After 141 years with a strictly male population, one is left to wonder- why the sudden change? The Board of Trustees had decided to make the institution open consistently for women because times were changing. Many colleges near the campus such as Hollins College were either specifically for women or were co-education. In 1970, the school was having a very big financial problem because the college men were being drafted to the Vietnam War. In November 1970, the government called for all men with a lottery number higher than 195 had to drop their educational deferments which was the main reason for their financial issues.

After deciding that women were joining the Randolph-Macon College community, another question came about- where were they going to live? The college came together and decided that the Mary Branch dorm would receive a complete makeover for these women. Walls were painted. Vases were place on coffee tables. They consulted with other schools who were co-ed and to their surprise they found out that they had to add in full-length mirrors, fire drills, and dorm mothers to the dorms in Marybranch. They started creating humanities majors and intramural sports teams for them as well. All of the fixings were done to make these women feel safe in a community where they were the minority.

Pictured: Mary Branch Terrace in modern day. It is still the exact building built for these first women with little renovation.