Girl with the Arrow

Interviews with Kianu Alumnae from the 1960s (August 2005)

Interviews: Kianus: to read the unedited versions of these interviews, please log into the sisters only section of the website (http://members.kianu.org), then click on the "extra info" link on the left hand side. Email questions to info@kianu.org .

Interviewees:
Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62
Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62
Marilynn (Klostermeyer) Murrell '62
Marty (Brouwer) Grant '62
Phyl (Knapper) Ross '62
Sally (Steinhauer) Gripman '62
Liz (Leitch) Bonkowsky '62
Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68
Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68
Lee (Bacon) Williams '68

Earlier this year, eight women from the class of 1962 got together for the second of many annual reunions. The women, who live in Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, Arizona, California, and Pennsylvania, met at Phyl Ross's house in PA where they had the adventure they entitled, "We're in a Truck! We can go anywhere!", which they sent to the XAN listserv. If you're not signed up for the listserv, you can sign up and view their adventure there. Many of those same women are profiled this month.

Picture from class of 1962 reunion in Washington D.C. (April 2004):
First row: Phyl (Knapper) Ross, Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom, Joan (Loudon) Perkins
Second row: Sue (Faris) Shadley, Marty (Brouwer) Grant, Sally (Steinhauer) Gripman, Marianne (Jackson) Uschelbec

1962 Graduates

• What is your favorite memory as a Kianu?
  
  Liz (Leitch) Bonkowsky '62: Thanks to John Glenn's fame, Muskingum was suddenly chosen for the College Bowl TV quiz show. We couldn't get the program in New Concord. At any rate the selection of participants was made and the Kianu Club had a large number of finalists including Joan Loudon and me among the Seniors. Suzie Hutchison Keifer '63 and I eventually were the two women of the final five who went to NYC. The team had very successful practice rounds but was not successful when it counted. John Glenn certainly dominated our senior year. I remember all the camera teams and reporters going nuts in dry New Concord as the event kept being postponed. Janet Skuce Cooper '62 was chosen to be interviewed on one of the network morning shows. Harry Reasonor and Nancy Dickerson were the hosts. I remember being fascinated by how Nancy looked just seconds before she went on the air to read the news, her hair in curlers and the make-up person working on her. The top of the "GYM" was full of broadcasting paraphernalia.
  
  
  Marty (Brouwer) Grant '62: One thing I remember vividly was when all our pledge class at Joan and Willy Will's instigation decided NOT to show up for one of our mandatory pledge week chores: cleaning the kitchen at the house. But somehow, I didn't get the message for our pledge class to boycott this work-detail, so I dutifully showed up: scrubbed, washed and toiled under Lynn Shupe's (1960) careful supervision. She was so angry about the boycott and totally disgusted with our pledge class! I was secretly so delighted that the class had the guts to do it!
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: OK Marty, it's confess time. Willie and Joan didn't tell you, our pledge class president, knowing you would have had to demand our appearance!
  
  Sally (Steinhauer) Gripman '62: I think the best memories are the ones when we just hung out, talking and laughing a lot The meetings were fun as I recall since we were either singing or planning a party or decorating for something.
  
  Marilynn (Klostermeyer) Murrell '62: My favorite memory is having an immediate connection with a group of friends.
  
  Phyl (Knapper) Ross '62: During our senior year, I remember the pledge party with a Hawaiian theme where Joan and I washed out the pineapple shells after each party and re-filled them with fruit salad. If I remember correctly we used the same shells for at least 6 parties. What would the health department think today? Knowing what I know now, I'm just glad no one died!
  
  A funny thing I remember about living in the house was the time we covered the front porch roof with aluminum foil and laid out on it so we could have a beautiful tan for our April formal. All most of us got was a good sunburn. I remember being grateful I was wearing a strapless gown to the dance.
  
