Early in Penn State's history, majors available to women were restricted to education, art and home economics. Women couldn't live off campus.

They couldn't even visit a man's apartment unless they had written permission from their parents.

Just 35 short years ago, women at Penn State were first awarded the same educational rights as men.

But although the changes were relatively recent, many students today have little knowledge of women's history at Penn State, University Archivist Jackie Esposito said.

"We need to focus more on the pioneers and who they are," Esposito said. "There are not enough female role models."

Only five women were admitted to Penn State in 1871, when a male population of 70 dominated the university.

Esposito said women endured many social and academic restrictions over the past century due to strict ideas about gender roles.

"It's interesting because for the first 30 years, women could take whatever [classes] they wanted," she said.

"But around 1906, women's curriculum changed," Esposito said.

"Restrictions were put on courses," she added.

Esposito said some of the first women to graduate majored in civil engineering.

However, at the turn of the century, new restrictions were put on women's major selections.

Housing arrangements were also restrictive for women in the early years, she added.

"Before the 1970s, women had to live on campus for all four years, but men could live off campus," Esposito said. "It changed in 1971, partially due to student unrest."

Until 1971, a woman who wished to visit a man's off-campus apartment was required to submit written permission from her parents if she was under the age of 21.

Esposito also debunked the rumor that sororities could not own houses due to a Pennsylvania law claiming it to be a brothel.

She said in the 1930s, when many sorority chapters were founded, women chose to live in dorm floors rather than houses due to financial concerns, and the system has generally stayed the same since then.

The women's liberation movement in the 1970s brought about much change in higher education, due largely to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sexual bias in educational institutions that receive federal funding.

Esposito said Title IX lifted the social and academic restrictions imposed on Penn State women.

However, even today the scales between men and women are not completely balanced, Esposito said.

"Today, less than 35 percent of faculty are women," she said.

She added that women make up fewer than half of the students at University Park.

More can be done, Esposito said.

"Penn State can work to make more programs about their women's history," she said.

In honor of March's celebration of women's history, Esposito conducted a slide show presentation in South Halls Cultural Lounge Tuesday night depicting the evolution of women at the university.

However, she said students who missed out can visit the university archives in 104 Paterno Library at any time to view old photographs, newspaper clips and other historical records kept there.