Alumna recalls women’s progress

Joan Houghton ’46 recalled the progress that women have made on college campuses and the world in general in guest editorial in the Iowa City Press-Citizen late last month.

Houghton wrote that when she arrived at Cornell College in 1942, freshman women had to be in their rooms by 7:30 p.m. during the first semester, and by 10 p.m. during the second. Men had no such restrictions. She said that while many chafed at the rules, they were generally obeyed—or at least disobeyed discreetly.

But, she noted, though it has taken decades, women no longer are so restricted, and that goes far beyond college campuses. Women can become nearly anything if they are qualified, she wrote, including Army Rangers, as was the case for the first time in late August.