiazdowski entered Dickinson in 1945.

Dickinson RocksIn 1952, the city of Carlisle, England, gave

Dickinson two building stones. The first was fromRoman times, and the second was from the reign ofWilliam Rufus, 1087-1100.

Science TechnologyIn 1955, Dickinson became one of the first

schools in the country to have an electron micro-scope.


CensureIn 1956, Assistant Professor of Economics

Laurent Raymond LaVallee was called to a U.S.House of Representatives committee hearing andwas accused of un-American activities. LaValleeinvoked the Fifth Amendment when accused ofcommunist activity and returned to Carlisle.While LaVallee would neither confirm nor deny

the allegations, he was suspended and later fired.Students and faculty members fought for him, butthe termination stood.In 1958, the American Association of University

Professors (AAUP) censured Dickinson for attempt-ing to restrict academic freedom. The associationmaintained the censure for several years becauseDickinson’s policy stated that faculty members must“respect the values inherent in the Christian tradi-tion,” which the AAUP said could be seen asrestrictive.The censure finally was removed in 1963 when

the AAUP decided that the college had shown suffi-cient progress toward academic freedom.

England ProgramIn 1984, the faculty approved a study-abroad pro-

gram in Norwich, England. Almost 20 years afterthe creation of the Bologna, Italy, program, it wasanother step toward Dickinson’s status as one of thepremier colleges for international study.Today, Norwich boasts both a science program

our times 75

and a humanities program.

Washington RedskinsIn 1995, the NFL’s Washington Redskins

announced that they would no longer hold theirsummer-training camp at Dickinson College, end-ing a 32-year tradition. They returned for trainingin 2000 before ending the partnership again in2002.

Three Mile IslandUnit Two of the Three Mile Island nuclear power

plant opened as an electrical generator on Dec. 31,1978. At the time it was known that there wereflaws in the plant’s design, but it was deemed suit-able to run.At 4 a.m. on March 28, 1979, there was a partial-

core meltdown of the reactor due to equipment andoperator failure.Because of the nature of the failure, the extent of

the danger was not immediately known. Within 24hours, spokesmen for the plant claimed that “thedanger was over,” even though the plant was notstabilized.At the same time, however, they recommended

that all residents within a 10-mile radius remainindoors and that children and pregnant womenwithin a five-mile radius be evacuated. The contra-dicting messages confused and frightened people,and thousands of residents fled.


The event came under some control within a fewdays. President Jimmy Carter visited the plant’scontrol room in an effort to build confidenceamong the citizens.After the meltdown, Dickinson cancelled classes

for a week. More than 75 percent of students and

our times 77

Three Mile Island

faculty members left Carlisle. Those who stayedattempted to assist frightened people in the area.WDCV-FM, the campus radio station, kept thecampus community updated.When students returned, Robert Cavenagh, asso-

ciate professor of art and education, held a T-shirt-design contest in an attempt to lighten the moodon campus. The winning designs were printed andsold.For months after the crisis, students were seen in

shirts with slogans such as: “I’m Radiant—Carlisle,April 1979;” “Hell No, We Won’t Glow;” “ISurvived Three Mile Island … I Think;” and “VisitHarrisburg, Pennsylvania and Have 2.6 Children.”Today, the college archives are home to an exten-

sive collection of TMI-related records.

The Big GameDickinson and The Pennsylvania State University

had competed annually in football from 1896-1907, but then went 24 years without a match.On Oct. 17, 1931, Dickinson’s football team

defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 10-6. Morethan 6,000 fans filled New Beaver Field at ThePennsylvania State University.Dickinson coach Joseph McCormick led his

team, referred to as “the 11,” against the footballpowerhouse in a very close game.Right halfback Joe Lipinski ’33 caught a 15-yard

pass from fullback Eddie Dick ’35 and then ran


another 40 yards to score the first touchdown ofthe game. Later in the half, Dick kicked a 20-yardfield goal, increasing Dickinson’s lead to 10-0.The Nittany Lions had many drives down the

field but only scored twice, giving credence toDickinson’s stellar defense.Edward Johnson ’32, Milt Davidson ’33 and

Benjamin James ’34 reminisced about the game inthe fall 2004 issue of Dickinson Magazine. James, alinebacker in the game, former professor, coach,dean of admissions and dean of students, recalled,“We were aware that we would have a hard time,but we weren’t afraid.”

September 11, 2001The 9/11 terrorist attacks had a profound effect

on the Dickinson community. The campus is locat-ed near all three crash sites, and manyDickinsonians live in the New York City andWashington, D.C., areas.The Sept. 21 edition of The Dickinsonian

described the campus as “one huge mass of emo-tions.” The campus response was unified and patri-otic as students displayed flags on residence hallsand participated in a candlelight vigil on BrittonPlaza. There was a community meeting that nightin the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium led bythe Rev. John Miyahara, and members of the stu-dent life staff set up a crisis center in the HUB.Melissa Harrington Hughes ’92, a resident of San

our times 79

Francisco, was attending a meeting on the 101stfloor of the North Tower of the World TradeCenter and was killed when the attacks occurred.Alan Merdinger, father of Melissa Merdinger ’03,also died. He worked on the 102nd floor of theNorth Tower.

