University of Virginia Library

Whatever Happened Tó The Dean Of Women?

By PATTI KYLE

If you're waiting to hear from
the Dean of Women for breaking
those parietals last week, fear not.
Your sins may not be forgiven, but
you can rest assured that there'll be
no "Dean of Women" to answer to.
The nearest approximation to the
archetype is Associate Dean of
Student Affairs Annette Gibbs, and
she's a far cry from the typical
Dean. When Miss Gibbs came to the
University last year, it was decided
that in keeping with the total
coeducation concept, there would
be no titles denoting separation of
the sexes. As she states, "This
institution doesn't need a Dean of
Men or Women-it just needs
people who are interested in
student's needs."

Miss Gibbs views her job at
Student Affairs as
outside-the-classroom education.
Her office has the task of helping
students to develop themselves in
areas other than academics. She
deals daily with concerns related to
living, financial support and
extracurriculars. Discipline is an
area she prefers to leave untouched;
"I have seldom disagreed with what
a student wants to do," she assures,
"Sometimes we just disagree on
approach."

Meets Groups

Her work isn't limited to
dealing with individuals. Miss Gibbs
often meets with groups on an
informal basis. One first-year dorm
has asked her to participate in a
seminar to discuss Alvin Toffler's
Future Shock. In return,
organizations have bestowed her
with such dubious honors as
securing her apartment door shut
with a purple rope, a gesture of
friendship on the part of the Society
of the Purple Shadows. A majority
of her visitors are individuals,
though. Students come with their
personal concerns and interests, and
she furnishes plenty of sound
feedback. Problems range from
family conflicts and emotional
crises to what time the sauna room
is open to girls. Miss Gibbs claims a
batting average of about 7 out of
10 for "getting somewhere" with
her students.

Coeducation Concerns

The problem of coeducation is
of special interest to Miss Gibbs.
Her enthusiasm in getting women
into the University "mainstream" is
well known among last year's class.
She took the initiative to set up
weekly seminars with
randomly-selected women. Some of
the girls frankly admitted to her
they felt ill at case eating at the
Castle or going into the all-male
McCormick Road dorms. The
meetings provided interaction
between the women; in discussing
common problems, it helped build
up some courage to become more
involved in student life, in spite of
the male dominated atmosphere.

In connection with helping
students adjust to coeducation,
Miss Gibbs has acted as adviser to
the Women's Committee of Student
Council. Her informal manner
("Drop on over for a beer and we'll
discuss it!") delighted the
committee members. This year she
continues to support their efforts
by giving technical aid for their
projects.

What are her plans for getting to
know this year's first-yearmen? "I
really would like to go through the
dorms in slacks and tennis shoes,
just to talk but I think I'd scare
them. I'll have to find other ways
to meet them." How about over a
beer?

Miss Gibbs Adds A Woman's Touch To Student Affairs