On May 1, Chatham University announced a decision to go coed in fall 2015. We want to hear what you have to say.
Click here to share your thoughts.
We’ll be updating this page with reactions to the vote over the next few days. Read on, then respond in the comments or send us a quote of your own.
The views expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Her Campus Chatham.
Anonymous:
“Going co-ed is a horrible decision! First of all, Chatham’s residence halls are not built for a co-ed environment. Residence Halls such as Rea and Laughlin cannot be co-ed. On another note, they are run-down, have mold and the laundry facilities often do not work.
“I am FURIOUS that the College for Women I knew and I love, will no longer exist. Chatham administration is attempting to placate us by creating the ‘institute for women’. Does anyone else realize that this institute was created by combining resources Chatham already has: Women’s Studies major, Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics, and other institutes. These ALREADY exist…
“The administration states they will keep the Chatham College for Women traditions. I don’t believe that. They may stay for a couple years, but once more men start attending the men will scoff at the traditions. Believe me, I have attended a co-ed institution. I know the difference between a co-ed and a single sex education. Chatham will regret this decision and there will be no turning back.
“Also, to those who say they wanted to graduate from a co-ed university…then why didn’t you attend one in the first place? You say you attended for security, then why not just attend another small university that would have offered the same security?
“THERE IS NOTHING THAT MAKES CHATHAM ANY DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER INSTITUTION IN PITTSBURGH NOW. I fear that Chatham will shut down.”
Anonymous:
“I think Chatham will regret this decision. Have you seen the universities being investigated for rape and sexual assault? Soon that will be Chatham.”
Lisa S.:
“I am sad and extremely disappointed. I don’t feel the options were considered at all and I blame Esther. We have destroyed 145 of history and I hope the board is ashamed. I feel like I have had part of me taken away and no say in the matter.”
Onastasia:
“R.I.P. to the Chatham College for Women. I loved you so, and am proud to have been a part of your life.”
Anonymous:
“There is now nothing unique or remarkable about Chatham University. 145 years of history was flushed down the drain in the name of profits the Board and President hope they’ll be able to make. CCW was the first college in Pennsylvania for women. We all thought that really meant something. Then again, we all thought that the alumnae and students had some say in this decision. We learned today that alumnae are only good for one thing: money.”
Anonymous:
“This was a horrible idea.”
Anonymous:
“I spent a lot of time (6.5 years) and money (close to 250,000) to attend Chatham University. I would much rather my two degrees actually mean something than explaining to people my school closed. Move on. You still graduated from a school that had history and is about to make new history. Burning your CCW and stopping funding is not the rational thing to do; you’re hurting current students and who wants a degree from a school that closes?”
Anonymous:
“I strongly disagree with the whole ‘Save Chatham’ movement because saving Chatham is exactly what the Board of Trustees is trying to do. In making the decision to go co-ed, The Board has chosen to try to preserve the school by doing what is necessary, albeit not ideal. I strongly believe that Chatham will hold on to its roots while creating an environment where men, women, and people of every sex and gender will be educated and will learn to promote gender equality.”
Anonymous:
“Was the Save Chatham movement aware of the irony of their name or was it largely lost on them?”
Anonymous:
‘This was a mistake that they will regret. Killing 145 years of history with one vote, without any real open dialogue with alumnae is a MISTAKE. I will no longer support Chatham, and will take my money to another women’s college dedicated to staying so long into the future.”
Codie McGeever:
“Before Chatham, I never defined myself as a woman. I never understood my power, my exceptionality, or my identity. Chatham offered a safe, welcoming, transformative space for me to become who I am today and to embrace womanhood and sisterhood. Its decision to become a coeducational school will strip countless future students of the amazing experience of blossoming into empowered, confident, undaunted women in an environment that lives and breathes the spirit of women’s knowing, being, and doing. It hurts to have learned the truest lessons about integrity from a university that no longer acts with any.”