Robert Frost and the Stellfox AwardIn 1959, Robert Frost visited the college as the

first recipient of the Dickinson Arts Award. Whileon campus, Frost spent a great deal of time inter-acting with students, making a profound impres-sion on many of them.Jean Louise Stellfox ’60 was inspired by her time


Robert Frost on the steps of Old West

with Frost and her experience at Dickinson. Shewent on to teach English in Shamokin, Pa., for 39years and, according to personal testimonies of herstudents, inspired generations of young people.Stellfox died suddenly in 2003 after being struck

in a hit-and-run accident. It was discovered that shehad bequeathed more than $1 million to the collegeto start the Harold and Ethel L. Stellfox VisitingScholars and Writers Program.To honor Stellfox and offer current students the

benefits she gained from Frost’s visit, the collegeinvited British novelist Ian McEwan to be the firstwriter-in-residence and recipient of the Stellfoxaward in 2005. Subsequent Stellfox recipientsinclude Rita Dove (2006), Edward Albee (2007),Mario Vargas Llosa (2008) and Maxine Kumin(2009).

Early History of Carlisle up to the Civil WarThe first settlement in the area that became

Carlisle most likely occurred around 1720 whenJames LeTort settled near the creek that now bearshis name.Separated from the settlements to the east and the

Susquehanna River by many miles, the arearemained relatively unsettled until Thomas andRichard Penn created Cumberland County andsought a site for its seat. Carlisle was chosen for itsfreshwater supply and proximity to the AlleghenyTrail.

our times 81

Carlisle resembles all of the other towns designedby the Penns—an orderly square with roads onlyrunning parallel and at right angles to one another.In the center was to be a square for governmentbuildings and churches. The roads on the edges ofthis grid were named for the cardinal directions.The Allegheny Path, which passed through the cen-ter of the town, became High Street, and the othermain road was named Hanover, after the Englishdynasty.Carlisle served as an outpost for settlement, as a

fort during the French and Indian War and as anew home to late-18th century settlers.This period also was marked by visits from some

famous Americans, including Benjamin Franklinand other dignitaries meeting Indian tribes in 1757.George Washington gathered his troops here beforeheading west to quell the Whiskey Rebellion in1794.Carlisle’s growth continued through the 19th cen-

tury. No longer seen as the “frontier,” Carlislebegan the shift from a provincial town to a moreculturally rich community. While Carlisle was notthe focus of westward immigration, mainly a stopon the way to more important centers further west,it continued to grow, and by the early-19th centurythe population was approximately 1,500.Architecturally, the wooden houses and granite

mansions of the 18th century were replaced withred-brick two-story homes in the federal style. In


1837, the railroad came to Carlisle and ran throughthe center of town on High Street.During the second quarter of the 19th century,

the Underground Railroad picked up steam, andCumberland County was an important way station.Free and escaped slaves settled in Carlisle andfounded their own church in 1829. This communitywould continue to grow and in 1847 would beprominent in the McClintock Riots.

our times 83

Old Class RuleEvery freshman shallwear a regulation reddink with a white but-ton, which in no wayshall be mutilated ordisfigured; also a redbow tie, white socks,supported by garters,except on Sundays orcollege holidays.

�

Our Landmarks

Memorial HallMemorial Hall once served as the college chapel.

It was remodeled and rededicated in 1919 as amemorial to Dickinsonians who died in World WarI. There are now plaques commemorating thoseDickinsonians who have died in subsequent events.

Denny HallThe Denny family promised a piece of land to

the college for $100 with the provision that anybuilding erected on it would be a memorial to thefamily.Eliza Smith also gave money in honor of her

brother Abraham, class of 1840, to provide meetinghalls for Dickinson’s oldest literary societies, UnionPhilosophical and Belles Lettres.This first building was completed June 8, 1896,

but burned to the ground March 3, 1904.Construction on Denny II began after an intense

fund-raising campaign, and Denny was rebuilt in agrander style because of donations like the onefrom trustee William Clare Allison in memory ofLenore Allison. The townspeople of Carlisle alsocontributed to the building’s reconstruction.Denny Memorial Hall was dedicated June 6,

1905, and the bell from the cupola of Old Westwas transferred to Denny’s Lenore Allison BellTower. Denny was renovated in the 1980s and


again in the 2000s.

Metzger InstituteGeorge Metzger, class of 1798, left $25,000, his

home, library and land “for a Female Collegewherein to have taught useful and ornamentalbranches of education.” Thus, Metzger Instituteopened on Sept. 28, 1881. However, it was notauthorized to be a women’s college until 1884. The

our landmarks 85

Denny Hall

enrolled women occasionally took classes atDickinson College with the men.In 1913, funds proved insufficient to keep the

school running, the college was closed, and thebuilding was leased to Dickinson College.

Lovers’ LaneThis vestige of Dickinson romantic lore ran from

the entrance of the campus at the corner of Highand West streets to East College. In 1929, duringthe renovation of the academic quad, many ofthe trees were removed along the path, which essen-tially erased Lovers’ Lane from the landscape overtime.

Potato Chips and the CIAThe building once known as the Potato Chip

Factory and now an annex of South College has amysterious past. The edifice was built in 1949 byEdison Nickel. It was purchased by the college in1957 to be used as a rifle range, but instead it wasleased out to several different government agencies.Student concerns were aroused when it was

rumored to be a carefully guarded governmentbuilding, supposedly housing agents of the CentralIntelligence Agency. These rumors have never beenconfirmed. In 1986, the college again put it to usefor academic purposes.

Old WestIn 1803, the structure on the site of what is now


Old West was a new building that had taken threeyears to build and many more years to fund. But inFebruary of that year, it caught fire and burneddown.With the support of community members and

donors from across the country, including ThomasJefferson, James Madison and John Marshall, thecollege trustees authorized the rebuilding.Benjamin Latrobe, the architect for the U.S.

