Question:
am interested in persuing an adult degree in Virginia. Would like opinions on the following schools.
University of Virginia James Madison Univeristy Old Dominion University Mary Baldwin
Answer:
When I was seeking aprogram in which to do my undergrad, my "finalists" included two statecolleges (TESC and then-Regents) and two private colleges (Skidmore andMary Baldwin). I visited all but Regents, and ultimately chose TESC.
Thus, I attended an introductory session for Mary Baldwin at theiroffices in Richmond, VA (the college's main campus is in Staunton,pronounced "Stanton," to the west along I-81). It seemed like a solidprogram at a school with a good history, but two factors turned me off .. . First, Mary Baldwin is historically a women's college. While menare welcome in their Adult Degree Program, the main campus itself isstill a women's college (to my knowledge), and that seems to me a bitpatronizing. "Hey, guys," it seems to say, "you can't come to ourschool's main program, but we'll take you in the ADP." I have noobjection to women's colleges, but to say that I'm welcome in their"alternative" program but not their main program doesn't cut it.
Second, and along the same line, is that, at the time (this was in1985), male students were required to take a course in women's studies.Again, no uintrinsic objection, except that female students did not havethe same requirement. Once again, a double standard that I foundunacceptable.
You may remember the controversey surrounding the Virgina MilitaryInstitute (VMI),a state-supported school, going co-ed a few years back.Prior to the VMI issue being settled, there was much talk about anequivalent program being established at Mary Baldwin's main campus inStaunton. VMI did, of course, go co-ed, so the "separate but equal" (anintentional allusion to Brown v. Board of Education) nonsense neveroccurred at MBC.
The bottom line: Mary Baldiwin is a fine college, but as far as I'mconcerned, the girls can play in their own sandbox unless I'm welcome inall four corners of the playground. And don't take that wrong - I'mquite liberal, but equality works both ways.
