Paving the Way

In 1969, Virginia Scott, a Charlottesville resident, sued the University of Virginia in federal court for admittance to the College of Arts & Sciences. Her actions made it possible for me to attend the same university just fourteen years later. I never knew her name or heard her story. Until now.

As a graduate from Charlottesville High School, Scott was able to attend William and Mary College (which had begun accepting female students in 1918). When her mother passed away, she returned home to Charlottesville and worked part-time in a local law office. When a partner in the firm, John Lowe, asked her what she planned to do now, assuming she’d say she’d like to enroll at Uva, she explained the University didn’t admit women for undergraduate study beyond the nursing and education programs (and some graduate programs or for some female students with important connections.) Prior to 1970, women were given the opportunity to attend Mary Washington College, seventy miles away in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as an alternative.

So, the fight was on. Three other plaintiffs joined the case: Jo Anne Kirstein, Nancy L. Anderson, and Nancy Jaffe.

I don’t know where the pluck and determination come from for a woman, or anyone, to take on an institution for discriminatory policies. Is it a matter of opportunity? Swinging of social norms? An innate ability to see when something is wrong and raise your hand to do something about it? I don’t know. But I’m thankful she found the courage to do so. And found someone willing to fight for her.

The case ended quickly with the University submitting a plan to admit women over a ten-year period. A significant stumbling block was the cost of building women’s bathroom facilities (with everyone in the courtroom getting a good laugh from the suggestion of putting flowers in the urinals). An undergraduate student body representative submitted a plan to integrate women in three years. The case ended with the University agreeing to adopt the three-year plan. In 1970, 450 female students arrived on the Grounds. In 1971, the University had 550 new female co-eds.

There have been many women with notable achievements who have graduated from the University since 1970 including:

Margaret Brennan (Foreign Affairs, Middle Eastern Studies, ’02) – Moderator of “Face the Nation” and Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent, CBS News

Katie Couric (English ’79) –  Television journalist and author.  Formerly anchor of the CBS Nightly News (2006-2011) and co-anchor of NBC’s Today Show from 1991 through 2006

Claudia Emerson (1957-2014) (English ’79) – Pulitzer Prize winner and Poet Laureate of Virginia.

Tina Fey (Drama ’92) – Film and television actress, writer and producer. Television credits includes Saturday Night Live cast member and head writer. Executive-producer and star of 30 Rock. Film credits include Mean Girls and Admission. 

Melissa Austin Long (Foreign Affairs, German ’92), the first person of color to be appointed as a Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Elizabeth Smith (English ’85) – Chairman and CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, Inc., the parent organization of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar.

Dawn Staley (Rhetoric & Communication Studies ’92) – Three-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time All American at UVA, Sports Illustrated Player of the Year 1991, and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Currently head coach at the University of South Carolina, and head coach of the head coach of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team through 2020.  

Melissa Stark (Foreign Affairs ’95) – Reporter and host, NFL Network

Kathryn Thornton (Ph.D. Physics ’79) – Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at U.Va. School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. NASA Astronaut (1985-1996). Veteran of four space flights, logging over 975 hours in space, including more than 21 hours of extravehicular activity.

(Source: Notable Alumni | College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia)

This is a list of just a few notable female graduates—not to mention my amazing female friends (and their daughters!) and family members!

Virginia Scott went on to finish her undergraduate degree in religious studies and later would obtain a Masters degree in the same subject. I don’t know what became of Virginia Scott since. My internet searches have yielded little information. My hope is that she is living a long and fruitful life knowing that she paved the way for the rest of us.

With International Women’s Day arriving on March 8, please join me in raising a glass (beverage of your choice) to Ms. Virginia Scott.