Capitol, was commissioned to provide a plan forthe new building. As a bonus for the young andoften financially shaky new college, his serviceswere rendered free of charge.Six months after the first building burned, the

cornerstone of the new structure was laid. Thebuilding was completed and ready for use in

our landmarks 87

West College

November 1805. The building became known asWest College after the completion of East Collegein 1836.The structure was threatened twice by fire. In

May 1832, a fire accidentally started by two stu-dents was controlled without great damage.In 1844, a fire threatened the building, but a

bucket brigade of students and citizens saved thebuilding.West College’s appearance and uses have evolved

through the years. Its use as a residence for facultyended in 1890, and with the growing fraternitymovement it became the main location for studenthousing early in the 20th century. Eventually, thebuilding was used primarily for classes and offices.With the building of Bosler Hall, chapel services

were moved from West College, and the gallery thathad surrounded the main hall was removed. Thecollege bell was moved to Denny Hall in 1905. In1919, West College’s main hall was renamedMemorial Hall to honor Dickinsonians who hadlost their lives in World War I.Today, West College is known as Old West. Its

main functions for the student body involveConvocation and Commencement. Incoming first-year students walk up the old stone steps and intoMemorial Hall to sign into the college. AtCommencement, they proceed out of the hall anddown the steps as graduates. These are among theonly times when the main double-door entrance of


Old West is used.

Women’s ResidencesOn Feb. 16, 1962, construction began on Adams

Hall. It was intended to be the second residencehall for women on campus, the first being DrayerHall, built in the 1950s.

Holland Union Building (HUB)In 1964, the Student Union Building opened.

The campus community had worked toward thebuilding—today known as the Holland UnionBuilding—for several years, because students wanted

our landmarks 89

Holland Union Building (HUB)

a more universal gathering place on campus.Then as now, the building included a dining

room, a snack bar, the campus bookstore, a socialhall and meeting rooms. Although students nolonger had to eat in their dormitories, the diningroom retained a dress code for several years.

East CollegeEast College was completed in 1836 shortly after

Dickinson was reopened by the Methodist Churchin 1834 after a brief shutdown. Through the mid-19th century, the building housed students and


East College

college presidents, with some space for academics.Originally, East College was entered via four

wooden staircases, which adjoined sections separatedby three fireproof walls. Students often relaxed onthe wooden porch, which overlooked West Streetand Noah Pinkney’s snack stand.In 1924, the porch and staircases were removed

and replaced with the four doors that opened ontothe ground floor, creating a contemporary appear-ance.In August 1969, during further renovation, the

exterior collapsed, and East College had to bereconstructed at 100 times its original cost of$10,000. It is home today to the humanities.

The Trout GalleryLocated on the first floor of the Emil R. Weiss

Center for the Arts, The Trout Gallery houses thecollege’s vast collection of fine art, and its two-floorexhibit hall showcases several exhibitions each year.It houses more than 5,000 pieces of art.Named for Brook and Mary Trout, parents of

Helen and Ruth Trout ’36, The Trout Gallery wasdedicated on Oct. 14, 1983.Visitors to The Trout Gallery tour exhibits such as

selections from Francisco Goya’s Los Caprichosseries, a large assortment of ancient Roman andGreek objects or student works from senior semi-nars in art history and studio art.Before the completion of the Kline Center in

our landmarks 91

1980, the Weiss Center was the AlumniGymnasium, operational since 1929.

The QuarryCompleted in 1899, what today serves as The

Quarry, a campus café and small-events center,originally was built to house members of Phi DeltaTheta fraternity. The college purchased the buildingin 1931 and Phi Delta Theta constructed a newhouse, today’s Stuart House.After housing academics, the campus media cen-

ter and fraternity members again for a short time,The Quarry, which now occupies this two-storylimestone edifice, opened in 2000.The Quarry provides an alternative to traditional

campus dining, a nice place to relax or a comfort-able venue to meet President William G. Durden’71 for a chat during his café office hours.


The Quarry

Rector Science ComplexThe Rector Science Complex’s new Stuart and

James halls were dedicated Oct. 24, 2008. Thestate-of-the-art facility features “areas of inquiry” inplace of the traditional department structure, bring-ing together the biology, chemistry and psychologydepartments plus interdisciplinary programs in bio-chemistry & molecular biology and neuroscience.The halls received gold LEED (Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design) certification,which signifies a green building. The new facilityexpends about two-thirds the energy normally usedby a science building of similar size.

our landmarks 93

Stuart and James halls

MoorelandAt the end of the 19th century, the original cam-

pus quadrangle with Old West at the center, bor-dered by College and West streets, became packedon all sides with buildings. By the end of the prohi-bition era, Metzger Hall, housing women, andConway Hall, the primary dormitory for malestudents, had become cramped due to increasedenrollment.Johnston Moore studied for two years at

Dickinson, withdrawing in 1827 without complet-ing his degree. He was a successful land owner inCumberland County. His family owned severalthousand acres along the Yellow Breeches Creek.Moore died in 1901 and the property went to hisfamily. In 1932, after the death of Moore’s last sur-viving daughter, Dickinson acquired part of hisestate known as Mooreland Park.Now known as the Benjamin Rush Campus, the

forests of the Mooreland Estate were known asDeer Park because the 15-acre grounds were hometo 100 white-tailed deer. The Mooreland mansionbecame the Baird Biology Building and then wasdemolished in 1966 and replaced with WitwerHall.

School of LawThe fifth-oldest law school in the United States,

the Penn State Dickinson School of Law, was estab-lished by John Reed in 1834.


