U.S. ENGINEERING CO.

[address redacted] Kansas City, Missouri 64111 (816) [phone number redacted]

SINCE 1893

December 8, 1983



Mr. Peter A. Agelasto, III
Jett, Agelasto, Berkley, Furr and Price
Attorneys at Law
[address redacted]
Norfolk, Virginia 23501

Dear Peter:

After reviewing the various correspondence, white papers, and
other opinion gathering forces such as the Ring Tum Phi and
its letters to the editor, and subsequently, reflecting upon
my own prejudices, opinions, and "gut feel", I have reached
a conclusion that can be communicated to the appropriate
parties.

Surpassing all other considerations is the question: What is
best for Washington and Lee University, not only in the near
future, but also in the next decade, two decades, and beyond?
What is our future with co-education or without it? The next
question is: Will co-education affect the air or aura of why
W & L is the way it has been to all of us - the greatness, the
code of conduct, the feeling that possesses us as we walk by
the Colonnade?

The world is changing dramatically and at a much faster pace
then in previous generations. W & L cannot ignore the change.
Women have become an important part of our careers, whether it
is in law, medicine, advertising, journalism, or construction.
If we are to provide a liberal arts education in an environment
which is conducive to positive experiences whether they be social,
economic, intellectual, or political, women must be a part of
W & L's existence.

In business, I find that many problems are a result of poor
communication and the inability of relating to people, either
through listening to someone or reading between the lines as
to what the other person is truly expressing. To ignore the
contribution which women can have inside and outside the class-
room is to ignore reality. Combining this opinion with the
numbers which W & L is facing in the declining high school
population makes it quite evident that we cannot strive only
to "hold our own" but we must be aggressive in marketing W & L
attributes so that highly attractive men and women will desire
to attend our University.

[pb]

December 8, 1983
Mr. Peter A. Agelasto, III
Page #2



I cannot accept the fact that W & L is an institution of excellence
and honor because we are male. We are a result of the experiences
developed by personal relationships with friends, classmates,
faculty, and administration. The feeling of pride and the tradi-
tions which have been perpetuated are a result of the quality of
the student who chooses to attend W & L. If we dilute the quality,
we threaten the improvement and advancement of the University
and the very principles upon which we place such hope. Co-education,
in my opinion, will aid in strengthening the quality of the indi-
vidual, man or woman, who chooses to attend W & L.

I believe that Robert E. Lee would place great emphasis on the
realities of the world as it is and what it will be. W & L must
pro-act, not react in our world that is rapidly changing. To
proceed with co-education is the correct decision, in my humble
opinion.

Sincerely yours,

[Skip]

Skip Nottberg



SN/skb