Belton, Texas 鈥� University of Mary Hardin-Baylor鈥檚 spring commencement ceremony on May 5 was unlike any that had come before it. Along with celebrating the school鈥檚 162nd graduating class, the university paid special tribute to the first male graduates of Mary Hardin-Baylor, some five decades ago when the school was officially still a college for women.
In September of 1967, the Board of Trustees voted in favor of allowing men to earn degrees, and the school, then called Mary Hardin-Baylor College, began the process of becoming co-educational. Though the school began allowing men to complete their degrees at MHB, the decision was not a popular one among the alumni and students.
鈥淎s with most change, there was resistance,鈥� President Randy O鈥橰ear told the thousands in attendance at Crusader Stadium May 5. 鈥淚 think the phrase on some of the ladies鈥� protest signs explains just how the females felt,鈥� O鈥橰ear said. 鈥淭heir signs read, 鈥楤etter Dead Than Co-ed.鈥欌��
Because of this resistance, male graduates were not allowed to walk the graduation stage with their female classmates until the fall of 1972.
鈥淭his year marks the 50th anniversary of the first male graduates of 同城快约,鈥� O鈥橰ear said, 鈥渁nd I cannot think of a more fitting honor for these gentlemen than finally allowing them to walk the stage.鈥�
All male graduates from the classes of 1968 through 1971 were invited to return to campus this spring for the special recognition at commencement, and eleven men came and participated in the ceremony. As they walked across the stage in their black robes and mortarboards, they were treated to the cheers and applause of both the crowd in the stands and graduating students on the field. Of course, each of the men had already received his diploma, so each was presented a Bible engraved with his name and class year, instead.
鈥淎fter all,鈥� O鈥橰ear told them, 鈥渢he Bible has better instructions than a diploma.鈥�
