Holly, the only Miss Radcliffe available for comment, has denied that her title subjected her to "many additional responsibilities and activities"--a charge made on the contest in this year's letter to Radcliffe freshmen from Student Government Association president Karen A. Goukassow '57. The "additional responsibilities" presumably refer to excess phone calls from date-seekers and excessive time spent in modeling for stores in the area.
In the past some Miss Radcliffes have indeed complained of the burden associated with the crown. Sharon Jacobson '57, a close fried of Miss Corby, said she understood that Carol found her title made too many demands on her time. Miss Jacobson said that Miss 'Cliffe of '57 often complained that she never knew whether young men asked her out because they liked her or whether they simply wanted to say they had dated a "Miss Radcliffe."
Miss Jacobson reports that Carol, who left Radcliffe two years ago, is now enrolled as a junior at the University of Pennsylvania after spending some time contemplating matrimony and working as a secretary for NBC in New York.
Married and in Europe
According to Miss Jacobson, Marie Winn took a "negative attitude" to the job of being Miss 'Cliffe, often refusing to answer her many calls. Marie, who became Mrs. Stuart E. Judds during the summer, is believed to be in Europe at present.
A similar idea was expressed by Gayle Belking '58, a finalist in the contest. "We enjoyed it and didn't find it interfered with out time." But she thinks that the first week of school is not the best time for such a contest.
If a freshman isn't asked to enter the contest, she may feel that she is getting off to a bad start in social life, Miss Belkin says. At another time of year it would be fine.
Miss Belkin denies that finalists are disappointed at not being the "one." "As finalists, but not winners,"she says, "we had all the good effects--and none of the bad. We received very few strange calls."
Nothing But Pleasure'
"I don't want to criticize the Radcliffe administration for ending the contest," remarks finalist Edith A. Grossman '57, "but the contest brought me nothing but pleasure. And I wouldn't have considered winning it a hardship."
"I didn't feel any harm from the contest itself," Anne Baker '59 says. "But the pressure from the faculty and upperclassmen made some of us feel doubtful about entering."
This sentiment was expressed by several of the candidates from last year. Most dormitory presidents in fact advised freshmen against entering the contest. "In light of the bad feeling toward the contest, it could not possibly be continued successfully," Miss Baker feels.
Dean Didn't Like It
"Nobody tried to talk us out of entering," reported Margot Dannes '57, a finalist in 1953. "But one of the deans did say to me, 'I'm surprised to see you in this.' I don't think it entailed any trouble and it was a lot of fun," she says.
It has been falsely rumored this fall that no Miss Radcliffe has ever been graduated from the College. The first four Miss'Cliffes did receive their degrees, and all four are now married. Helen Clark, the first winner, was selected class night chairman for her commencement week. According to the Radcliffe Yearbook of '52, "commencement posts are honorary, based upon election of the five members who have contributed the most top the College during their four years."
Phi Beta Kappa Finalist
At least one finalist in the Miss 'Cliffe contest was a Phi Beta Kappa. Betsy C. Ross '55 received this scholastic honor, as well as the honor of being a member of the executive board of the Student Government Association.
In actual fact, then, the nine Miss Radcliffes picked by the CRIMSON represent quite a diversified group. And in this sense, taken together, maybe they are typical of Radcliffe. But it will be impossible to do any further studies on this point. The contest is dead. There will be no more Miss Radcliffes. Only memories.