On March 3, 2015, Sweet Briar College shared news on Facebook and Twitter of the school's planned closure, citing "insurmountable financial challenges." Sweet Briar, a small women's liberal arts college located just south of Amherst, plans to close permanently at the end of the current semester, citing finances, declining enrollment and increased tuition discount rate. A group of Sweet Briar alumnae have banded together, creating the website
SavingSweetBriar.com as a place for sharing your Sweet Briar story, volunteering, raising money, offering support to current SBC students and helping with the mission of saving Sweet Briar College. The group's fundraising goal is $20 million. In just a few days, Saving Sweet Briar had received pledges for more than $1 million toward the goal. Just 10 days after the college's announcement, $2.8 million has been pledged. As several Sweet Briar friends have told me, it's not over yet. Whatever the results, I'm heartened to see the power of a group of women of all ages, races and nationalities from all walks of life working hard against difficult odds toward a goal. Is single-sex education still relevant in today's world? Sweet Briar alumnae respond with a resounding, "YES!"
