The above headline, appeared in the student newspaper at the University of Virginia after the university decided to admit women for the first time. It was a quote from a 4th-year male student, and it encapsulated some of the reaction to that first class of women in September 1970.

I was one of those 350 young women who, as 18-year-olds, did not fully realize obstacles and mindsets we would encounter—and the cultural change we would eventually achieve. 

            In late May this year, I attended the 50th reunion of the class of 1974, along with half of my female classmates. All the women agreed that the university experience molded us to become successful in whatever endeavors we chose. My classmates went on to become judges, prominent doctors, authors, scientists, business leaders and so on. 

            Despite their success, many women in my class have memories of inappropriate comments, outright sexual harassment or worse. I remember during my first year having to leave a raucous fraternity party (and my date) when I felt unsafe. And during the first week of classes, I got lost and walked into my lecture class a few minutes late. Everyone turned to look at me and the professor commented, “Glad you could join us, young lady.”

            At that moment, I realized I was the only woman in the class.

 I took the first seat I could find, opened my notebook, and started taking notes. That was one of several realizations I had that we were in the limelight.

            I have since learned that some female students endured far worse. Some of these are detailed in a new book to be published next year by a friend and former roommate. (Here to Stay: The Story of the Class of Women That Coeducated the University of Virginia by Gail Burrell Gerry, forthcoming in 2025 from UVa Press.) 

            Our first-year class had 367 women and 1,620 men. And by no means did all the men at UVa treat us badly or resent us. Many of the men in our class and some upperclassmen treated us as peers and friends. We formed what became lifelong friendships and, in some cases, marriages.

            We were, though, just 18 percent of the class and at the reunion we recalled how the university was not at all prepared for us. We were greeted, for instance, with urinals in our communal dorm bathrooms. We converted them to plant holders. 

            More seriously, there were no women deans or university officials to help with sexual harassment or other issues at the beginning. No sports or extracurricular activities existed for women, so many took the initiative to integrate the student newspaper and other all-male organizations. But acceptance was hard won at times and did not happen overnight. 

  Despite both subtle and outright barriers, I had a rewarding experience. I made lifelong active friendships that endure today and became more assertive and confident, both socially and intellectually. 

            Being one of the few women at the university also prepared me for many situations I’d face in my career. In several jobs I’ve been the only female on all-male teams, and it never bothered me. 

            At a reunion event, someone asked the then-dean of admissions how they selected the female students who were admitted. His answer made us laugh and then reflect.

            He said they were looking for women with grit. I’m not sure how they determined who had grit and who did not, but I’m grateful they determined I had it.