LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Penn Band Holds Reunion

To the Editor: At the time, there seemed to be no question in my mind. Marguerite (Vandy) Van Dyke (Wharton '71) and Marilyn Wettlaufer (CW '71) had performed with us in the winter Concert Band. Both were excellent musicians and congenial people. So what was the problem? Leaving aside the debate that spring, we finally decided to admit women. Little did I realize a personal benefit would accrue from that decision. During the spring of 1970, I was a sophomore trombone player and vice president of the bands. Upon completion of my term, I, like almost all other officers before me, looked forward to becoming a member of the Fanfare Society, the band honor society. I was stunned when a clique of jealous upperclassmen denied me that privilege, but I was determined not to quit the band. My perseverance paid off. Less than a year after my unhappy experience, one of the new freshmen woman band members, Lynne Leopold (today, Lynne Leopold-Sharpe), became an officer for the 1971-72 year. One of the first things she did was to recommend that I be awarded a Fanfare Society membership and pin. I did not vote for women to be in the marching band a year earlier because I expected an immediate personal benefit; it just seemed the natural thing to do. In the subsequent 25 years, I have seen one barrier after another to women fall with the most recent one culminating in Dr. Judith Rodin becoming our president. My clarinet-playing daughter looks forward to attending Penn in 1998 and maintaining the momentum. Robert Goodwin College '72