The gender revolution of the second half of the twentieth century brought upon America a complete culture shock that redefined the relationship of men, women and other minorities to all dynamics of society as well as opening the door to discussion of mental health, which has been historically deemed as too taboo or feminine to discuss openly. College campuses were not immune to the women’s movements, Purdue University included. Organizations created at Purdue by students lobbied for growth in the amount of resources their university offered. In fact, Purdue was influenced to accomplish the establishment of student-centered programs, leading to the creation of what is today the Office of the Dean of Students, which advocates for the mental health of students, especially that of females and other minorities on campus. 

                                                            1919 – 1974

                                                 Office of the Dean of Men 

     “TRUSTEES APPOINT DR. STANLEY COULTER FIRST DEAN OF MEN” is the title highlighted in bold at the top of a September 1919 news article from the Purdue Exponent, regarding the creation of the ‘Office of Dean of Men’ at Purdue. Dr. Stanley Coulter, appointed by the trustees of Purdue University earlier that June for this newly created position, was interviewed and stated being ready to head into the new academic year with the intention of meeting two main goals while in office. The first being to develop a “spirit of community.” He believed that allowing students to consult him both during office hours and later in the evening at his home phone would be the best way to serve the student populace. This marked a small step toward “reviving ‘Purdue Spirit’.” Dr. Coulter’s second goal was to make an effort toward securing “closer cooperation between student activities.” By doing so, he believed the standards of scholarship and success among both students and faculty would be raised. Opening his door to Purdue provided great insight into Dr. Coulter’s belief in his students’ success. Although this position had not yet been defined as one providing the comprehensive advocacy services that Purdue’s Dean of Students Office is known for today, his seven-year tenure influenced what was to become. As the dean said himself, “‘It is up to you to make the office one of usefulness or a failure.’” (1)

                                                      1913/1933 – 1974

                                            Office of the Dean of Women 

     Although the position of Dean of Women was not filled with full-time Dean Dorothy Stratton until 1933, Purdue had an acting dean for many years prior: Carolyn Shoemaker. (2) Of this dedicated woman, Stanley Coulter was quoted as saying, “‘Purdue was not a part of her life. Purdue was her life.’” (3) Her special one-on-one attention to students as well as her commitment to learn the names of many of them became known as a “Shoemaker hallmark.” Perhaps this was the beginning of the Office of the Dean of Women having a mission different than that of the Dean of Men. Helen Schleman, who came into office after Dorothy Stratton in 1947 after both returned from serving as directors of the Women’s Reserve of the U.S. Coast Guard in World War II, recognized the strength and independence of women. Schleman immediately set out to follow in Stratton’s footsteps and eradicate such dictates as “women’s hours” and dress codes. Many of the policies she fought to abolish and those she fought to create were inspired with not only white women in mind, but people of color attending or working for Purdue as well.  Schleman stated in her 1966 annual report notably titled, The Old Grey Mare Ain’t What She Used To Be, “The hope that lies behind the above title is simply that it may catch the eye of a potential reader sufficiently that he will be willing to focus his attention on the changed content of the functions of the Dean of Women’s Office. No profession has changed more in its demands upon staff, yet no job suffers more from an outmoded stereotype deeply imbedded in the minds of top-level University administrators, parents of students and students themselves. The functions of individual counselling and student group advising remains the same, but the problems encountered now at every turn in either function were unheard of a few short years ago.” (4) So, although Stanley Coulter claimed that “the office of Dean of Men is simply to serve as a means of coordinating student activities, building up student morale and inspiring worthy ambitions,” the Dean of Women actually challenged conservative social and institutional gender expectations for women.  Schleman’s ideas have been noted by many as ahead of their time or “even radical,” as Amy Raley states in her article, and brought Purdue further out of outdated, prejudiced tradition. (5)

                                                         1974 – Present 

                                           Office of the Dean of Students 

     By 1974, Purdue realized that the mission of the Office of the Dean of Men and the mission of the Office of the Dean of Women were the same: to serve the students of Purdue. During this time, its main functions were, as put in an editor’s note from the Purdue Exponent:

     At Purdue the Dean of Men and Dean of Women’s offices carry out their activities under three main categories, general counseling, covering such areas as personal, emotional and academic problems; student organizations and activities in which the deans work with such groups as student government, Old Masters, and student housing organizations; and general policy and conduct which includes the handling of time blocks, emergency loans, car permits, and disciplinary procedures. (6)

     Yet, because Purdue had consolidated the two offices, it did not simply mean that gender equality had been established. In fact, Beverley Stone nearly resigned during this combination because, as she put it, “We had seen this happen in lots of other institutions and in almost every instance, a male had been designated as dean of students and the dean of women was subordinated to associate dean of students — even when her qualifications were stronger.” (7) Following after Dean Stone, Barbara ‘Barb’ Cook inspired Purdue students and led them through a ‘tough year’ of sit-ins and demonstrations. Just as importantly, Betty Nelson, became associate dean following Cook’s retirement in 1987. She is widely referred to as “the iron first in a velvet glove” due to her small stature and powerful voice. Nelson is also one to credit for the creation of organizations on campus that advocate for stronger accessibility for students with disabilities on campus and throughout Greater Lafayette. (8) If Purdue had not responded to the demands of its students in the early 1900s, there would have been none of the incredible dean of women blazing the trail for equal opportunities in response to student protests and the women’s and civil rights movements. If Purdue had not been graced with the commitment of its deans of men and women, there would have been none of the great support that paved the way for the establishment of Purdue’s dean of students office; and therefore there would be none of the programs that I will be focusing on in later writing directed at student wellness that are offered in the present. 

                                                          Moving Forward

     Purdue Office of the Dean of Students is the main organization on campus advocating on behalf of students. Before their consolidation, the Office of the Dean of Men and the Office of the Dean of Women both played roles focusing on the needs and desires of Purdue students. The position began as a means of communication among fraternities, sororities, and other organizations and later expanded to disciplinary concerns. Pushing for change of Purdue legislation in the way that it treated female and African-American students were a few of the many small steps taken toward the office’s current role as student advocator at all levels. Without the persistence and effort put forth by the many deans and associate deans of men and women since the early 1900s, none of the programs focused on grief and mental health advocacy for students at Purdue would exist. Who would speak for the students today if O.D.O.S. had never existed?

     Further writing will elaborate on the grief and mental health advocacy offered by Purdue in initiatives such as C.A.P.S. (Counseling And Psychological Services) and the D.R.C. (Disability Resource Center), S.H.E. (Sisters for Health Education) and C.A.R.E. (Center for Advocacy, Response, and Education), and the O.D.O.S. (Office of the Dean Of Students) Grief Policy.