Women at UVa have a rich history of traditions that travel back a mere 100 years, as women were not allowed to attend the University as graduate students until January of 1920 (women weren’t admitted as undergrads until 1970!) As can be imagined, women at UVa during this time were treated as less than and did not have the same privileges as the men. Women were thrust into spare dormitories and given no way to join organizations, meet fellow students, or even use an all-female bathroom. Mary Jeffcot Hamblin, the dean of women from 1927 to 1934, sought to change this miserable female college experience.
Hamblin was able to secure a sum of 5,000 dollars in hopes of renovating and revamping Hotel E, a room on the West Range. Her vision was that women would have a separate lounge here, away from their territorial male classmates. Women would be able to talk, study, and enjoy time outside of their small dormitories.
The women’s lounge came to be known as 57 West Range. As time passed, however, the nickname ‘Co-Ed Room’ seemed to be more fitting for this lovely space. Women strolled in and out throughout the years and grew closer to their school and their peers. The Women Student Association, the only female-run organization on grounds, would hold meetings and events here in the evening. Afternoon tea was served during the weekdays from the hours of 4:00 to 5:30 PM. This sacred refuge for women was the first step in allowing women to integrate with UVa, instead of simply taking classes and leaving.
The University hired a housekeeper for the Co-Ed Room named Betty Slaughter. Betty became known as a warm and welcoming presence to anyone that stepped foot in the lounge. She served as the housekeeper for 33 years before retiring. The Co-Ed room was a lasting tradition that helped shape our inclusive environment today. Currently, Hotel E is home to the ‘West Range Café.’ The idea behind forming this space into a restaurant was to keep students funneling in and out with the ability to stop and talk between their classes. Upon walking into the café, there is a large plaque that describes a little bit of the history of the Co-Ed room, and what once went on in the space.
Women have only been able to attend UVa for a century now, and each day we make strides to a more inclusive environment for all students that attend. The Co-Ed room, now West Range Café, serves as an excellent reminder of how far women have come, and how much we will continue to shape the University around us.