Coming to Clarkson two years later in 1909, while memories were strong about
women in the school, Dr. Ray Powers much later gave one explanation for their disappearance
from the school in his
Memories of Clarkson
. He wrote that the home economics program was
discontinued for the lack of co-ed students, because the school had fewer students than it did
teachers. A different explanation was offered in 1945 when one of the local papers carried an
article saying:
It was thought in the early days that Clarkson could develop into a school which specialized in domestic science ...
. By 1900, the direction which the school should take was clearer. The Board of Trustees visualized with rare
insight the future in engineering education. The homemaking classes were closed and civil and mechanical
engineering substituted.
William E. Sawyer, College historian, wrote in the February 1946
Clarkson College
Bulletin
that although various reasons had been offered for the end of co-education at Clarkson
School of Technology, he felt that the best explanation lay in the fact that closer ties could be
maintained between Clarkson and the State Normal School by dropping home economics from
the curriculum.
Regardless of the explanation, in the 11 years of its existence, the home economics
course had awarded 36 two-year certificates, including the diplomas granted before 1902, and
eight one-year certificates to women. These one-year certificates were granted for work
completed during the last two years of the program. Only three BS degrees had been granted to
women in home economics, originally domestic engineering, as opposed to 64 BS degrees
granted to men in the four engineering courses available.
Clarkson enrolled no more women undergraduates until 1964.
Tech Nite.
Held on the second Friday after September registration, Tech Nite was a great
success. Every student in the College met at 8 p.m. in front of "the Tech" (Old Main). A parade
of the entire student body (93 students) marched through the village of Potsdam, waking things
up in general, giving the good old College yell, "Ah Wah, Wie," singing college songs, burning
colored lights, etc., and ending at a bonfire built about a mile into the country on the banks of
the Raquette River.
There the entire student body sat by class rank in the form of a Clarkson "C" and
enjoyed refreshments of various kinds which the freshmen served. After that, songs were sung,
speeches were made, and the "Tech feeling" rose higher and higher until it could be heard as far
as the village. This celebration broke up at midnight when all marched back to the village and
dispersed quietly. It was a complete success and accomplished its goal: the unification of the
student body.
By 1911, Tech Nite had grown to include the participation of faculty, alumni, and
students. At 8 p.m. all gathered in front of Old Main, and, forming one line, marched about
town, singing songs and cheering lustily. Abundant fireworks added a gala effect to the
occasion. Then all proceeded by Pierrepont Avenue to the rendezvous on Mr. Regan's property
on the shores of the Raquette River, where a huge bonfire and ample refreshments awaited
them. The students seated themselves about the fire, forming a huge "C," and when
refreshments had been served, speeches were given by representative members of the faculty,
the alumni, and the student body. Everyone voted the evening a great success, recognizing that
the object of such an occasion had been to promote good spirit and friendliness among students,
faculty, and alumni.
