Alumni and students of a private women’s college in Raleigh say a decision by administrators to admit male students next fall is the last straw in a string of significant changes to the historic institution.
Administrators of Peace College, a 154-year-old private university that has traditionally only admitted women as full-time students, announced the admission policy changes this summer.
They will also change the institution’s name to William Peace University after its founder. In response to the new policies, some students and alumni organized a group called the “Preserve Peace College Campaign.”
E.V. Watson, an alumna of Peace and an active member of the group, said she has worked with dissatisfied students to organize and hold protests — the first of which occurred Monday, the first day of classes at the university.
“We are doing this to maintain the legacy of Peace College,” she said.
In a statement acknowledging the protests, Peace administrators said they remain committed to the admission policy changes.
“Please know that the decision has been made; it will not be reversed,” the statement said.
The group also created a petition to remove Debra Townsley, the new president of the school, who began serving last August.
According to the petition, Townsley has enacted a number of other changes to the school throughout the course of the past year, such as dismantling the alumni organization and eliminating a number of majors.