Reed left Dickinson College before receiving hisdegree with the class of 1806, then studied law inGettysburg with local attorney William Maxwell.By July 1820, Reed was appointed president judge forAdams, Perry, Cumberland and Franklin counties.Living in Carlisle in a house on the corner of

West and High streets, which now serves as thepresident’s house, Judge Reed fervently pursued theestablishment of a law curriculum at Dickinson.After initial reluctance, the trustees relented and, inApril 1834, classes taught by Reed convened in hisparlor.Following Reed’s death in 1850, law classes were

taught sporadically by other local judges until1890, when formal articles of incorporation wereadopted. The law school was thus established as anindependent institution and operated as such until1997, when it was absorbed by The PennsylvaniaState University.

our landmarks 95

Old Class RuleNo underclassmen while oncampus shall be permitted tothrow snowballs, stones orother missiles.

�

Our Symbols

The MaceThe college mace was introduced by President

William Edel. Its first bearer was Professor DavidGleim in a 1951 ceremony.The design of the mace incorporates portraits of


The College Mace

Benjamin Rush, John Dickinson and CharlesNisbet; seals from the Belles Lettres and UnionPhilosophical societies and Phi Beta Kappa; thenames of past presidents of the college; and themermaid.The mace is carved of American cherry and of

black walnut from a tree that stood where DennyHall is now. It is said that George Washingtonstood under that tree to survey his troops before theWhiskey Rebellion. It still is carried in ceremoniestoday by the longest-serving professor.

The Denny BellCrafted in 1809, the bell resided for nearly a cen-

tury in the cupola atop Old West. Upon DennyHall’s completion in 1905, the bell was moved toits present location in Denny Hall’s Lenore AllisonTower.For decades, the bell’s chime ushered in each new

hour, but it had fallen silent by the 1970s. In 2000,President William G. Durden ’71 announced thatthe bell would be restored and returned to serviceto “help us recall the rhythm of the day and toremember important elements of college life andtradition.”

The SealIn the summer of 1784, as the college’s founders

discussed the formation of the college, BenjaminRush and John Dickinson were asked to create a

our symbols 97

suitable seal for the institution.The resulting seal consists of an open bible, a tele-

scope and a cap surrounded by the inscription“Pietate et Doctrina Tuta Libertas,” a Latin phraseloosely translated as “Freedom is made safe throughcharacter and learning.”The open bible represents freedom of access to

religion. Similarly, the cap, modeled after the libertycap of the Sons of Liberty, symbolizes independenceof political activity. The telescope indicates earnest-ness in intellectual endeavor.

Alma MaterHoratio Collins King, class of 1858, wrote the

words to Dickinson’s alma mater, “NobleDickinsonia,” along with numerous other collegesongs, including “The Old College Bell,”“Dickinson for Aye!,” “Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity


Song” and “Those Lovely Carlisle Girls.”King, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner

for service during the Civil War, served on theboard of trustees from 1896 until 1918.The lyrics to the first verse of “Noble

Dickinsonia,” which most often is sung at majorcollege events, are:Alma Mater, tried and true,Noble Dickinsonia,Oft our hearts shall turn to you,Noble Dickinsonia.How each ancient classic hall,Fondest mem’ries will recall,Sacred is each gray old wall,Noble Dickinsonia.

Red DevilsDespite Dickinson’s long history, no mascot was

adopted until the 1930s. An article by aWashington, D.C., journalist who attended theGeorge Washington University vs. DickinsonCollege football game on Oct. 25, 1930, providedinspiration for the mascot.Dickinson, wearing the college colors of red and

white, held its own in a 7-6 first half versus a supe-rior team. In recognition of Dickinson’s spiritedplay, the journalist dubbed the team the “RedDevils.”Evidently, the name was popular with Dickinson

students. In an article covering the following week-

our symbols 99

end’s game, The Dickinsonian headline read “RedDevils Outplay Cadets, but Game Ends in 7-7Score.”After 148 years, Dickinson had found its mascot.

The MermaidAs Benjamin Latrobe designed Old West, he was

instructed to include a cupola for a bell. After con-sulting his text on Greek architecture, Latrobedecided to model the cupola loosely on theAthenian Tower of the Winds.To further this association, Latrobe ordered a

likeness of a triton, an aquatic figure of ancientmythology, to be placed atop the cupola as a weath-ervane. But the ensuing confusion of the local cop-persmith over this order provided Dickinson itsmost famous icon.The coppersmith crafted instead the only fish-

tailed human with which he was familiar—a mer-maid.The mermaid quickly captured the hearts of

Dickinson students and inspired several legendarystudent pranks.For instance, in 1915, a group of students stole

the bike of Chaplain Springer, a not-too-populareccentric on campus, and decided the mermaidshould go for a ride.The students sneaked the bike up to the cupola

around 1 a.m., dismantled and then reassembledthe bike on the mermaid’s tail by the time the sun


rose. Professional steeplejacks were required toretrieve the bicycle.Later in the 20th century, the tradition of mer-

maid-napping emerged. In 1967, a studentattempted to steal the mermaid and sell it to artdealers in Paris. The plot was discovered, and themermaid was returned from the New York apart-ment where it was held.The college president at the time decided that, in

order to preserve this battered but priceless relic, itmust be removed from the cupola. The original

our symbols 101

The mermaid on the cupola of West College

mermaid is now on display in Dickinson’s library,while a replica has taken its place atop Old West.

