Talk:Smith College/Archive 1

RuPaul 1990
I'm no expert on Smith history, but I am of the impression that Smith is an all-female college, leading me to suspect that RuPaul did not attend Smith. Consequently (assuming this newest addition to the list of alumnae is not patently incorrect) I assume that RuPaul received an honorary degree. If that is the case, you should not be listing honorary alumni on your page (unless you do it in a separate section). -Rjyanco 09:04, 10 Nov 2004 (UTC)


 * Reverted it. 138.110.220.30 also added two other false alumnae ("Anna Nicole Smith" and "Lydia the Tatooed Lady"). BTW, Rupaul's official bio has no mention of Smith at any time. - Redjar 15:21, 10 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Katrina students
Smith has announced that it will accepted undergraduate male students who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I imagine this is the first time Smith has ever admitted male undergrads as actual students and not just Five College cross-registrants, so this should be worked into the article somehow. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where to do it. Any thoughts? Beginning 03:19, September 5, 2005 (UTC)
 * It isn't clear what the exact status of the students will be. The article you point to suggests that they will be welcome to register for classes and receive a transcript, but not necessarily anything more after the end of the semester.  As such, it seems to be in keeping with Smith's single-sex policies. Rkevins82 - TALK 20:04, 6 September 2005 (UTC)

In 1979 I was accepted at Smith College as a male excahnge student from Sussex University in England. I studied a full curriculum for one year and was issued with a Smith College Student Identity card. I ate all my meals in Ducket House and lived in campus accommodation on Bedford Terrace.

Gary Lafferty — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.175.38.236 (talk) 23:47, 28 April 2016 (UTC)

"Lesbian Culture" section
I've removed this:
 * Smith has been called the "Home of Lesbians in Massachusetts", 1 and prides itself on having an open and diverse culture. The college boasts a Women's Queer Studies program wherein students can achieve a concentration in Women's Queer Studies by taking 15 courses2.

I argue that the fact that one editorial on a site that has no evidence of having any particular credibility on the subject called it the "home of lesbians in Massachusetts" is not sufficiently notable to form the basis for a section. The presence of the Women's Queer Studies program is already mentioned earlier in the article, in the list of academic programs, and does not need to be repeated. Thus this section adds nothing, and should go. CDC (talk) 18:27, 3 February 2006 (UTC)
 * Smith does pride itself in its diversity, the references are all over the web, and this was a very respectfull way to openly deal with the issue. Take your pick of other references to use to rewrite the section:

http://sophia.smith.edu/spectrum/ http://www.smith.edu/newsoffice/releases/04-043.html http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn.356/lesbianrapecharged.html http://www.nd.edu/~observer/02192002/News/3.html http://old.valleyadvocate.com/articles/csg.hh.html http://www.wellesley.edu/JBMTI/pdf/Previews/wp62preview.pdf#search='lesbian%20smith%20college' http://www.scc.net/~t-bonham/EDLINKS.HTM http://backissues.saqonline.smith.edu/aarticle.epl?articleid=102
 * prominent lesbian speakers:
 * Lesbian rape issue:
 * Lesbian minister:
 * Writer from the campus:
 * A Lesbian speaker:
 * Gay Scholarships at Smith:
 * Smith Alumnae Magazine Article regarding Lesbian Families and Diversity:


 * Most public colleges will have the same services available. Rkevins82 20:17, 3 February 2006 (UTC)

What? I have never heard of a Women's Queer Studies program at Smith. There's the Program for the Study of Women and Gender. If you major in that you can focus on queer studies, but there is no Women's Queer Studies program at Smith that I am aware of. --Webbie1234 (talk) 05:32, 15 November 2009 (UTC)

Some historical references would be useful. When did they move in, and what would the college’s founders have thought? 2A00:23C7:E284:CF00:489E:F4AC:7DA1:13DD (talk) 14:45, 26 May 2021 (UTC)

"Lesbian Culture" Revisited
Smith is noted for its long history and rich tradition of lesbianism. Because of Smith, Northampton is known as "Lesbianville, USA" (wikipedia) and About.com (among others) lists it as the top lesbian vacation spot in the country. Smith's lesbian culture should be celebrated, not buried. Why is this being swept under the rug? -- TimeDog 16:06, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Origins of Otelia Cromwell Day
Can anyone speak to the origins of Otelia Cromwell Day? The article states that Otelia Cromwell Day began in 1989. I had heard from an alumna of the college that there was a racial incident on campus in the late 1980s (involving racist epithets being written on sidewalks and/or walls around campus). Does anyone else recall that event? Is that the genesis of Otelia Cromwell Day? Poldy Bloom 18:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

