Violet DeLille Jayne

Violet DeLille Jayne was the first Dean of Women at the University of Illinois. She served on the Council of Administration and fought for women to be more independent in higher education. Violet was instrumental in establishing the Watcheka League (later known as the Woman’s League) and the first women’s Illini (now the Daily Illini) issue, a newspaper including articles written exclusively by female students on campus. In addition, she helped start the first women’s basketball team which existed before a men’s team was ever organized.