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"It has been necessary to temper pride, sentiment, and emotion in order to think objectively of proposals which you have just heard read. Yet, the increasing tide of young people who will be clamoring for educational opportunity during the next decade have made it necessary that we re-orient our thinking in line with the tremendous educational needs that are anticipated in the years that lie ahead.

"Although I attended North Carolina State College for part of my graduate work, and both my husband and my son attended the University of North Carolina, giving me a great sense of loyalty and respect for these institutions, it is natural that I have considered the questions related to Woman's College with particular thought and concern.

"The idea of admitting undergraduate men students to Woman's College is not novel. I happened to attend Woman's College when we once had coeds. However, it is certainly a departure from the image many alumnae have cherished, and there are strong valid reasons one could present for keeping Woman's College restricted to women. Yet, consideration of these had to be weighed against the estimated 30,000 students expected to be seeking admission in 1970 to any kind of college, and for whom there will be no room in either state or private institutions. Woman's College, located in a heavily populated section of the state could offer quality education to many on an economical basis. It seems terribly important when already one sees so many able students yearning to attend college which is financially out of reach for them.

"Beyond this consideration is another which is involved quite deeply, I think. The role of woman in our changing society is one of extreme importance and has been of great importance to me during the last four years of working with high school students who are searching for direction and purpose. The complexity of function as wife, mother, home-maker, and career woman, and the degree of excellence demanded by each role has emphasized the importance of learning to live and work beside men rather than in isolated competition with them. I strongly believe that the future of family stability depends in great part upon woman's recognition of the vital implications involved in this distinction and their efforts to build a strong society, based upon achieving individually, of course, but also directing their talents and leadership qualities to fit into a normal society made up of both men and women. In this light it would seem that isolation is not the answer that co-educational institutions can perhaps better serve the purposes of education - that women have already achieved a position of respect and distinction for themselves that makes university education apart from men unnecessary. Strong support of this comes from educational trends throughout the world.

"It has seemed logical that consideration of educational needs include plans to move forward in all units of one consolidated University to meet the rising standards of education everywhere. Our University must continue to set the pace for the state and it has become increasingly evident that the Woman's College cannot operate in the fullness of its mission as a part of the University by excluding men.

"I recently heard a story about a group of young people who felt that their church was not progressing as it should, and they asked permission that they be allowed to sit in a unified group in one section of the church so that their voices might be heard in unison. One of the older members of the church denied permission for this because it meant giving up his seat which he had occupied for so long. 'I just would not feel comfortable, ' he said, 'if I had to view the services from any other position. ' Now, many of us may be called upon to give up a cherished image or dream or position. Yet the voices of young people must be heard. We must make the way for young people who will be shaping and molding the destiny of our state and our nation.

"Believing that the co-ordinated plan for higher education will offer broadening opportunity for all our students - not only those who are gifted but also those average students who have so much to offer our society, I would like to second the motion of the report by Mr. Pearsall."