College ColorsDickinson’s official colors—red and white—

originated with its literary societies. The UnionPhilosophical Society had as its symbol a whiterose. The Belles Lettres Society’s symbol began as apink rose, but they changed it to red in the mid-1860s.

Benjamin Rush StatueBenjamin Rush once wrote, “If I thought my

bones could receive pleasure after my death frombeing near the object of my affection, I should giveorders to have them deposited under the College ofCarlisle.”Rush is not buried in Carlisle, but a bronze statue

painstakingly was cast from an original located atthe Department of the Navy’s Bureau of Medicineand Surgery in Washington, D.C. The new 568-pound Rush statue was placed near Old West in2004 so he could be a visible presence on campus.

Bosler CartoucheThe building that is now Bosler Hall was once

the college library and had a dramatically differentappearance, with a large portico, a turret and a redsandstone exterior.The Bosler Cartouche, a stone, scroll-like inscrip-

tion used as an architectural feature, was carved in


1885 and appeared above a portico at the entranceto Bosler Library. It depicts two “putti,” or nakedcherubs, holding a scroll that shows the name ofthe building.In 1940, Bosler was renovated and lost all of these

our symbols 103

Statue of Benjamin Rush

features and its cartouche.The cartouche lay forgotten in a barn for 25 years

until the class of 1913, preparing for its 55threunion, rescued the almost four-ton stone slab andplaced it between Witwer and Adams halls. It oftenfell prey to a running prank that involved red paintand a certain part of the putti’s anatomy. For another30 years, the cartouche remained there.A group of alumni, faculty and staff formed the

Committee to Restore Our Cartouche (CROC).Throughout several successive administrations, thisgroup lobbied to have the stone moved again.In early 2000, under President William G.

Durden ’71, the group succeeded and the stone wasmoved to its current resting place outside BoslerHall.

John Dickinson’s LionSeveral classes of Dickinsonians have had the

honor of graduating under the watchful eye of JohnDickinson’s lion.John Dickinson shed his family’s old English aris-

tocratic airs by choosing not to have a coat of armsin America. Instead, he extracted only one of itsicons—a lion.A priceless piece of the college’s history, the lion,

in the form of a marble sculpture, traveled every-where with Dickinson and serves as a constantreminder of our Revolutionary past.The lion probably was present while Dickinson


drafted the Articles of Confederation and Lettersfrom a Farmer in Pennsylvania. It links currentDickinsonians to a distinctive past andRevolutionary tradition, always reminding them“to be, rather than to seem.”

our symbols 105

John Dickinson’s Lion

Our Engagements

Tug of WarIn 1925, the annual Tug of War took place at

LeTort Spring. The stakes were significant: “If thefreshmen had won, they could have removed theirdink hats for the remainder of the year.” But thefreshmen lost, had to wear their hats, and two ofthem were thrown into the spring.

The GE College BowlVying against other prestigious institutions such

as Loyola University and Saint Francis College, agroup of Dickinson students found themselves inthe national spotlight in 1965 on the GeneralElectric College Bowl. The team assembled an unde-feated record en route to claiming the top prize atthe televised main event.

DebatesFrom the 1780s to today, students of the Belles

Lettres and Union Philosophical societies haveengaged in debate and discussion about contempo-rary or controversial issues in order to exchangeideas and share opinions.In 1875 the editor of The Dickinsonian remarked

that “The ‘cross-firing’ which takes place among themembers is exciting and amusing. Blows are givenand received, which … often vex and cause dissatis-faction.”Today, the debates are at times very serious and


passionate, yet also lighthearted and amusing. In2005 during the week of Halloween, UnionPhilosophical members engaged in a debate titled“In the Event of a Zombie Attack, Who Would BeBetter Suited to Defend the Republic: Pirates orNinjas?”

Ray CharlesIn 1961, the Ray Charles Orchestra performed in

the Alumni Gymnasium, which is now the Emil R.Weiss Center for the Arts.

Martin Luther KingOn April 11, 1961, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther

King spoke at Allison United Methodist Church onDickinson’s campus.

AthleticsDickinson has a long and successful athletic histo-

ry. In the 1890s, the college acquired its first athlet-ic field on the corner of Louther and Cherry streets.After selecting the official red and white colors in1887 and establishing the Red Devil mascot in1930, the sports teams became part of Dickinsonculture.In 1904, the Dickinson football team was ranked

12th nationally but lacked a large enough venue tohost big games. Edward Biddle, class of 1870,donated six acres to the college to build theHerman Bosler Biddle Memorial Field in 1909.Looking back over past Dickinson victories, no

our engagements 107

single athletic event stands out as much as one fate-ful day in October 1931, when the Dickinson RedDevils defeated the Nittany Lions of ThePennsylvania State University. The teams had com-peted annually from 1896 to 1907, but this wastheir first match in 24 years.After 1931, Dickinson sports gained momentum.

By 1934, there were nine male sports: baseball, bas-ketball, freshman basketball, cross country, football,freshman football, soccer, tennis and track.Women’s sports also became more popular,

although they were limited to intramural competi-tion, including archery, basketball, hockey, swim-ming and an equestrian team.Adding to the athletic spirit, in 1962, the

Washington Redskins, who for years usedDickinson’s campus as their summer-training loca-tion, paid to add a weight room and locker room to


Dickinson vs. Ursinus College

Biddle Field.With the advent of Title IX in 1982, gender-equity

requirements helped to advance women’s athletics.Today, Dickinson College supports 12 women’s

teams and 11 men’s teams, and about 65 percent ofDickinson students participate in intramural sports.

