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[quote=Anonymous]I wonder how many people know that women had to sue to be accepted to UVA in the 1970s. Prior to that, it primarily enrolled men.

- 1969: A pivotal moment came when four women—Virginia Anne Scott, Jo Anne Harris, Nancy L. Anderson, and Elizabeth K. Dow—applied for admission to the College of Arts and Sciences and were denied solely on the basis of their gender. With support from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), they filed a lawsuit against UVA, arguing that the exclusion of women from a publicly funded institution violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
- 1970: In response to the lawsuit (Kirstein v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia), a federal district court ruled that UVA’s male-only policy for undergraduate admissions was unconstitutional. The court mandated that UVA admit women to the College of Arts and Sciences starting in the fall of 1970. This marked the official beginning of full coeducation at UVA.
  - In September 1970, 127 women enrolled as undergraduates in the College, joining approximately 1,200 male students. The transition was not seamless, as the university was unprepared for coeducation in terms of facilities (e.g., housing and restrooms) and campus culture.

- Cultural Resistance: Many students, alumni, and faculty were resistant to coeducation, viewing it as a threat to UVA’s traditions. Women faced social challenges, including exclusion from certain organizations and a male-dominated culture. The Honor System, a cornerstone of UVA’s identity, was initially skeptical of women’s inclusion, with some arguing they might undermine its rigor.
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