The Woman Is Required to Pay, otherwise known as TWIRP week, is a tradition that has been around at Milligan since 1949. Originally called The Woman Is Requested to Pay, this unique tradition requires women to summon the courage and ask the man on one of the dates planned for the week, as well as pay for whatever the event may be.
In the past, this week had many more rules and guidelines than today. Each student would be given a pamphlet listing the rules of TWIRP week and the events which would take place throughout the week. Women were required to “act the part of gentlemen” and do everything the men would traditionally do such as picking him up from his dorm, opening the door and, of course, paying for the event. In addition, the rules stated that each girl had to have a different date each day of the week, engaged couples excluded.
This annual tradition has been around for much of Milligan’s history and still continues every fall on campus. Traditionally, it occurred sometime in October and would be announced with paper hearts left around campus informing the students that it was that time of year again. Events over the decades have ranged from small dates such as simply walking your beau to class or going on a “coke date” to larger dates such as movie nights in Seeger Auditorium, talent shows and track competitions. Today many typical events involve bowling, roller skating, movies and a Sadie Hawkins dance at the end of the week.
Many successful relationships and even a few marriages have resulted from TWIRP week dates and matchups. Milligan’s very own President Bill Greer and his wife, Edwina, are said to have had their first date during a TWIRP week event.
Although it may be considered unconventional, there is a chance that a TWIRP week date can be a successful method for bringing couples together. One such success story comes from Milligan alumna Liz Banks who had her first date with husband John Banks at the 1967 TWIRP event. She graduated from Milligan college in 1971 and has been married to John Banks for almost 46 years.
“I’m not sure we would have gotten together without that TWIRP date,” Ms. Banks said.
She also spoke about a former tradition involved with TWIRP week that no longer exists known as the Daily Court, later changed to the infamous Kangaroo Court. Throughout the week, if the court discovered you were not going to at least one event every day, members of the court would call you up in front of the cafeteria after dinner and force you to participate in a variety of humiliating tasks. This court was designed to be an initiative to encourage girls to ask out the boys. According to Mrs. Banks it was the fear of this humiliation that encouraged her to ask out her husband to the movie night which was happening on campus in Seeger Chapel. Although this was initially done to avoid the embarrassment of the Kangaroo Court, Mrs. Banks said that in retrospect, “It was just a stupid thing that I had to do, but I am very happy with it, and I always have been.”
Since the 1950s, TWIRP week has been a charming, iconic tradition at Milligan. Many Milligan alumni still remember attending their own TWIRP dates and consider it a special part of their Milligan experience.