Secularization, co-education and conflict management at Saint Mary's University : 1967-1970

Abstract

Saint Mary's University is a mid-sized Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institution with a long and complex history as evidenced by numerous developments and changes, particularly throughout the latter part of the twentieth century. Prior to that era, Saint Mary's was a radically different place from what it subsequently became. As an institution of higher learning, it was male-dominated and vigorously Catholic in its mission and traditions. The intention of this thesis is to provide a detailed and discerning account, primarily through the interpretation of oral history evidence, of the two most significant events in the history of Saint Mary's University which occurred between 1967 and 1970: secularization and the beginning of co-education. More specifically, this study will suggest that the introduction of co-education along with the secularization of Saint Mary's University, as seen by former students as well as by former and current faculty and staff, were events that resulted in significant changes within a short time, especially by comparison with the concurrent pace of change at other Atlantic Canadian universities. Ultimately, the thesis will suggest, Saint Mary's navigated through these major changes with remarkably little disruption.