(35 years ago) Rockhurst Goes Coed! - Rockhurst University

A Different TimeBy Michael Stellern, Ph.D., ’70While it seems like only a few years ago, I arrived inKansas City during the late summer of August 1966 toattend Rockhurst College. That started a relationship withthe University that has lasted almost 40 years and takenme from freshman to economics faculty member.My first few days at the college were pleasant andamusing ones, but also very hot days and evenings, sinceair conditioning did not arrive at Xavier-Loyola Hall untilyears later. During freshman orientation, we wererequired to wear Rockhurst beanies, and to participatein a range of activities that included a scavenger hunt,picnics and required lectures.Freshmen were expected to do whatever was asked byupper classmen. I can recall freshmen students runningaround the perimeter of the cafeteria quacking like ducks.I can also remember upper classmen giving me arduoustasks of writing letters to their girlfriends back home andsummarizing chapters from their textbooks. My responsewas to give them an erroneous name and room numberso that I wasn’t obligated to complete the tasks. In anycase, my first few days at Rockhurst were an introductionto an all-male environment where no students werewomen, there were very few female faculty membersand there were far more Jesuits than are now present atthe University.It is hard to imagine that type of environment now,but it clearly was a different time. Not only were womenabsent from the education scene, the religious requirementswere far more extensive. For my freshman andsophomore years, mandatory retreats were required. Theylasted two or three days and colored cards were distributedto the students during the lectures that had to besigned to guarantee they were attending the religious lectures.I worked in the Dean’s Office for Fr. Cahill and theEvening Division. I remember seeing those brightly coloredcards on the desk next to mine and casually pickingup several dozen or more and distributing them tofriends so we would not have to attend those lectures.I realize now that it was the devil that made me do it,and I have mended my evil ways. I also realize now whata luxury that was to have the opportunity to take a fewdays of retreat.The Vietnam War became more and more prominentduring my college education, and students were motivatedto remain in college for that important deferment thatkept us out of Vietnam. The draft was mandatory for allmen, and almost always would mean a free trip to Vietnam.During my senior year, President Nixon introducedthe lottery, which determined which of us would be10 ROCKHURSTFALL 2005