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62: we all remember our classmate Judy Sands, who tanned like a bronze goddess, while the rest of us nursed burned backs and legs.
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: We often went to the College Drive United Presbyterian Church as a group. We had unofficial sections in the church balcony. (edited)
  
  Lounge Parties were a favorite activity. We spent months picking themes, decorations, lining up dates so early that often the attraction to the date was long gone by party time!..but the really big deal was the choice of party favors. Etched glasses seemed to be a hot item, but believe us, the straight arrow Kianus won top honors the year we surprised everyone by giving out plaid blankets. "Turfing" was a familiar Muskie word, don't think we need to spell that one out, so the blanket theme was deemed just a bit racy by campus standards. The blanket theme followed us into another fabulous activity....Spring Sing. The all college production was quite amazing. Each club sang and of course just singing didn't cut it. So hand motions, costumes and or matching outfits and the re-wording to some of the songs lyrics was expected. The Sing was a real eye opener. The jocks of the Mace Club blew folks away with "It's a Grand Night for Singing", the cool party boys of the Stag Club turned in an outstanding professional performance and the always musical Sphinx put on a great jazz production complete with Charlie Curtis on the drums. The year I remember most we sang, "These Are A Few of Our Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music. In keeping with our Lounge Party theme of several weeks prior, the words were changed to, "from the Hollow to the dorm with our blankets warm". We hit the jack pot on that rendition... just wish we remembered the rest of the words!
  
  
• What sororities and fraternities were at MC? Who were our main rivals? What other rivalries existed?
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: The Delts were our biggest rivals. Historically the FADs and Deltas were the two strongest clubs, but by the time we got to MC the FADs were in a state of decline. Joan's rush experience was a big conflicted. A number of her family members were FADs and Konas. She went Kianu knowing that would not be as hurtful to the family than if she had made another choice. The bottom line, Joan never regretted her tough decision and received wonderfully understanding support from her pledge class. Joan did make a decision, if she ever had a daughter who went to MC she would stay out of the club decision process. Little did she know!!...
  
  The women's clubs on campus were Beta Chi, Delta, FAD, Kianu, Kona and Wawyin. Mace, Stag, Sphinx, Alban, Ulster and Stoic were the men's clubs. Daryl married a Sphinx (later Kappa Sigma), Chuck Ranson '60, and later became the mother to Jonathon '91 (Kappa Sigma) and Susan '86 (XAN). Joan's Uncle was a founder of the Mace Club and she is the daughter, wife and mother of Mace Men!
  
  We had brother-sister clubs, a fun tie and we believe inter club council gets credit for the concept. The Sphinx and Kianus were naturals for that tie, as their house was nearby on Monkey Blvd. The Mace and Konas, Delts and Stags were matched too. Don't recall what the others were.
  
  
• Big Sis Stuff:
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: Naturally there were more actives than pledges. Upper classman got first pick of little sis's. We later decided that wasn't a great idea, because in many cases the Big Sis was a Senior and gone by the little sis's Sophomore year. Our memories say Big Sis's weren't THAT big a deal. (note: family trees for most women interviewed this month have been added to the family tree database)
  
  
• What was pledging like?
  
  (edited)
  
  
• Did you have a house mother?
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: We did have a house mother, Mrs. Bridgeman, who also served as hostess in the Student Center Dining Room. She lived in the little first floor apartment in the house. The way to her heart was to bring her cigarettes, something only a few of us knew about!
  
  Sally (Steinhauer) Gripman '62: Mrs. Bridgeman was always trying to make us act as she thought we should, which was questionable! I don't remember much except that she seemed to be displeased with us a lot!
  
  
  
  
• What kind of rules were imposed at the house?
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: There were no men on the floor unless it was your dad!! And that was always preceded by the yell "man on the floor!" We had hours, I haven't a clue how they were enforced, except to say we had three years of strictly enforced hours while living in the dorm, so perhaps fear kept us in line. We had the luxury of four "late pers" a semester, a treasured privilege. And yes, friends from the State Universities found our hours to be quite amusing. (edited)
  
  
• Which Kianus influenced you the most?
  
  Phyl (Knapper) Ross '62: People in Kianu who had the most influence were the classmates on the third floor of the house our senior year. The were Liz Leitch, Willy Will, Jan Driggs and Joan Loudon. Janet Faunce '61 and Suzi Wilson '60 were strong influences too.
  
