FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virginia Supreme Court Decision Dooms Historic Randolph-Macon Woman's College 

Lawsuit Supporters to Fund Scholarships to Remaining Women’s Colleges

Lynchburg, VA - The Virginia Supreme Court today sealed the fate of Virginia's historic Randolph-Macon Woman's College (R-MWC), affirming the trial court decisions which dismissed the lawsuits of student and donor plaintiffs. The Court's decisions today solidify the controversial decision to make the college co-ed and rename it Randolph College.

Students, alumnae and donors supporting the lawsuits expressed regret at the court's decision, calling it a "step backward" for philanthropists and other charitable donors, "and a green light to nonprofit managers that they can ignore the promises they make to donors with impunity." With a "curtain of uncertainty and distrust" now hanging over the nonprofit world, Virginia charities are likely to suffer, they said.

"If R-MWC trustees can legally change the college's mission after a major capital campaign in which students, alumnae and friends of the college were told their donations would guarantee the school's long-term viability as a women's liberal arts college, then who is to say other charities won't operate with the same disregard for donor intent—especially when the legal system - from the Attorney General to the Supreme Court - signals it will do nothing to stop them?" asked Anne Yastremski, executive director of Preserve Educational Choice, a group of R-MWC alumnae and donors that supported the plaintiffs in the lawsuits.

"By silencing the voices of these capital campaign donors and students, the Court has essentially stripped all Virginians of any right to question—much less enforce—the terms and use of charitable contributions."

The plaintiffs argued before the Supreme Court that earlier rulings by the Lynchburg Circuit Court erred as a matter of law. One case involved allegations of breach of contract, with the students arguing that they contracted with the school for single-sex education. The other case involved principles of charitable trust. The plaintiffs argued that the college could not use funds donated for the purpose of women's education to transition the college to a coeducational institution.

The Supreme Court ruled that the students' breach of contract allegations were insufficient, upholding the trial court's dismissal of the action. The Court also ruled that the Virginia Uniform Trust Code and other trust law did not place duties on a nonstock charitable corporation like the College, in effect, giving the officials of charitable organizations license to do what they want with a charity's assets whenever they want unless an overworked and underfunded Attorney General's office takes action.

"Despite the court's ruling, the supporters of this lawsuit maintain their belief in the spirit, tradition and success of women's education and the importance of donor intent," Yastremski said. "To that end, Preserve Educational Choice will be using the remaining money raised to fund the charitable trust lawsuit to provide scholarships to students at America's remaining women's colleges, including those in Randolph's own backyard. Many of the lawsuit supporters are beneficiaries of women's education and attribute their success in life to the benefits of their single-sex collegiate learning environment and want to ensure other women have the same opportunities."

Research by the Women's College Coalition shows that not only do graduates of all-female colleges excel in analytical and team learning, writing abilities, and team leadership, but also 53 percent of them go on to graduate work, compared to 38 percent of the women who graduate from co-ed liberal arts colleges and 28 percent of those who attend public colleges and universities.

Additional information on the scholarships will be forthcoming.

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Preserve Educational Choice, Inc. is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization founded in September 2006 to oppose the R-MWC Board of Trustees' move to make the college coeducational and adopt "global honors" as a curricular focus. Supporters include more than 1,000 R-MWC alumnae, students, parents, faculty, staff, and former trustees united by a concern for the college's future. For more information about PEC please see www.preserveeducationalchoice.org.