University of Virginia Library

Education Fraternity
Elects First Woman

By LYNN STERN

The University's chapter of
Phi Delta Kappa International
Professional Education
Fraternity has tentatively
elected to membership its first
female member, first-year
graduate student Maureen D.
Lane.

Miss Lane's election,
pending review of academic
and professional qualifications,
is a violation of the Phi Delta
Kappa Constitution. It marks
the third attempt of any
chapter to admit women to the
fraternity.

Cornell University, the first
to induct female members,
refused to enumerate its
reasons for accepting women
and subsequently was stripped
of its charter by the
international board.

Court Battles

Columbia University, the
second to practice
non-discrimination due to sex,
is still involved in court
struggles with fraternity
headquarters.

The University chapter of
Phi Delta Kappa is the first
chapter to attempt sexual
integration through the legal
channels allowed them by the
international headquarters.

President of the University
Chapter, Mr. Charles F. Pagels,
is prepared to communicate
with fraternity officials,
explaining the chapter's
reasons for accepting a woman
for membership.

State and University legal
requirements stipulating that
women have a right to sexual
non-discrimination also
influenced the decision to
admit Miss Lane.

Mr. Pagels recalls last year's
incident with the Jefferson
Debating Society, in which the
organization would have been
compelled to admit women
members had they not done so
voluntarily. Phi Delta Kappa
chapter of the Education
School fears that breechment
of these laws would threaten
their existence on the Grounds,
according to Mr. Pagels.

In addition to Miss Lane,
23 male members were
tentatively elected to
membership.

Phi Delta Kappa consists of
400 chapters world-wide, and
88,000 members. The
fraternity was founded in 1910
and the University chapter was
the 26th chartered into the
organization in 1912.