  Marilynn (Klostermeyer) Murrell '62: My sister Carole Klostermeyer Roberts '59 influenced me the most.
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: We remember the incredible talent of Suzi Wilson. Her cartoon drawings graced our rooms as she remembered birthdays and special occasions with unique cards. Her great sense of humor and astute observations provided our pledge parties with extra punch. As did the crazy fun input of Marsha, Shupie and Gina.
  
  
• What made you want to pledge Kianu?
  
  Sally (Steinhauer) Gripman '62: As far as what made me want to pledge Kianu, I think it was because I felt comfortable with the people I talked to at pledge parties and the group itself seemed to really enjoy one another.
  
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62 and Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: Final rush parties (were where people) usually made the final decision. The entire rush scene was a bit overwhelming at the start, but club personalities became evident and choices became clear. Also, the dorm RAs exerted influence...not overtly. But their strong presence influenced many.
  
  
• Pledge class size:
  
  Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62: There was lots of knitting done during Black Ball meetings to cut the stress. Those meetings weren't fun, a bit of lobbying went on prior to meetings, but I have no memory of leaving a tense ball meeting and being angry or upset.
  
  Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62 and Daryl (Sobehart) Ransom '62: The pledge classes numbered 25, that number decided by inter club council. Our problem was holding the number to 25, a luxury most other clubs did not have. There were a number of XAN Shield and Arrow pins available for everyone to wear at activation, but memory says not many us actually owned a pin. The small gold XAN letters were given to us after activation. At the senior last will and testament banquet, most of the accumulated XAN stuff was willed to underclassmen.
  
  Liz (Leitch) Bonkowsky '62: In my senior year, we sewed up decorative pillows shaped like Kianu pins as rush party favors. We sat around the large room on the third floor of the house and worked away. We must have been out of our minds to choose something so time consuming. We cut out, sewed and stuffed a pin and an arrow for each person. I sewed and sewed and then handed them off for stuffing. Wonder what ever happened to them?
  
  
• Daryl Ransom and Joan Perkins both have Kianu daughters. Each was asked, "Did you talk to your daughter about Kianu before she pledged, or encourage her to pledge XAN?". They each asked their daughters to answer this question:
  
  Susan (Ransom) MacDonald '86: I was dressed in purple and gold since birth... (edited)
  
  Jody (Perkins) Ryan '87: You didn't influence me in the least with regard to Kianu, you simply told countless stories of all the fun you had during your years as the girl with the arrow, introduced me over the years to boring people like "Klosty" (Marilynn (Klostermeyer) Murrell '62) who could confirm all those stories, made sure I knew how to get to Muskingum and the Kianu House by the time I could drive, sang rush songs to me as a child and when it was time to choose a club, you made sure I knew that despite grandmother Loudon's lapse in judgment the Kianus had remained the strongest club on campus, which would serve me well in my later professional life... (edited)
  
  Joan (Loudon) Perkins '62: Having Jody go Kianu was a kick I didn't expect to find so rewarding. During Jody's years at Muskingum I was a member of MC's Alumni Council, thus was on campus often. I felt as home at the house during those years as I had many years prior. Two years ago my birthday surprise was a Kianu Alumni T-shirt. We love gifting each other with all things purple and gold. We've been known to break into song; admittedly, the songs of the late 80's used words the ladies of '62 would not have considered!!
  
  
• Short Bios:
  Liz Leitch Bonkowsky is the wife of Dr. Fred Bonkowsky '61, a professor in Vienna, Austria. Liz is the Counsul for Public Affairs in Leipzig, Germany and Deputy Counsul General. Most of her career has been served as a negotiator. Liz was the recipient of Muskingum's Distinguished Service Award in 2002. Her Dad, Addison Leitch, was a nationally known and respected United Presbyterian minister and was President of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
  
  Marilynn (Klostermeyer Amador) Murrell went to MC for two years before transferring to Columbia University in NYC to become a member of the first BS graduating class of Dental Hygienists. Her sister Carole preceded her at MC.
  
  Daryl Sobehart Ransom, the mother of Susan (XAN '86), is the author of several Episcopal Sunday School programs and the wife of Chuck Ransom, an Episcopalian minister. Her son Jonathon was a Kappa Sigma at MC.
  