Peter, Paul and MaryOn Nov. 30, 1962, the folk group Peter, Paul and

Mary performed.

Bruce SpringsteenBruce Springsteen and the E Street Band per-

formed in the dining hall in 1974. Although atten-dance was respectable, the college lost $3,000 onthe performance.

Jimmy BuffetIn 1975, Jimmy Buffet, known for songs like

“Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise,”performed on campus.

Women in Campus Media: The Early DaysShortly after the first women arrived on campus,

they lent their enterprising spirit to the campusmedia. Jessica Longsdorff, class of 1891, a sister ofthe trailblazing Zatae, class of 1887, was listed onthe board of editors of the Microcosm yearbook,along with Elizabeth Anna Low, class of 1891. Bothwomen also are noted in the 1890 Microcosm asmembers of the earliest referenced women’s literary

our engagements 109

society, the Browning Literary Society.The Harman Literary Society, established in

1896, showed that more than a century ago,women knew how to have a good laugh. It wasnamed for the professor who tried to block theadmission of women. The society, which appears incollege records until the 1940s, published a journal,Salmagundi.In later years, when men were away at war,

women began to claim the top media leadershiproles. Kathleen Briner Meals ’44 was the firstfemale editor-in-chief of The Dickinsonian (1943-44 school year), and Barbara Mulford Jones ’46became the first female editor-in-chief of theMicrocosm (1944-45 school year).

SustainabilitySustainability has become a defining characteristic

of the Dickinson experience. It is a mindset thatpermeates the curriculum, extracurricular activities,the residential experience, facilities, campus opera-tions and more. And Dickinson has been recog-nized as a national leader among liberal-arts institu-tions for this commitment. In 2007, PresidentWilliam G. Durden ’71 signed the AmericanCollege and University Presidents’ ClimateCommitment. In 2008, the Center forEnvironmental and Sustainability Education wasestablished on campus. Dickinson is one of onlyfive colleges in the country to achieve three national


designations: It was recognized as an OverallCollege Sustainability Leader in the 2010 GreenReport Card, earning an A- for the second year in arow; was designated as a “Cool School” by Sierramagazine and as one of America's greenest collegesin Sierra’s Comprehensive Guide to the Most Eco-Enlightened U.S. Colleges; and was given the high-est possible score (99) on The Princeton Review’sGreen Honor Roll.

Global EducationInstilled with an international spirit by

Dickinson’s founder Benjamin Rush, the collegewas destined from the beginning to be a leader inglobal education. Rush advocated the teaching ofmodern languages and the integration of an inter-national perspective in the curriculum.By the mid-1960s, Dickinson had alumni living

all over the world. With a vast, global network,Dickinson created a truly internationalized campus.In 1965, the college, in an effort to prepare stu-

dents to be leaders internationally, founded its firststudy-abroad center in Bologna, Italy.Today, the college’s largest program is at the

University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, andits newest are in Egypt and India. The other sitesare: Brisbane, Australia; Yaoundé, Cameroon;Beijing, China; Toulouse, France; Bremen,Germany; Nagoya, Japan; Seoul, South Korea;Querétaro, Mexico; Moscow, Russia; Málaga,

our engagements 111

Spain; and New York City.Throughout its history, the college’s global-

education program has garnered respect and recog-nition from both the national and internationalcommunities. The college has been repeatedly citedby the Institute of International Education’s Open


Bologna, Italy

Doors Report as one of the best schools in thecountry for international study. More than 60 per-cent of Dickinson students study abroad.The integration of an international curriculum on

the Carlisle campus also has gained notice. Thisincludes international scholar programs like thePartnerships for Learning Undergraduate Studies(PLUS) and the U.S. Studies Institute for SouthAsian Undergraduate Student Leaders.Today, Dickinson has more than 40 programs on

six continents in 24 countries, making it one of thelargest and most successful global-education pro-grams in the country.

A Flock of SeagullsIn 1986, A Flock of Seagulls, a leading New Wave

group known for its floppy hair and synthesizers,performed on campus.

Jewish ServicesCarlisle’s first Jewish religious services were held

in Dickinson’s Memorial Hall in 1967 during RoshHashanah.

BoycottIn 1969, there was an outburst of police action

against black students in Carlisle. After holding ameeting in the dining hall, Dickinson studentsdecided to hold a one-week boycott of all Carlislebusinesses to protest the police actions. The boycottwas upheld by most of the campus.

our engagements 113

Peaceful ProtestOn Oct. 15, 1969—Dickinson’s Vietnam

Moratorium Day—about 1,300 students, facultymembers and citizens marched on the U.S. ArmyWar College in peaceful protest of the VietnamWar.David Oden of the Young Socialists Alliance

made a speech. The crowd sang songs such as“Alice’s Restaurant” and the national anthem, thenmarched back toward the Dickinson campus bycandlelight.

Celebrating WomenDickinsonians celebrated the 125th anniversary of

women’s admission to Dickinson during the 2009-10 academic year with 125 Years of Women atDickinson: A Legacy of Success. The celebrationbegan Sept. 25, with an exhibit and reception at theWaidner-Spahr Library. Highlights from the cele-bration included two panel discussions featuringdistinguished alumnae leaders, the unveiling of theZatae Longsdorff (class of 1887) historical panel inthe Rector Science Complex and a student-curatedexhibit in the Archives & Special Collections.

Unity RallyOn Sept. 23, 2000, about 3,000 people congre-

gated on Biddle Field for a Unity Rally to displaycommunity spirit in opposition to hate crimes andinjustice.


