Notre Dame's first co-ed graduating class celebrates 50th class reunion

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- 50 years ago, the first co-ed class at Notre Dame graduated, men and women walking across the stage and receiving their degrees.

One of the first freshman women on campus was Deborah Dell. 

Deborah Dell had told her father when she was a child that she was going to Notre Dame. Naturally, he told her she would end up going to St. Mary's because at the time, Notre Dame was not a co-ed university. However, things changed under the guidance of Father Ted Hesburgh, and in 1972, Dell did exactly what she said she was going to do.

"You'll... you'll never want to walk away."

You'll never want to walk away from the special family you become part of as a student at Notre Dame; a family Deborah Dell still cherishes today. In 1972, Notre Dame became a co-ed institution with about 125 women coming to campus. Dell was one of them and says there were positives and negatives.

"When we arrived in Walsh, the girl's dorm at the time, they didn't get the urinals out and so they put potted plants in the urinals to make us feel welcomed. The guy's got their beds made and their rooms cleaned but women were given laundry room rooms and told to bring their own sheets," Dell explained.

Another 200 transfers from St. Mary's came along shortly after. 325 women walked on campus in September of 1972.

"Often times, you were the only woman in class, so that was a little intimidating."

However, Dell says being the only woman in the room prepared her for life after college.

"It was the ability to walk into any situation and if you think about corporate America back, then it was mostly all white male executives, and you can walk in there and you could hold your own with a room full of men, a room full of executives because in class you had to be able to project your answers and your voices and your thoughts and so we were really well prepared for the business world or whatever field the different women went into," shared Dell.

For Debi's dear friend, Phillip Potter, having women on campus was refreshing, but there were a few concerning changes.

"Quite honestly, the women that came in were so intelligent they changed the grading curve, and that was the biggest concern for some people. Other than that, it was great to have them on campus," said Potter.

54 years later, women are honored on campus for their contributions to Notre Dame's legacy. For example, there's the statue of former women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw, who won two national championships during her 33 years leading the Irish.

For the young adults on campus rushing from classes to extra curriculars to practice, Dell and Potter have a quick word of advice.

"Make that connection that's going to last with you for a lifetime where you share your weddings, share your children, you know, all the life events," shared Dell.

"I would simply say take advantage of the excellent education opportunities to grow both academically and as a person because you will grow tremendously in your four years," said Potter.