  Sally Steinhauer Gripman is a volunteer in the US Senate and hosted eight women last year in DC for the first, now to be annual class of '62 reunion.
  
  Phyl Knapper Ross is currently a Food Service Broker for Knott and McKinley Associates of Canton, MI; she was Food Editor for the Washington (PA) Observer; was a Reporter and Food Service Director for the Food Galleries; and she taught High School Home Economics in Upper St Clair Schools. She lived on a farm for 26 years, raised quarter horses, is the mother to three girls, one foster daughter and has 9 grandchildren.
  
  Marty Brouwer Grant is the Curriculum Designer for the State of Ohio. She coordinates the design and implementation of occupational health, safety, and ergonomic courses for Ohio workers with the goal of preventing injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Her husband, Dennis Grant, is the secretary of MC's Board of Trustees.
  
  Joan Loudon Perkins has a one woman faux painting business, working with a Scottsdale Custom home builder.

Class of 1962, right before graduation:
First row: Janet Driggs, Phyl Knapper, Liz Leitch
Second row: Barb Hughes, Daryl Sobehart, Marianne Jackson, Kathy Rowand
Third row: Marty Brouwer, Janie Gensbigler, Willy Will Karcher, Joan Loudon
Fourth row: Marilynn Phillips, Janet Skuce Cooper, Sally Steinhauer, Hedy Iseman Moore

Class of 1962, above photo recreation, 40 years later...

---

1968 Graduates

This group of women from 1968 included this note with their response: "We 8 XANS have met for a fun filled weekend for the past 4 years and for some, many more than that. We call our getting together a Zansfest (we have taken the liberty of adding a name which does fit the current group......simply go from XANs to the new model.....ZANS!). We come from various states but rendezvous at one home. This year the fest will be at (Jan Feltz's) home in Chadds Ford, PA. Need we say what a wild and crazy and fun time is had."

Class of 1968 (taking during pledging 1965):
Jan Feltz is in the third row from the bottom, second from the left, while Kathy Mertler Lynch is in the same row, second from the right. Lee Williams is second row from the bottom, far left (plaid jumper). Gwen Turnbull not pictured.

• What is your favorite memory as a Kianu (alum or active)?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: The pledge party. Shortly after pledging, each big sister arranged a blind date for their little sis. I only remember that happening the year I pledged. Receiving the invitation to join XAN on pledge day; bolting out of the dorm room, and racing over to Monkey Blvd. The Mace pledges were there to cheer us on and take our hands to help us make that trek. Seeing my brother (junior at the time and a member of the Mace Club) there to congratulate me was exciting too. Somehow he knew on which hill to await me. Up all those hills was a challenge! Puff! Puff!
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: I too remember the run to the Kianu House when we received our bids as being a highlight. It was so exciting. An alarm was rung in the dorm and we could head to the houses. Along the way I was so happy to see my close friends had been given a bid to join Kianu too. My memory was that the Mace guys tried to blockade our efforts to get to the house which just added to the fun. Jan may have had VIP assistance. When we reached Montgomery Ave. the actives rushed to meet us and there were lots of hugs and joy.
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: Rush as a Freshman -- I was SO excited, and then the last year living in the house.
  
  
• What sororities and fraternities were at MC? Who were our main rivals? What other rivalries existed?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: The Men's clubs were Mace; Stag; Sphinx which became Kappa Sigma while we were there; Ulster; and Alban, which also went National (Phi Tau). Women's clubs were XAN; Delta; FAD; Beta Chi; Kona; Wawyin which dissolved; a new club formed my junior year as a result of several gals who wanted to join XAN but were beyond the cutoff and that club [was called] Phi Kappa.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: The Deltas were our rivals. The Stags and Mace were rivals too.
  
