In 1939, Vice President Romeyn Rivenburg stated that "it was expected there would be at least three times as many applications for admission from women as there were vacancies in the Women's College Dormitories." At this time, there were approximately two males enrolled for each female enrolled, a ratio that had been maintained during the 1930's. The Second World War changed this greatly so far as civilian male students were concerned. As the number of males declined, the number of females increased. In 1941, "because of war time conditions and the practical certainty that the number of male students would be decreased because of the loss of juniors and seniors to the draft," Rivenburg announced that the university would accept a greater number of females. To accommodate them, three new freshmen houses had been remodeled and re-decorated to house fifty-five female freshmen. In the fall of 1942, "187 freshmen girls were admitted compared with 154 the preceding year."

In 1943, there were "…over three times as many applications from women students as there were places available in the Woman's College dormitories…" so "…the Admissions Committee could be highly selective in accepting women students." However, because the men in the Navy VF-12 Program occupied all of the dormitory space formerly occupied by civilian men, there was a problem with housing the women. In 1944, eighty-six women were living in the Kappa Sigma, Phi Gamma Delta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity houses. With the end of the war, these spaces would no longer be available for women. In 1944, the number of applications from women for admission was "larger than any time formerly experienced" but the number of vacant rooms was quite limited. In 1945, the Trustees considered "the question of housing the girls in Old Main on the Hill in an effort to reduce or eliminate an operating deficit for next year." The Trustees concluded that the women not be housed in men's dormitories. Instead, they decided that the Phi Psi, Delta Sigma and Sigma Chi fraternity houses ("if feasible and available") and the newly purchased Blue house be used to house women. That same year, the Dean of Women also recommended that "an announcement should be made immediately to the effect that there would be no vacancies for women students for the Fall of 1946."

"it was expected there..." BT '20-/50, 6/10/1939, p.3

"because of war time..." ib., 12/20/1941, p. 2

"187 freshmen girls..." ib., 12/19/1942, p. 2

"...over three times..." ib. 12/16/1944, p. 2

"larger than any time..."ib. p. 4

"the question of housing the girls..." ib. 5/12/1945 p. 1

"if feasible and available" ib., p. 3

"an announcement should..." ib., 12.15.1945, p. 2

The major source for the information on this page is the Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University, 1920-1950 (BT '20-'50).