Women at Providence College were and still are active members in clubs, sports, and student leadership. From that first coeducational class, women have held leadership roles, dominated their sports, and created new spaces for themselves and future women at PC.
Sports
When Providence College opened its doors to women students, it was also opening itself up to new sports and recreation opportunities for students and spectators. Helen Bert was hired in 1971 to lead women's athletics, launching what has become a formidable program.
"We had nothing back in 1971-72. No organized activities at all. We used to meet for an hour and a half in the visiting team locker room here at Alumni Hall, and there were maybe 40 or 50 girls in the whole program."
- Helen Bert, interview about the early growth of the women's athletics program. Providence, Spring 1976
Cheerleading
Cheer was one of the first sports or recreational activities established for women at Providence College.
Clubs and Leadership
From long-established campus organizations to creating new clubs, women found ways to lead within these groups and make a lasting impact on campus. Several of the clubs started by women in the early years of coeducation are still around today.
Editors in Chief
The Veritas yearbook, The Cowl student newspaper, and the literary journal The Alembic all saw their first women editors from the class of 1975.
Women Will
Brochure for Women Will student organization
Raising awareness on women's issues, open to all students.
League of Aware Women
Women Empowered
Women Empowered empowers multicultural women through engaging the campus in activities on issues that women of color face daily both on and off campus. "We are a group that provides a safe place to discuss these issues, while also providing support. Our organization will also engage in social, cultural, and community service events centered around multicultural womanhood."
In the Club
Barbara Quinn Witbeck '75
Barbara Quinn Witbeck '75 was one of the first women members of the Friars Club. During the 50th anniversary of coeducation, Barbara donated her iconic white blazer to the Archives.
"It's really not a big deal. The fact that I am a woman is not that much of an issue. Rather, it is in my actual performance that I see the true importance of my position."
- Shelley Marie McBride '89, first woman president of the Friars Club. Providence Update, April 1989
Item Set: Getting Involved
Next: Leaving their Mark