I graduated from Smith in 1987 and was there when the racist graffiti happened (I think it was on one or more walls of the campus cultural center, which was where women from various minority organizations on campus held group meetings and such), but I have never heard of Otelia Cromwell Day. LisaS2 02:11, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

As a current student at Smith, I can say that Otelia Cromwell day is celebrated every year in November. I, too, have heard that it was started due to racial incidents in the 80s. --Webbie1234 (talk) 05:29, 15 November 2009 (UTC)

Notable Alumnae
History of the first hundred years seems truncated. Surely something went on at Smith.

For one thing, Anne Morrow Lindbergh graduated. She might be a worthy addition to notable alumnae. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.89.192.125 (talk) 21:32, 2 December 2007 (UTC)

Changed wording regarding claims that Smith is 'known for racial diversity'.
I am a woman of color and an alumna of Smith College. Saying Smith College is 'known for racial diversity' is puffing it a little much and is not veriable by any statistical source. I was honestly puzzled by this claim. The article used to back up the article's original claim for a reputation for 'racial diversity' quotes an inhouse Smith College article commenting that a post 2002 incoming class had the highest numbers ever in terms of racial diversity. Considering the school has been in existence for well over 150 years, I think a sudden boost within the last 5 years does 'not' count for having a reputation for racial diversity. What the article quoted 'does' speak to is Smith College's renewed dedication to recruiting and retaining women of color and apparently this long-term campaign is working. Even while I was on campus I was aware of such recruiting efforts but they injected renewed energy into it starting around 2000 and 2001.Czecze (talk) 04:51, 6 January 2008 (UTC)

Alum Blog collection
Came across this collection of blogs authored by Smith graduates: [] Worth adding? Winwetz (talk) 18:25, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Intro
This is already detailed in the body. We don't need to devote half the intro to one event in Smith's history, and it's already duplicated word for word in the body. -- M P er el 19:55, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

This is not "one event" in Smith's history. The first line of the introduction states that Smith is a "women's college." This should be clarified by the fact that men can graduate from Smith. C08040804 (talk) 20:03, 6 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I'm not in disagreement with you that it is an important item that should be addressed in the article. But the intro is a brief general overview, and the transgender aspect warrants perhaps half a sentence in the context of the campus's openness and diversity as a whole.  Note that as it stands, the exact paragraph is now duplicated in the article since it already exists in the body.  On a side note, as a new editor you are likely not aware of the Three-revert rule which is in place to discourage edit warring.  It's best to hammer out challenged edits on the talk page.  Can you prune down the detail in the intro and incorporate the transgender openness into the existing sentence on the college's diversity? -- M P er el  20:31, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

The exact paragraph previously did not exist in the body, only the introduction, where I originally put it. Subsequently, you moved it into the body. We seem to agree on the substance, but disagree on the proper placement/location. As a matter of editorial compromise and to satisfy your concerns for brevity, let's leave the sentence about the change in Smith's constitution in the location where you moved it into and prefer--i.e., in the body of the article--and put the sentence about Smith's policy allowing transgenders to receive diplomas back in the introduction, where I originally put it and which clarifies the first line of the introduction of the article. This should satisfy both our concerns. —Preceding unsigned comment added by C08040804 (talk • contribs) 22:53, 6 June 2008 (UTC)
 * That seems reasonable, thanks. -- M P er el 22:57, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. I am glad we were able to reach agreement on this.```` —Preceding unsigned comment added by C08040804 (talk • contribs) 22:58, 6 June 2008 (UTC)


 * I made a minor tweak moving the sentence up in the paragraph for flow so that the sentence about the exception for allowing male graduates in transgender situations follows the other sentence about men able to take classes. -- M P er el 04:12, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

It's sort of a widely known fact that Smith accepts 1 in 2 applicants, so far from being "highly selective" it is quite arguably not at all selective, so this sort of... lie is kind of unnecessary (http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1376&profileId=1) Thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.122.161.90 (talk) 21:39, 17 November 2011 (UTC)

