| Hood College | |
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| Motto | Corde et Mente et Manu (With Heart and Mind and Hand) |
| Established | 1893 as the Women's College of Frederick |
| Type | Private |
| President | Dr. Ronald Volpe |
| Faculty | 251 |
| Undergraduates | 1448 |
| Location | Frederick, MD, USA |
| Campus | Suburban, 50 acres (200,000 m2) |
| Athletics | 19 varsity teams |
| Nickname | Blazers |
| Website | www.hood.edu |
Hood College is a co-educational liberal arts college located in Frederick, Maryland. The college serves approximately 1,074 graduate students and another 1,475 undergraduate students [1].
Contents |
History
The college was founded in 1893 as the Woman's College of Frederick by the Potomac Synod of the Reformed Church of the United States. In 1897, the college received a 28-acre (110,000 m2) tract of land for its campus from Margaret Scholl Hood [2]. On January 18, 1913, Margaret Hood's will was filed for probate. In the will, she bequeathed $30,000 to the Woman's College of Frederick provided that the college changed its name to "Hood College" within 12 months [3]. Part of this bequest was used to fund the 1914 construction of Alumnae Hall. Today, except for Brodbeck Hall, which was built in the 1860s and stood on the campus at its founding, Alumnae Hall remains the oldest building on the college's campus and serves as the central location for the college's administration [2]
Hood was originally a women-only college and did not admit men until 1971 as commuter students. Men began to be admitted on a residential basis in 2003[2].
Early History (1893-1944)
In 1893, the Women’s College of Frederick was founded by the Potomac Synod of the Reformed Church. Dr. Joseph Henry Apple, an educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was named as the first president. In this first year, eighty-three women enrolled, and were taught by eight faculty members in buildings located on East Church Street in Frederick. Classes were offered in the liberal arts and music, as well as secretarial trades. In 1898, the first class graduated, with fourteen women earning Bachelor of Arts degrees. Over the next several years, courses in biology, economics, sociology, political science, and domestic science were added.[4]
In 1912, the Trustees of the Women’s College announced that the name of the Women’s College would be changed to Hood College, in honor of Margaret Scholl Hood, who gave $25,000 to establish an endowment for the college, and who firmly believed in higher education for women. In 1913, the College began its move to its present campus.[4]
In 1934, Joseph Henry Apple retired as the College’s president, serving for 41 years. At his retirement, he was the oldest college president in continuous active service at a single institution in the United States.[4]
In 1944, Hood College celebrated its 50th anniversary.[4]
Traditions
Hood College students participate in a number of long-standing traditions, some of which date back nearly 100 years.[4]
Class Banners
Each class decorates a banner to be displayed in the dining hall. The banners correspond to each class' assigned color. Every year, a new representative symbol is designed and painted on the banners. Following a class’ graduation, the banners are hung in the atrium of the Whitaker Campus Center.[5]
Columns So Fair
Alumnae Hall’s four Ionic columns are named Hope, Opportunity, Obligation, and Democracy (HOOD). The columns were dedicated by the classes of 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918. Many buildings on campus that were constructed after Alumnae Hall also have four columns.[4]
Dinks
Dinks (or colored beanie hats) have been a Hood College tradition since at least the 1950s.[4] According to some sources, the tradition may have started very early in the 20th century.[6] There is reason to believe this is true, as ceremonial colored beanies were also used by women’s colleges such as Wellesley during the early 1900s.[7]Each class is given a dink with their class color, either blue, green, yellow, or red, upon arriving at Hood. The four colors rotate so that the color of the previous year’s seniors is granted to the incoming freshmen. In the past, dinks were worn at many special events, such as Campus Day. Freshmen were previously required to wear Dinks during their first few weeks on campus. Now, they are primarily worn during opening convocation, Policies for Dollars, and baccalaureate.[6].
Midnight Breakfast
Established in the 1980s, Midnight Breakfast is held before the fall semester final exams and is served by faculty and staff.[4]
The Pergola
Located in the center of Hood’s residential quad since 1915, the Pergola is a wooden dome-like structure covered with wisteria.[4] Several traditions are associated with the Pergola. Students are not to speak any harsh words under the Pergola or “split poles” with friends, as this may lead to a failed friendship after graduation..[8]
Policies for Dollars
Policies for Dollars is a competition in which the freshmen of each dorm compete to raise money for their respective halls. The winning dorm also receives the “pink spoon,” a giant wooden trophy. Typical activities include Hood trivia, dorm cheers, and skits.[4]
Strawberry Breakfast
Originally held on the morning of May Day, Strawberry Breakfast is now practiced on the morning of Commencement.[4]
Transition to Co-Education
In the early 1970’s, Hood College began to consider becoming a coeducational institution. [9]. In October of that year the Hood College Board of Trustees voted to begin enrollment of men as commuter students. [9] That same year Hood also decided to began a graduate school program for both men and women. These changes were implemented in January of 1971[9].
