WVU in the 1970s
The 1970s brought about some of the most radical changes in student life on campus. Most importantly, WVU had to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, which Congress passed in 1972. This forbade discrimination against students and employees in federally assisted educational programs.As a result, the marching band first admitted women in the fall of 1972. In 1973, WVU abolished curfews and dress codes for female students and approved a proposal for women’s intercollegiate athletic teams. Across the country, the growth of women’s intercollegiate athletics has been one of the most visible results of Title IX, but the law also opened opportunities for more women to study law, medicine, and engineering.
WVU began to offer more courses that focused on the environment, women’s history, and women and literature. “Man and His Environment” was an experimental lower-level general education course in the spring of 1971.
Several more facilities were added to the campus, including the Coliseum in 1970 (shown above under construction), the Natatorium in 1975, and Mountaineer Field in 1980. The Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system was completed in 1979.
Dedication of the bronze Mountaineer statue in front of the Mountainlair, 1971 (source)