  
• What was pledging like for you? How long of a pledge period did you have (currently 6 weeks)? What are examples of pledge activities you had?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: Pledge parties were fun. I visited all 6 clubs. They had great entertainment and refreshments. Rush time lasted about 6 weeks, I guess. I can't remember. The fall rush was shorter and the class taken in was smaller. After pledging, we had to paint our pledge paddles.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: We attended many rush parties in February of our freshman year. As Jan said they were like theatrical productions with entertainment, food and favors. We pledged in March. We became actives in the fall of our sophomore year. We were required to learn the Greek alphabet, the history of the Kianu Club and its songs. And I believe we had to write a new song as a group. (edited)
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: I can't remember when rush was, but it lasted quite a while. In those days, Freshmen were required to wear "dinks". Dinks were black and magenta beanies all freshman (men and women) were required to wear to identify their lowly status. Upper classman had the right to ask freshman to run errands for them, carry their books, etc. Frankly, I think the upper classmen males used that as a way to check out all the freshmen women! Parties were fun, some more than others. We dressed as if we were going to a dance -- long gowns, gloves, all the fixins'.
  
  
• (question and answers edited)
  
  
• Did you have both a fall and spring pledge period?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: yes
  
  
• Did you have a house mother?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: Yes, Mrs. Martin
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: Mrs. Martin was a lovely lady. She lived in the house on the main floor. She had a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom. She and Mrs. Clancy Biegler, our Advisor and club sister were very good to us. When we graduated they gave each of us a recipe box filled with their favorite recipes.
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: Mrs. Martin was wonderful to me. Senior year, I was the only married coed in the house. Back then, your parents had to give signed permission for you to be out after midnight. I was 21, but my father didn't sign the permission. Mrs. Martin never blinked an eye if I came in after midnight.
  
  (note: I asked Gwen to explain this a bit more, and here's what she said:)
  I married over Christmas vacation my senior year. My husband (a Mace) had
  already graduated and had the Army breathing down his neck so he had enlisted in the Navy and was finishing boot camp in December. His first assignment was a NATO base in Naples, Italy and he had to leave in two weeks. We married in a week, had a week together, and then he left for Italy for 6 months and I went back to Muskingum and lived in the house. Naturally, everyone thought I was pregnant and when I told the Dean of Women (then Dean Shultz) that I wasn't, she responded by saying, "I didn't ask you." I thought that was very nice of her. I stayed at school over spring break , etc. so I could graduate early and fly to Italy to be with my husband. I never attended my graduation but had special permission from the President to leave early. Even though I was 21, the school required that we have written permission from our parents to stay out "after hours" a new policy initiated senior year. Ironically, my father didn't sign it! I was trying to act like it really didn't matter to me and he surprised me by not signing the permission!!!
  Nothing else much to add. I was the May Queen that Spring (a married woman, no less!) and since my husband was gone, his brother (a freshman) was my escort. I was also on the Homecoming Court my junior year -- didn't have a date for that, so I asked my father to be my date. I'm not sure, but I think that started a tradition as I see some of the court are still escorted by their fathers. My father was SSOO proud and SOOOO nervous -- especially since we had to dance and he was NO dancer. He and my mother were killed in a car accident shortly after I'd arrived in Italy, so I was always so grateful we had that special time together.
  
  
• What kind of rules were imposed on girls who lived in the house?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: Study/quiet times; curfews
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: We had strict curfews until our senior year when school policy changed. No alcohol was allowed in the house. No guys were ever allowed upstairs.
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: TOO MANY! Quiet times, curfews, no drinking -- no hugging or kissing in the "parlor" with your beau. . . .
  
  
• Which Kianu sister had the biggest impact on you? Why?
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: I don't think any one sister had a huge impact on me. But the club provided me the opportunity to make friendships which are still valued and active today. I went on to become a national buyer for Sears before I became a stay at home Mom. I still believe the experiences I had holding offices in the Club prepared me better for my career than any classes I had. The Kianu that I think did embody my idea of a Kianu was Jane Vancil in the class above us. Jane seemed to me to be a beautiful girl inside and out. She had a beautiful singing voice, was a good actress, sold us Merle Norman cosmetics (so we could be beauties too) and was kind to all.
  