President William G. Durden ’71 had volun-teered the use of Dickinson’s facilities to celebratediversity and unity after the Carlisle BoroughCouncil Social Justice Committee learned of a KuKlux Klan rally to be held in town that day.Gov. Tom Ridge and the president of the

Harrisburg chapter of the NAACP made appear-ances at the rally. The celebration consisted ofmusic, inspirational speeches, arts and crafts andother activities celebrating ethnic diversity, as wellas a Unity Pledge table.

Earth DayThe first worldwide Earth Day was April 22,

1970. One way Dickinson participated was througha Public Affairs Symposium titled Science andPublic Policy: Environmental Pollution.During the four-day event, many leading biolo-

gists, conservationists, scientists, doctors and politi-cians participated in roundtable discussions.Biologist Barry Commoner was the keynote speak-er, and Sen. Gaylord Nelson, one of the leadingpolitical proponents of Earth Day, gave the closingaddress.In other campus efforts that spring, Dean Gerald

Hawkins and college faculty members addressed 60high-school students at an environmental seminar.Hawkins also celebrated Earth Day by planting a9-foot red maple tree near his house. Also, severalmembers of the faculty took an environmental

our engagements 115

survey of LeTort Spring Run.Finally, the college encouraged students to

become educated in the sciences as one of the bestways to help the environment and improve aware-ness.

Public Affairs SymposiumThe Public Affairs Symposium (PAS), Dickinson’s

annual conference on topics of contemporary rele-vance, began in the mid-20th century as a religioussymposium with guest preachers and religious lead-ers. In 1964, it became the more secular sympo-sium we have today.When the Committee on the Symposium of

Public Affairs planned the first PAS, its goal was to“stimulate thought and discussion on contemporaryissues of a broad public nature … [and to] stimu-late smaller groups on campus which are interestedin similar ideas.”Topics have included: The American Purpose in

World Revolution (1964), Television: The Eye thatNever Blinks (1968), U.S. Foreign Policy: TheTimes they are A-Changin’ (1979), and Sport: ItsPlace in Society (1987).During the 42-year history of the PAS, speakers

have included Peter Jennings, Ralph Nader, TedKoppel, Howard Cosell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,Vincent “Bo” Jackson and numerous politicians,scientists and scholars.


our engagements 117

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Dickinson

Our Organizations

Raven’s ClawFounded in 1896, Raven’s Claw is Dickinson’s

male senior honor society. They are known as theWhite Hats.

Skull and KeyFounded in 1909, Skull and Key was a local hon-

orary society for junior men. They were known asthe Black Hats and remained at Dickinson until1983.

Scroll and KeyKnown as the Gray Hats, Scroll and Key is a local

honor society for senior men. Members are electedin the spring of their junior year on the basis ofparticipation in campus activities, service toDickinson College, leadership and personal character.

Phi Beta KappaDickinson’s PBK chapter began April 13, 1887,

only two days before Lafayette College’s chapter waschartered, making Dickinson the alpha ofPennsylvania.

Student Army Training CorpsBetween 1918 and 1919, 252 Dickinson students

enrolled in the SATC (a predecessor of ROTC) andtrained at the college. During World War I, 810Dickinsonians served, and 15 gave their lives.


Reserve Officers’ Training CorpsArmy ROTC was established at Dickinson in

1952 at the height of the Korean War. In the early1960s, more than 20 percent of the student bodywas enrolled in ROTC. During this period, themilitary ball was the first major social event of theschool year, complete with saber arches and ballqueens crowned by the college president.In 1972, more than two dozen officers were com-

missioned through Dickinson’s ROTC program.In 2003, the Dickinson program, named the Blue

Mountain Battalion, was ranked eighth out of 272ROTC programs nationally.President William G. Durden ’71 and trustees

Woody Goldberg ’63, John Curley ’60 and DavidMeade ’62 are all ROTC graduates.

Union Philosophical and Belles LettresFor much of the early history of Dickinson

College no extracurricular activities existed on cam-pus aside from two literary societies, Belles Lettresand Union Philosophical.Belles Lettres was founded Feb. 22, 1786, to sup-

plement the curriculum with practice in writingand public speaking. Union Philosophical wasfounded in 1789 for “mutual improvement in sci-ence and literature” and quickly assumed a role asrival to Belles Lettres.At this point in Dickinson’s history the library

was a fraction of its current size, containing only a

our organizations 119

few thousand volumes. In 1791, both societiesbegan to collect books for their own intrasocietylibraries housed in Old West.Both book drives depended mainly upon dona-

tions and limited purchases. By the time thelibraries were merged with the school collection inBosler Hall in 1886, each contained about 10,000volumes.The societies also served as forums for political

debate. Student life in the 19th century revolvedaround public debates and exhibitions that werehosted by both societies.In addition, the societies regularly challenged each

other to debate. One society would choose thetopic; the other society would choose a side, anddebate would commence.Both societies had secretive tendencies based on

their origins. This secrecy and the society debateshelped to spawn a deep rivalry between the twoorganizations. They became a precursor to the fra-ternal societies of the mid- to late-19th century.More traditions evolved to the point that elabo-

rate processions and society-identifying badges wereintroduced. The official red and white colors ofDickinson College emerged from the societies’ sym-bols. Belles Lettres adopted a pink rose, which theychanged to red in the mid-1860s, while UnionPhilosophical chose a white rose.Both societies exist on campus today.