Alumnae in the intro
I feel like the extensive list of alumnae does not belong in the intro. There is a section for that. Listing a few of the most prominent ones would be better-- i.e. Sylvia Plath, Gloria Steinem, Julia Child, etc-- recognizable names. As it is the list takes up more than half of the intro. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.229.135.46 (talk) 23:46, 4 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Good observation. I've removed them all.  Feel free to add back a handful if you really believe that would add to a readers' understanding of this college. ElKevbo (talk) 01:39, 5 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks a lot! 131.229.135.46 (talk) 02:39, 5 November 2013 (UTC)

Editathon at Smith College
Is anyone watching this page who would be interested in helping with an editathon? Please reply on my talk page if you are Victuallers (talk) 16:00, 2 January 2017 (UTC)

Universities central at Women in Red on IWD during March 2017
Info and invitation to Smith. Women in Red has a drive during March to create and improve articles on women alumni of universities. International Women's Day is on March 8th and we invite others to mirror the event in the UK in Cambridge. Please sign up or ask for help at Women in Red. Hope you can make it. We have tools that will allow you to find missing women alumni from SC or any other university. We are interested in editors who want to work in any language. Victuallers (talk) 08:56, 22 February 2017 (UTC)

"Smith College in popular culture" section is entirely original research
As currently written, the entire "Smith College in popular culture" section is original research by Wikipedia editors. There is not a single source cited that actually supports the primary argument of the section that Smith is well-represented in literature, film, and television but instead it's just a list of purported examples selected by Wikipedia editors. That is textbook original research.

If this topic is of such importance and interest that it belongs in an encyclopedia article, editors must include independent, reliable sources that directly support that topic. ElKevbo (talk) 20:46, 28 May 2017 (UTC)

Notable alumnae
Trying to be selective about who is "most notable" is opening up a can of worms. The only real non-subjective criteria is WP notable, which is what has been enacted up until now. Attempts to prune this list are not only debatable, they don't deflect the steady addition of new entries, which seem to fill the space created by the pruning. I am restoring the list to WP notables (i.e., no red links), then alphabetizing. If this list becomes too ungainly, I suggest we move it entirely to its own page. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Pleather (talk • contribs) 19:33, October 23, 2017 (UTC)


 * I agree with you. Unfortunately there is no easy way to manage a list like this for the reasons that you mentioned. The best option would be to move the entire list to List of Smith College people because over time assorted editors will just keep adding names to the list on this page. Editors interested in this topic may wish to read WP:ALMAMATER // FFM784 (talk) 20:45, 26 October 2017 (UTC)

Seeking pre-1923 photograph of Inez Whipple Wilder
I recently created Inez Whipple Wilder, who taught zoology at Smith for almost 30 years. She appears in Smith year books as early as 1927 (see ), but I'd love to find a decent image of Wilder published before 1923, so as to be in the Public Domain. It is likely that such an image exists, e.g in newspapers, staff books, or other media. If anyone associated with the university (student, librarian, etc) could investigate this, and scan/upload an image to Commons, it would be a most helpful addition. Thanks! --Animalparty! (talk) 22:22, 7 November 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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When did the college open?
Can't say I understand why the article on one of our most historic colleges&mdash;along w. Wellesley the 3rd-oldest of the Seven Sisters, isn't it?&mdash;withholds its opening date. All we're told is the year it happened. I mean, does a history of the U.S. say we achieved independence in 1776 and let it go at that?

I trust it's an innocent oversight.

Jimlue (talk) 22:33, 24 January 2020 (UTC)


 * You must have overlooked the "History" section. If you think this information belongs in the lede, feel free to add it. ElKevbo (talk) 01:04, 25 January 2020 (UTC)

additions to Residential Culture and Student Life
Hi everyone! I added some additions to the paragraph on admitting transgender students, as well as the following paragraph about issues around inclusion that arose at Smith from 2018-2019. Just helping to flesh out those two topics a little. Also, I can;t figure out how to fix the line feed character error. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Skarp1019 (talk) 16:30, 15 April 2020 (UTC)

Article organisation
The way in which the article is organised seems a little odd? For example, the on-going dispute between former employee Jodi Shaw and the college is currently in the Traditions section, which isn't where I would have expected to find it. JezGrove (talk) 00:01, 24 February 2021 (UTC)