Dormitory Escape Plan
April 1967: Unable to stand living in an all-female University of Pennsylvania dorm with "150 screaming girls," but prevented from moving out by campus regulations, Elizabeth Freedman, 19, hatched a plan for escape.
Because married students could live off-campus with their spouse, she took out an ad in the school paper seeking a husband willing to have a 1-year "platonic" marriage. She received over300 1000 responses, but eventually abandoned her plan when the University agreed to move her to a smaller, 18-student dorm.
Update: Here's the actual ad she ran, in The Daily Pennsylvanian - Apr 13, 1967. Also, she was eventually interviewed on Johnny Carson. However, she refused to ever pose for a photograph, saying, "I hate publicity."
Because married students could live off-campus with their spouse, she took out an ad in the school paper seeking a husband willing to have a 1-year "platonic" marriage. She received over
Cincinnati Enquirer - Apr 15, 1967
Update: Here's the actual ad she ran, in The Daily Pennsylvanian - Apr 13, 1967. Also, she was eventually interviewed on Johnny Carson. However, she refused to ever pose for a photograph, saying, "I hate publicity."
Comments
She's going to be busy so cooking & cleaning are out.
No photo so she could be the reincarnation of The Wife of Bigfoot.
Platonic relationship so no sex & I didn't see a offer of any monetary remuneration.
And yet, 1000 desperate men applied?
No photo so she could be the reincarnation of The Wife of Bigfoot.
Platonic relationship so no sex & I didn't see a offer of any monetary remuneration.
And yet, 1000 desperate men applied?
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 03/19/16 at 10:25 AM
Like Expat points out. It would be like marriage after 10+ years with none of the good stuff you get in the beginning.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 03/19/16 at 10:52 AM
I still get good stuff!!! Great the way she pushed the school to move her to a better location, smart girl.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 03/19/16 at 03:08 PM
Expat, the article describes her as "attractive," FWIW. Also, apparently most of the responses weren't serious.
Posted by ges on 03/19/16 at 09:38 PM
She probably had no money problems, going to an Ivy League school and having a lawyer daddy. Why didn't she just keep her room and get an apartment off-campus to live in? She could still use the meal ticket that comes with room and board, so it wouldn't be a total loss.
Hell, I did something like that right out of boot camp in the Army in 1972. I got to Fort Sam Houston for AIT, struck up a conversation with two other guys who were equally repulsed by the WWII-type barracks, and we found an off-post place to live that very night, where we lived for our entire 5 month training stint, from February to early July, 1972. We had to show up for a barracks inspection occasionally, and the sergeant remarked that our never-slept-in bunks were made as neatly as the day we moved in. The three of us shared a fully furnished upper flat just off post near the base bus stop, and never missed any duties. It only cost us $65 a month, utilities included. Only drawback were the Texas-sized cockroaches, but they scurried whenever a light was turned on, and out of sight, out of mind, was our philosophy.
Hell, I did something like that right out of boot camp in the Army in 1972. I got to Fort Sam Houston for AIT, struck up a conversation with two other guys who were equally repulsed by the WWII-type barracks, and we found an off-post place to live that very night, where we lived for our entire 5 month training stint, from February to early July, 1972. We had to show up for a barracks inspection occasionally, and the sergeant remarked that our never-slept-in bunks were made as neatly as the day we moved in. The three of us shared a fully furnished upper flat just off post near the base bus stop, and never missed any duties. It only cost us $65 a month, utilities included. Only drawback were the Texas-sized cockroaches, but they scurried whenever a light was turned on, and out of sight, out of mind, was our philosophy.
Posted by Fritz G on 03/20/16 at 08:42 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: 1960s | Universities, Colleges, Private Schools and Academia