Until the Arts faculty showed up on Waterloo campus in the fall of 1960, there were almost zero females. In order to find dates for dances and social gatherings, the engineers often went to various nursing schools in the area.

Here is a nice little article about the expectations of the students in the summer before the Arts faculty arrived.

“University Expects More Co-eds in Fall

University of Waterloo male engineering students – 575 in number – are looking forward to September and the inauguration of an arts program which will mean the "blessed” influx of co-eds.

Only two female students were on campus during the past school year.

What is it like without females on the campus? “Pretty rough,” says David Mussham, third year civil engineer student from Toronto, giving experession to the adage, You Don’t Miss Them Until You Haven’t Got Them.

DOESN’T HAVE PROBLEM

Ian Oliver of Waterloo, in the same course, admits it must be rough, but says he doesn’t have the same problem. He’s married.

Oh, there were social activities, i.e. an engineering ball every three months. For these affairs the students depended upon business girls and nurses for dates.

But it was not the same thing, somehow, they say. The presence of co-eds on campus would add a certain atmosphere that is missing now.

And it would encourage more social activities, an integral part of college life, the boys say.

From the distaff side: What is it like to be one of the two girls surrounded by a “harem” of boys?

Annette Tilden of Harriston finds no particular embarrassment in the situation. She finds her fellow students readily accept her.

Miss Tilden is a chemical engineering student. The other girl registered is Elizabeth Cook, 112 Cherry St., a science student.

WILL BE HAPPIER

While they feel somewhat like the first women who surprised the world of education when registered at universities, Waterloo’s two co-eds think they will be happier when arts students enroll.

It is hoped that close to 100 girls will be among the students who register for the first year of the arts program to be inaugurated in the fall. A few more girls are also expected to register in science next year.

While it will still leave co-eds greatly outnumbered, the male students agree that it is a step in the right direction.“

-Kitchener-Waterloo Record, July 5, 1960

Always interesting is to note is that back in the day, they always used to post the address of your house after your name. Pretty sure that wouldn’t fly today.