Women’s CenterThe Zatae Longsdorff Center for Women, a stu-

dent-led center, was created in 1984 as a supportand resource center for women. In 2008, the Officeof Student Life established a new Women’s Centerand appointed Susannah Bartlow as its first direc-tor. Now located in Landis House along with theOffice of Diversity Initiatives, the Women’s Centerworked to bring a rape advocate to campus, found-ed the Assault and Sexuality Coalition and is work-ing with regional partners to further enhance theresources for women on campus.


Literary Society Hall located in Denny Hall

The SisterhoodThe Sisterhood, founded in 2002, was a women’s

organization on campus that supported diversityand united the women of the Dickinson andCarlisle communities.

Two PartiesIn 1958, the Student Senate elections ran in a

two-party system. The United Party and theStudents’ Party each nominated students to run forvarious positions. The two-party system continuedfor several years.

Center for Environmental and SustainabilityEducationDickinson’s Center for Environmental and

Sustainability Education (CESE) was established in2008 with a $1.4 million grant from the AndrewW. Mellon Foundation and matching funds fromthe college. The center works to integrate environ-mental and sustainability education across the col-lege curriculum. It also links classroom learningwith co-curricular programs, the greening of cam-pus operations and civic engagement.

The TreehouseThe Center for Sustainable Living, also known as

the Treehouse, was founded in 1990.It is a student-directed environmental learning

community dedicated to sustainable living and


responsible environmental actions at the local level.In 2008 it became the first college residence inPennsylvania to earn gold LEED (Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design) certification.

Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)On April 9, 1965, CORE staged a peaceful

protest outside of the Carlisle Municipal Buildingto draw awareness to the state of some poorer areasof Carlisle. CORE, comprised mainly of Dickinsonstudents and faculty members, attempted to havethe housing codes enforced and reduce racial segre-gation.

Asbell Center for Jewish LifeThe Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life

brings together Jewish students. The center collabo-rates with the local congregation, Beth Tikvah, toco-sponsor events, including High Holiday services,Passover Seders and other religious events. TheAsbell Center is a place for students to gather forreligious, social and cultural events. Each year Hillelmembers organize a host of exciting activitiesincluding parties, dances, concerts, bowling nightsand informal coffeehouses with guest speakers. Inaddition to supporting Jewish life on campus, theAsbell Center facilities are available to Dickinson’sacademic program in Judaic studies, which hasan unusually strong curriculum for a liberal-artscollege.


Student SenateFounded in April 1908, Senate was a male-only

organization until 1936. It is the main tool forcommunication between students and administra-tors as it attempts to create an open campus dia-logue.This body of elected officials discusses campus

issues and enacts legislation. Senate is responsiblefor the approval, organization and funding of stu-dent organizations.Senate representatives sit on the all-college com-

mittees, allowing the student body to have an activerole in college affairs.

KeystonesFounded in 2003, the Keystones are an all-male

group dedicated to fostering community relationsthrough active participation in service projects.

Wheel and ChainFounded in 1924 by nine senior women, Wheel

and Chain is the college’s senior women’s honorarysociety.Also known as the Blue Hats, the group elects 10

juniors each year based on their leadership skills,participation in campus activities, service to theschool and community and personal character.

Alpha Phi OmegaEstablished in 1989, Alpha Phi Omega is a


national coed service fraternity that follows theprinciples of leadership, friendship and service.The organization sponsors service projects in the

Carlisle community in partnership with TheSalvation Army, Project SHARE, Hope Station, theCarlisle Theatre and Habitat for Humanity.

Mohler Scientific ClubFounded in 1867 as the Dickinson Scientific

Club, the Mohler Scientific Club was renamed forProfessor of Physics John Mohler, class of 1887, athis retirement. The first-year physics prizes also arenamed in his honor.

Interfraternity CouncilThe Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the joint

body for all fraternities at Dickinson. The purpose


Student Senate meeting

is to promote social, intellectual and fraternal rela-tionships among the groups and to support com-munication between the fraternities and the school.

Panhellenic CouncilThe governing body for all sororities on campus,

Panhel promotes relationships among the foursororities and between the groups and the school.The sororities included in the council are threenational groups, Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Kappa Gammaand Kappa Alpha Theta, and one local organiza-tion, Delta Nu.

ALLARMThe Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring

(ALLARM) was founded in 1986 as an organiza-tion within the Department of EnvironmentalStudies. The group assists Pennsylvania communi-ties and individuals who strive to protect andrestore watersheds.

Multicultural Greek organizationsIn 2009, four new national organizations began

transforming Greek life on campus. Delta SigmaTheta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Sigma Lambda Gammaand Sigma Lambda Beta share an affinity for multi-cultural social advocacy, and their events often blurthe line between learning and leisure. They alsoseek to change public perceptions of fraternity andsorority life. Although the groups are historicallyAfrican American or Latino/Latina, members


emphasize that everyone is welcome. They valueservice over philanthropy—though they do plentyof fundraising—and their recruitment processincludes a formal application and interview. Butlike all Greek organizations, their focus is fellow-ship.

PhoenixFounded in 2003, Phoenix is a women’s social

and service organization that participates in a vari-ety of community-service projects, like sendingrelief buckets to the victims of Hurricane Ivan inFlorida and sending valentines to residents of theThornwald Nursing Home in Carlisle. Phoenix alsosponsors the Polar Bear Plunge.

Cultural and Ethnic ClubsDickinson is home to many cultural and ethnic

clubs, including ABOLISH-Students for a FreerSudan, African-American Society, Asian SocialInterest Association, Club Afrique, Hillel, LatinAmerican Club, Middle Eastern Club, MuslimStudent Association and Spectrum.



Printed on recycled paper containing30% postconsumer waste.

Documents

D-Book