Sweet Briar College, a distinguished private liberal arts institution for women, has announced a controversial new admissions policy that excludes transgender women from joining its campus for the upcoming academic year.
This decision places Sweet Briar among the few remaining women’s colleges in the United States to adopt such a stance, as reported by the New York Post.
Upholding founder’s will
College officials stated that the new policy aligns with the wishes of its founder, Indiana Fletcher Williams, who passed away in 1900. Williams’s will specifies that the college should serve “girls and young women,” and the administration argues that these terms must be interpreted according to their historical context.
Official announcement
In a letter addressed to the college community, Sweet Briar President Mary Pope Hutson and the chair of the board detailed the new policy. They emphasized that applicants must affirm they were assigned female at birth and consistently live and identify as women.
President Hutson highlighted that single-sex education is both a venerable tradition and a unique cultural asset for Sweet Briar. However, the policy has ignited backlash among students and faculty members. Critics argue that it could deter prospective students, both transgender and otherwise, from applying at a time when many women’s colleges are either closing, merging, or becoming co-educational. Notably, Sweet Briar itself narrowly escaped closure in 2015.
Historical context and criticism
Detractors have also criticized the board’s originalist interpretation of Williams’s will, pointing out that it once explicitly excluded non-white students. The college only began admitting Black students following a federal judge’s approval after the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
John Gregory Brown, chair of the faculty senate and an English professor, condemned the rationale behind the transgender policy as “absurd.” He and other critics see the policy as a regressive step that does not reflect the inclusive values that modern educational institutions should uphold.
Future implications
As Sweet Briar College navigates the complex landscape of higher education, this decision could have far-reaching implications for its reputation and enrollment. The debate continues as stakeholders weigh the merits of preserving tradition against the demands for inclusivity and progress.