Anonymous:
“Making Chatham co-ed to increase enrollment makes no sense. It being a women’s college is a large part of Chatham’s appeal, and without that, honestly what about Chatham would make anyone want to go there when there are so many other good universities just in Pittsburgh alone? The pretty campus? (Well, maybe.)”Chatham is a good school. I love it and I’m very glad I chose to go there. But if it hadn’t been a women’s college, I wouldn’t have even thought about attending. I have also attended a co-ed school and I enjoyed that as well – but it’s a different experience. There’s nothing terrible about having boys on campus or in classes. But women’s colleges provide a unique and valuable experience and I’m disappointed that Chatham students will be missing out on that now.”
Anonymous:
“Going co-ed due to lack of funds? Barazzone is one of the top 10 highest paid college presidents in the US. She makes nearly 1 million more than CMU’s president, despite CMU’s tuition being significantly higher. If Chatham is lacking funds, this is why.”
Editor’s Note: According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, President Barazzone’s total compensation package reported on 2011 tax documents was $1.8 million. Base pay was equal to $283,839.
Anonymous:
“I think that going co-ed was a fantastic decision, thank you to the board members for being courageous enough to vote for this option. Being ‘world ready women’ means accepting the fact that men are 50% of our society. When we graduate, we will be working alongside men in our careers. I don’t understand why everyone is upset, Chatham University already has men in attendance. The grad program offers many different options for a wonderful education, men included. Also, there are international men students. Chatham offers a unique education, and men should be included if they choose. The protestors are doing exactly what was done to women in the beginning – excluding a group of students from an education. Women didn’t like when they were excluded, so we shouldn’t exclude men. The board members are ‘saving Chatham’, by going co-ed.”
Anonymous:
“I think this is a mistake! I am also interested in what the College will offer for women who chose to come here because it is a single-sex school. Will the administration help them transfer to a college that aligns with the education they want?”
Rosemary Davies:
“I mourn the loss of Chatham College for Women today. Women’s colleges are definitely a niche in higher education. They add diversity. But, more than that, women’s colleges give women a choice to invest in the legacy of ‘access’ and equality that they were founded on.”However, women’s colleges do need to change to fit the 21st century. Closing down is one option. Co-education is another. But, more solutions need to be explored. What about a college exchange program with a co-ed, public or private college? How about a technical women’s college for engineering, health studies, and biomedical research (similar to Moore College of Art & Design)? Could women’s colleges cater more to students of a lower socioeconomic class through the ‘work college’ model? And, specifically with Chatham, was the women’s college the ‘real problem’ for the low undergraduate population – or was it high tuition, cheesy marketing, faculty turnover, and majors that come-and-go? There is no set answer. Rather, there are multiple avenues of thoughts to walk through. And, as always, many questions.”Indeed, I hate to see women’s colleges disappear merely because the numbers aren’t there – does an undergraduate population really have to be so big to ‘work’? Take for instance, Deep Springs College which is an alternative, work college of 26 that admits only men. Or, even Harvey Mudd College. These are small colleges, but their impact? Big. This is what Chatham should be, right? ‘Big thinking for a big world’ is our motto.”On the decision, I have mixed feelings. I hope that Chatham’s ‘Women’s Institute’ can uphold the same values as the women’s college did for 145 years. I like the leadership certificate and residential model, which is similar to the Douglass College of Rutger’s University. Yet, I wish that Chatham was different. I had hoped that the #savechatham movement would’ve found its ways into a creative vision. I had hoped that Chatham would’ve looked to the sky for the future, the students of tomorrow (everyone [male, female, trans, etc.]). But, I had hoped that Chatham didn’t forget that their alumni were the soil foundation keeping the university structured.”
Anonymous:
“I am a current Chatham student and am so appalled by this decision and the way the administration handled making it. They are forcing us to turn our backs on one of the pillars of Chatham’s educational goal (not to mention the wasted money spent on TV spots touting the benefits of a women’s college). I love Chatham and was proud to go there, and have been donating money, but no more. A school that does not seem to care about what the students and alums think, a school that doesn’t believe in its own ideas, is not getting a cent from me!”
Anonymous:
“College forever, university never…in my opinion Chatham died when it became a university…coed is only cementing the coffin closed…”Good luck to you all who think this a great move…you’re clueless and paying for it now.”
Anonymous:
“Am I upset Chatham went co-ed? Yes! However, I want Chatham to continue to exist and hopefully it will, even after going co-ed. I don’t want to take my kids to a parking lot and tell them that’s where my unviersity used to be.”