PEC Timeline

October 23, 2007: Motion for a Temporary Injunction filed by plaintiffs in the student contract, charitable trust, and Louise Jordan Smith suits to stop the sale of the educational assets of R-MWC until the outstanding cases are decided

October 1, 2007: Randolph College’s Board of Trustees announce via email that four works of art have been sent to Christie’s for auction in November 2007 – proceeds to be added to the College’s $153 million endowment

September 19, 2007: Supreme Court of Virginia agrees to hear both the student contract appeal and the charitable trust appeal

September 11, 2007: Motion to Intervene filed by eleven intervenors in Randolph College’s attempt to sell artwork from the Maier Museum

August 22, 2007: PEC announces establishment of the PEC Art Legal Defense Fund to support actions to preserve the Maier Museum art as an asset of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College

August 21, 2007: Randolph College files to break the Louise Jordan Smith Trust so that art from the Maier can be "shared" or sold

August 14, 2007: PEC recognizes anniversary of coed vote announcement by analyzing current enrollment, alumnae giving, and other issues at Randolph College

August 13, 2007: Students in contract case file to have their Petition for Appeal to be considered by the full Supreme Court of Virginia

July 29, 2007: Supreme Court of Virginia declines to hear the student contract appeal

July 18, 2007: PEC announces milestone of $500,000 in gifts

July 9, 2007: Supreme Court of Virginia panel hears oral argument in the student contract case

July 1, 2007: PEC elects its first Executive Director, Anne Yastremski ’05

June 30, 2007: PEC meets $100,000 matching gift

June 13, 2007: R-MWC appoints John Klein as first president of Randolph College

June 11, 2007: R-MWC asks for early retirement volunteers from the faculty

April 22, 2007: PEC meets with R-MWC Board of Trustees

April 5, 2007: Notice of Appeal filed for charitable trust lawsuit

April 5, 2007: PEC responds to a letter from some faculty members requesting that PEC cease operation

March 22, 2007: PEC surpasses 1,000 supporters and $250,000 in donations (not including the $100,000 matching gift)

March 4, 2007: PEC secures a generous $100,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor to support the fight to preserve Randolph-Macon Woman’s College

February 19, 2007: Notice of Appeal filed for student contract lawsuit

February 9, 2007: PEC provides an update on the results of the student contract and charitable trust hearings and a summary of the proceedings

January 23, 2007: Judge Leyburn Mosby dismisses student contract lawsuit and charitable trust lawsuit

January 16, 2007: PEC informational mailing about the fight to date, upcoming events, and key issues sent to R-MWC alumnae via regular mail and email

January 10, 2007: Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant's Demurrer in student contract case is filed

January 5, 2007: PEC organizes a strategic summit in Richmond, Virginia of former R-MWC presidents, trustees, faculty members and administrators as well as alumnae leaders and key donors to centralize opposition to the strategic plan

December 21, 2006: Plaintiffs' Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant's Demurrer in the charitable trust suit is filed

November 29, 2006: Bill of Particulars in student contract case is filed

November 10, 2006: PEC asks the trustees (through their counsel) to inform PEC of any imminent sale of Maier Museum art pieces. Counsel declines to enter into agreement.

November 2, 2006: Students, alumnae, and donors file a charitable trust complaint in Lynchburg Circuit Court.

October 18, 2006: PEC makes another formal request to meet with the Board of Trustees at their October meeting.

October 17, 2006: PEC provides the Board of Trustees with a courtesy copy of the charitable trust suit, noting that filing will be delayed by a week to give the Board time to reconsider or delay the strategic plan. PEC also emails trustees a letter from former R-MWC President Dr. Robert Spivey.

October 13, 2006: PEC informs the Board of Trustees that their vote is unlawful.

October 12, 2006: PEC sends "20 Reasons Why You Should Change Your Vote: An Analysis of the Arguments Used for Coeducation" and "What Every Trustee Should Know" to R-MWC trustees to encourage them to reconsider their support for the Strategic Plan. (Cover letter)

October 6, 2006: R-MWC students file a breach of contract complaint in Lynchburg Circuit Court, along with a motion to expedite.

September 22, 2006: PEC launches the "Carrot or Stick" campaign to urge R-MWC's Board of Trustees to reverse their vote. (Letter included with deliveries of carrots to trustees)

September 9, 2006: R-MWC's Board of Trustees votes to approve the strategic plan

September 8, 2006: Steering Committee for the Coalition to Preserve Women's Education presents a proposal to the R-MWC Board of Trustees

September 6, 2006: R-MWC Alumnae Association releases results from alumnae and student survey highlighting potential harm to R-MWC from coeducation

September 5, 2006: Letter sent to R-MWC Board of Trustees from PEC counsel

September 1, 2006: Preserve Educational Choice, Inc. is formed as a not-for-profit corporation to pursue all reasonable avenues to preserve the 115-year tradition of Randolph-Macon Woman's College (R-MWC) as an institution for women.