POLL
The Administration decided to ask our opinion -- what a concept! -- on renaming our Alumnae Association. A poll was put up on the college's website in October 2005.
When an decisive trend emerged, the poll was quickly removed. The last time it was seen, the results indicated the following preferences for calling us an:
Alumnae Association = 61% (144)
Alumnae/i Association = 9% (21)
Alumni Association = 11% (27)
Alumnae & Alumni Association = 11% (26)
Other = 8% 20
Total = 100% (238)
Perhaps something may be learned by this exercise.
Remember, the A.A. Board changed the name of our organization to Alumni Association in their by-laws revision submitted (and rejected) at the Annual Meeting last June.
But at least 81% of alums responding to this poll want the word "alumnae" preserved somehow in our name, and that percentage grew steadily while the poll was open. Only 11% wanted to belong to an Alumni Association!
The obvious disparity between overwhelming alumnae opinion and unilateral board action clearly demonstrates that the A.A. Board is far, far out of touch with the concerns and wishes of the majority of the membership.
(Many alumnae believe that throughout the coed controversy, the A.A. Board has represented the administration and not the membership.)
The opening of the newly proposed by-laws revision now reads:
"SECTION ONE - THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
In honor of the history of Wells College and to honor the college’s historical commitment to the education of women, the feminine gender is used throughout these By-laws. In all such references, the feminine gender shall be deemed to include the masculine."
Is that supposed to make us feel better about the loss of Wells for Women?
For more information on alumnae sentiment surrounding the coed issue, see our original petition, an alumnae survey, and the current call for new leadership at Wells College.