Objections
There were mixed feelings on campus as Hood students worried about the type of male student Hood could potentially attract. Students feared that a residentially womens college would attract only the “provincial townies” unable to go anywhere else, and the “lusty lovers” attracted by the high number of females[9]This led to public debate in The Blue and Grey, The Hood College campus newspaper, and letters to the student body from then president, Randle Elliot.[10].
First Male Student
Beginning in January of 1971, the college became open to men as commuters. The first male student, Aldan Weinberg transferred to Hood after having spent one year at American University, and three years in the Army. [11].
Change to Co-Education
In the Fall of 2001, the Hood Executive committee was charged by the Board of trustees with the task of studying the possible impact of male resident students[11]. This study consisted of the projected financial, cultural, residential, academic, and enrollment impacts on the college[12].
Based on this report, the Board of Trustee's ultimate decision was to admit men as residential students.
This decision was made due to the realistic issue that there was a decreased demand for women’s colleges [13]. Only Three percent of college bound female students preferred a coeducational institution[13]. This led to an overall decline in undergraduate enrollment over the years. Hood needed at least 300 new, enrolled students each year in order to have a balanced budget[13].All in all, Hood's expenses were exceeding revenue[14].
This led to the creation of a coeducation task force, comprised of students, alumni, faculty, and staff members. This taskforce ultimately decided where men were to be housed[15].
Academics
Hood College offers 27 undergraduate majors and 14 master's degree programs.
Bachelor of Arts
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Bachelor of Science
Master's Degree Programs
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Athletics
Hood College athletics began in 1898 with the first basketball team. In the early 1900s, field hockey, tennis, archery, and swimming were among the sports added to the athletics program. The college was the second college in the United States to have a field hockey team. Competitions then were intramural and teams were comprised based on graduating class or dorms. Gambrill Gymnasium was constructed in 1946 and continues to serve as the main athletic facility for the campus. In 1984, Hood College became a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and joined the Division III Chesapeake Women's Athletic Conference. When the CWAC disbanded, Hood joined the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference in 1990 [16].
Hood presently offers intercollegiate varsity teams in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross-country, women's field hockey, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's volleyball. The college also offers club level programs for cheerleading and equestrian [17].
Currently, the women's athletic teams continue to compete in the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference. The men's teams began competition in the Capital Athletic Conference for the 2006-2007 academic year along with women's cross-country and track and field. All other women's sports remained in the AWCC for the 2006-2007 year and moved to the CAC in 2007-2008 [17].
The nickname for Hood athletics is the Blazers. This dates back to the 1920s when the campus elected a rising senior as the "White Sweater" girl as someone who possessed the most sportsmanship and school spirit. In 1928, the sweater was changed to a blazer [16]. Today, the nickname is represented by a thoroughbred horse with a "blaze" mark on its forehead.
Hood College student athletes train in the Gambrill Gymnasium.
References
- ^ Breitenbach, Sarah (2006-09-22). "Hood College reports record-high enrollment for second year in row". Frederick News-Post.
- ^ a b c "A History of Hood College". Hood College. http://www.hood.edu/welcome/glance.cfm?pid=glance_history.html. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
- ^ "$100,000 PUBLIC BEQUESTS.; Will of Mrs. Margaret E. Hood Is Filed for Probate". The Washington Post. 1913-01-19. pp. 1. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=171044662&sid=1&Fmt=1&clientId=4807&RQT=309&VName=HNP. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Derr, Joy Reese; Krista Schaffert (2008-04-01). People Behind the Names. Hood College.
- ^ "Hood College Traditions". Hood College. http://www.hood.edu/welcome/glance.cfm?pid=glance_traditions.html. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ a b Neal, Marge (2009-08-29). "The beloved dink a big part of Hood's time-honored traditions=Frederick News-Post".
- ^ "Wellesley College: 1875-1975, A Century of Women". Wellesley College. http://www.archive.org/stream/wellesleycollege1975well/wellesleycollege1975well_djvu.txt\. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ "Hood College Traditions". Hood College. http://www.hood.edu/welcome/glance.cfm?pid=glance_traditions.html. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ a b c d "Students Divided on Co-Education". The Blue and Grey. 1970-12-02.
- ^ Larson, JoAnn (1970-10-8). "President Discusses". The Blue and Grey.
- ^ a b Miller, Barbara (1971-2-11). "First Male Student Makes History". The Blue and Grey.
- ^ Jones, Deborah (Winter 2002). "Message from the Chair of the Board of Trustees". Hood Magazine.
- ^ a b c "Special Report: A College in Transition". Hood Magazine. Winter 2002.
- ^ "Special Report: A College in Transition". Hood Magazine. Winter 2002.
- ^ White, Olivia (Summer 2003). "Message from the Dean". Hood Magazine.
- ^ a b Walker, Alison; Bridgette Harwood (Winter 2004-2005). "History of Hood Athletics" (PDF). Hood Magazine 80 (1). http://www.hood.edu/documents/pdf/magazine_winter05.pdf. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
- ^ a b "Hood College Athletics". Hood College. http://www.hood.edu/athletics/. Retrieved 2006-08-26.
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