TIMELINE: A CENTURY OF INCLUSION

1910-1919

1918

Women are admitted to Bentley when enrollment of men drops during WWI. By the early 1920s, enrollment again is all male as the accounting profession was generally closed to women.

1920-1929

1923

Alpha Gamma Pi, a fraternity, is formed by a group of Jewish students.

1933

Francisco Montoya, a student from Colombia, graduates with the class of 1933.

1935

Robert C. Hayden becomes Bentley’s first African-American graduate.

1940-1949

1941

The School publishes a pamphlet encouraging students with “difficult” last names to change them.

1942

Women enroll again because of declining male enrollment caused by WWII. At this time, the school becomes officially and permanently co-educational.

1942

1944

Delta Omega, the first sorority, is established.

1948

Frances Crawley becomes first female instructor at the Bentley School.

1949

The Alumni Bulletin lists 86 total graduates from “21 foreign lands” among a total of 10,349 graduates.

1950-1959

1955

Yap Tuh Ying, a student from Indonesia, enrolls under the sponsorship of the Standard Vacuum Oil Company. He is thought to be one of the first Bentley students born in Asia.

1958

Eldridge L. James, an African-American student, is a member of the Student Council.

Late 1950S

A women’s Alumnae Chapter is formed. It holds regular meetings with speakers to discuss women’s issues in the accounting profession.

1960-1969

1960

Several nuns, most from the Order of the Sisters of Mercy, attend Bentley to acquire the accounting skills needed to manage their order's hospitals.

1961

Marion Graham Willis joins the faculty, and in 1962 becomes Bentley’s first full-time female professor and one of the few women to teach on the Boston campus. In 1974 she becomes the first woman to receive tenure.

1962

The Newman Club is established to serve the needs of Catholic students.

1967

The International Relations Club is formed to foster cross-cultural understanding on campus. Its membership includes several international students.

1968

President Thomas L. Morison sends a letter of condolence to Coretta Scott King after the assassination of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Telegram sent to Coretta Scott King from Bentley President Thomas L. Morison

1969

Alint (Raj) Varughese becomes Bentley’s first professor of color. He is tenured in the early 1970’s.

The Black United Body is established, although it initially did not have a name.

CA. 1969

Bentley retains several religious advisors to support the spiritual needs of students on the new Waltham campus.

1970-1979

The Bentley Women’s Caucus forms to hold meetings, lectures, and events concerning women’s rights.

1970

Olanrewaju J. Fapohunda, originally from Nigeria, becomes Bentley’s first black professor.

1971

Dorothy Willard becomes the first female member of the Board of Trustees.

1974

The first planning meeting is held for Hillel, the Jewish Students’ Organization. As early as 1967, a precursor organization called “Menorah” was mentioned in school literature.

Richard Walker becomes the first African-American member of the Board of Trustees.

1974-75

The construction of the Dana Center results in the formation of the first female sports teams. By 1975 women have formed teams for field hockey, basketball, tennis, and softball. Over 25% of the female student population belonged to one of these fledgling teams.

1975 Bentley Women’s Basketball team photo

1977

Students form the Armenian Club, due in part to President Adamian’s role in local Armenian culture.

1980-1989

1982

John Lesko responds to students who wrote anti-gay “satire” in the student newspaper, and becomes the first openly gay faculty member.

1983

Bentley organizes its first formal slate of activities in honor of Black History Month.

1984

Dr. Barbara Paul-Emile, who joined the faculty in 1980, becomes the first African-American professor to receive tenure.

1985

Dr. T.H. (Tony) Bonaparte becomes Bentley’s first black Vice President and the first academic VP to hold the title of provost.

1986

Bentley’s first celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

1989

The BGLA (Bentley Gay Lesbian Alliance) is officially recognized by the Student Government Association.

1990-1999

CA. 1990

The Bentley Asian Students Association forms.

La Cultura Latina forms

1991

Susan Schwab becomes Bentley’s first female vice president.

1992

Dr. Patricia Flynn becomes dean of the Graduate School. She is Bentley’s first female academic dean and was one of only a handful of female business deans in the nation.

1993

President Joseph M. Cronin commissions a task force led by Earl Avery to study campus diversity. The task force initially focuses on race, nationality and gender, and later adds sexual orientation.

The first off-campus Diversity Retreats for faculty and staff are held under the direction of the Diversity Task Force.

1994

The Multicultural Center is established on campus.

1994 Multicultural Center pamphlet cover

1995

The SOAT (Sexual Orientation Action Team) is established. Faculty & staff are charged with improving campus climate for LGBT issues.

CA. 1995

VOICES, a publication by students of color, is established.

1996

The Multicultural Center holds an Open House.

1998

Asian students edit and write a standalone issue of VOICES, organized by country of origin/descent.

The first Bentley Business Bowl (sponsored by the newly formed National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) student chapter) is held on campus.

First Bentley Business Bowl hosted by NABA

PRIDE Advisor position is created. BGLA is renamed PRIDE.

1999

Several instances of racist and homophobic harassment are reported on campus. In response, over 400 students gather to hang posters that read “This is our home, bigots not welcome.”