© 1997 Lawrence University Press
Life at Milwaukee-Downer
The "Milwaukee-Downer Woman" of the 20th century was increasingly characterized by an independence of mind and action that enabled her to meet all manner of challenges. How did this come about? What aspects of the college's internal life affected the growth of student independence and contributed to producing the "Milwaukee-Downer Woman"?
There were a number of factors at work, not all of which pulled in the same direction. Daily life on campus, for example, was restrictive and worked against the growth of independence. The rituals and traditions of the institution, meanwhile, although restrictive too, contained elements of support for autonomy. And the personnel who guided and governed the school strongly modeled independence and in so doing promoted its growth.