  
• What made you want to pledge Kianu?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: I knew well most of the actives and they were genuinely caring, kind, fun gals.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: Jan is right. I felt I had the most in common with this group. It was said when we were there that the Kianus were the girls the guys would want to marry. Certainly there were lots of nice girls at MC, but our group had a good reputation as a whole. We were known for our smiles (it was said we slept with hangers in our mouths)... (edited)
  
  
• When did you decide you wanted to go Kianu?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: I was torn between XAN and Delta but after all the rush parties in the spring of freshman year, I decided with my close friends and roommate that I wanted XAN.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: I agree with Jan. We all had good friends in other social clubs too--mostly Deltas I'd think. I did hurt when you knew a friend that didn't get the bid they wanted and was hurt by it.
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: same as above -- I was torn between XAN and Delta.
  
  
• What kind of activities and parties did the club have while you were there?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: Greek Winter Games; spring formal; Halloween party in the basement of the house; XAN was bought at an auction by the Mace Club so we had to stage a party with food and entertainment for them; the spring interclub track meet; building the float for Homecoming parade.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: I also remember Valentine Dances, Barn Parties in the Fall, Pledge Dance, Rush parties.
  
  
• How many girls were in your pledge class? (Over the last 10 years, most pledge classes have been between 25-30 girls) On average, how big was the whole club? (currently about 75-85 girls)
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: As I recall, those numbers held true for us also.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: We had 28 in our pledge class. If I remember correctly, the Clubs were allowed to have no more than 60 members so that would determine how many pledges you could invite to join. Kianus and Deltas were the two biggies while we were there.
  
  
• Did you wear letters when you were an active?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: We wore the XAN sweatshirts. I still have a very old dilapidated one in the closet that I should dispose of but just can't bring myself to do so.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: Yep, that and T's. We also wore our silver arrow pledge pins and our active pins.
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: Yes, we were all really proud and "cool" when we had our XAN sweatshirts.
  
  
• Currently, during pledging, the pledge sisters wear pledge shirts and pledge pins. Upon activation, girls give back their pledge shirts and pledge pins and are given their activation pin, a gold pin with the letters XAN. How is this different (or the same) from your time at MC?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: I don't remember any pins nor the wearing of pledge shirts.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: I don't think we had (pledge) T's. We were given pledge pins I don't remember if we gave them back. We bought our active pins if we wanted one. (edited)
  
  
• The 1960s are often perceived as a period of social unrest. How did the period of hippies, Vietnam, and MLK Jr. affect MC and XAN?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: What was the deepest felt experience was the Vietnam War. The male students were trying their best to make grades so not to be drafted. Seeing certain classmates not make grade was difficult because we knew where they would end up. The hippie movement was not strongly reflected on campus as I remember.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: I embarrassed to say I think we were somewhat removed and isolated from world events and focused on campus life. At least, I was. I do remember recording audio tapes of some of the girls to send to soldiers serving overseas--kind of news and greetings from the home front.
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: I don't think Muskingum was very socially active during those times, unlike other schools such as Kent. My husband was in the Navy, however, so I was more attuned to the situation than most, especially senior year when he was shipped overseas (not to Nam, thank god). The draft was also omnipresent then, so boys were being drafted right out of college -- especially if they were "late" graduating, or as Lee mentioned, failing. Drugs were non-existent on campus (except for alcohol for which there was plenty) although I seem to remember there was a 'coffee house' somewhere on campus where it was rumored that some of the people there smoked "pot." Hippies? Hardly. We were walking around in kilts, kneesocks, pearls, and sweater sets!!
  
  
• Nationwide, membership in Greek letter organizations declined during the late 1960s-early 1970s. Would you say this was true for MC and Kianu as well? Were all Greek organizations affected, and did any fold during your time there?
  
  Jan (Beahm) Feltz '68: As I mentioned before, the Wawyins folded but a club was formed also.
  
  Lee (Bacon) Williams '68: Again, I think we were rather isolated from the National Greek scene. Our social club provided friendships, much activity and social activities on a small campus with a small town. We never called ourselves a sorority at the time. We were considered a social club.
  
  Gwen (Beard) Turnbull '68: Agreed. If you wanted a social life on campus, you really had to be a member of a 'club' -- otherwise, you were on the outside looking in. Unfortunately, these clubs labeled people as cool or uncool. too bad.

Thanks to all the women from 1962 and 1968 who participated in this interview! Next summer we will profile alumnae from the 1970s.

Last Update: August 2005