Decision to admit men raises tensions at Mary Baldwin

The announcement that Mary Baldwin would admit male undergraduates in the fall was met with an expected level of hostility from former students, concerned with the erosion of the all-female experience and that the decision seemed abrupt and without alumnae input.

School officials became concerned about the confusion that the group could be causing, and the impact it would have on donations as well as recruitment, and a cease and desist letter was sent.

The big question from alumnae was, "Why weren't we informed this was a possibility before finding out about it through social media?" The answer from school officials is they needed to move, and move quickly.

After completing a listening tour, and reading the comments on social media, MBU officials have determined that those vehemently opposed to the change are, for the majority, people who graduated in 1995 or after.

Despite the assurances from Mary Baldwin that the all-female experience will be preserved — the coed programs are separate from the women's college — officials are claiming that information is not being absorbed.

School officials have gone on to say that the alumnae behind Boldly Lead see the school's decision as "anti-woman," and claimed that the group as taken a "Better dead than coed" stance.