women’s history
March 27, 2025
History of GC women’s sports
Running at GC began 70 years ago. 1894: “Ladies” and “gentlemen” are required to take classes on “physical culture” when they attend the Elkhart Institute — the establishment that would soon become Goshen College. 1921: The Mennonite Board of Education sends out a recommendation that “intercollegiate athletics be forbidden by institutions under the board,” as they “may foster certain false ideals.” The GC board accepted the recommendation. 1922: The ban on athletics falls through. The first gym is built at GC for coed athletic activities through a combined force of student laborers and local Goshenites. Its location stood on the...