Columbia Ponders Accepting Women

The faculty of Columbia College voted to admit women Monday in a move that could force Barnard College, its affiliated women's institution, to forfeit its independent status and accept a complete merger of the two schools.

Although the vote came on a resolution that is not legally binding, a spokesman for Barnard president LeRoy C. Breunig said yesterday that the faculty's action was "designed to put political pressure on Barnard."

Barnard's adamant refusal to merge with Columbia and form one co-educational institution prompted the Columbia faculty to recommend the admission of women directly into the previously all-male school, Michael Rosenthal '58, associate dean of Columbia College said yesterday.

Rosenthal said that financial considerations necessitate the conversion to co-education, adding that subsequent increases in enrollment and tuition revenues would alleviate Columbia's financial problems.

He added that, while merger with Barnard would be economically preferable because Columbia would not have to build additional facilities, "one way or the other co-education at Columbia will be achieved in the next few years."

Under an agreement reached in 1973, the two colleges retain their separate identity and separate faculties, but allow cross-enrollment by their students.

Sally Slate, director of public relations at Barnard, said yesterday, "The faculty's resolution violates the spirit of the 1973 agreement." She added that Barnard supports that agreement and hopes to continue its present relationship with Columbia.

Rosenthal, the co-author of a report recommending complete merger, said that Barnard presently "enjoys the best of both worlds by remaining independent but having all of Columbia's resources at its disposal."

He also said that charges of political pressure made by President Bruenig were "nonsense" and that the faculty was "expressing an educational goal in calling for the admission of women, not seeking to eliminate Barnard."

The resolution stated that full co-education is an important goal and "Columbia College should seek to recruit and admit women for the B.A. at the earliest opportunity."