Race celebrates suffragist's triumph

n 1900, suffragist Susan B. Anthony learned that her two-year effort to admit women to Rochester was in jeopardy. The day before the trustee-imposed deadline of raising $50,000 to fund co-education, the campaign was $8,000 short.

Determined not to lose the cause, Anthony hastened to raise additional monies from the community. Racing to the trustees meeting on September 8, 1900, she presented the list of funds and contributors and even pledged $2,000 of her own life insurance to make up the final gap. That fall, 33 women enrolled in the University.

The Susan B. Anthony Legacy Race commemorating the suffragist's "deadline dash" to win women admission to the University will be held at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, September 23. The 5K walk/run is sponsored by the University's Anthony Center for Women's Leadership, the Susan B. Anthony House, the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys, and WHEC TV. The race was held for the first time last year to mark 100 years of women's education at Rochester.

Beginning at the Susan B. Anthony House, the race will end near the Interfaith Chapel on River Campus. Bus transportation for walkers and runners will be available on the day of the event.

Prizes will be awarded to the first woman and man to cross the finish line. Awards will also go to the top women and men by age groups: 17 and under, 18 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60 and over.

Reflecting Anthony's role as a teacher and mentor to young women, including her own relatives, special prizes are earmarked for teams featuring the fastest teacher/student, coach/athlete, and aunt/niece.

Participants can register by mail, online, or onsite the day of the race. All registered participants will receive a commemorative race T-shirt. For additional information or to register online, visit www.rochester.edu/SBA/race01.html.

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