Two cases of polio in the College itself, as well as a mild local epidemic, caused college authorities at Amherst, Smith and Mount Holyoke to "campus" students, or request that they avoid meeting each other and going to public places.
The semi-quarantine began as a recommendation for student conduct; however, Amherst students in violation of this request had to risk being reported to College deans by watchmen on the Smith and Mount Holyoke campuses. House mothers at the women's colleges, also on the lookout for stray young men, would demand their departures.
Amherst men felt they were suffering from a "social paralysis," while The Student reported that Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth men had "free run" of the two female campuses.
An editorial published in the Student called upon "Amherst men...to realize and accept their position. As they understand the reasons for the quarantine, they should observe it calmly."
As conditions worsened, the call for students to be "on their honor" progressed into strict and enforceable rules: women were banned from the fraternity houses, Smith students were prohibited from leaving Northampton or receiving visitors, and the upcoming "acquaintance dances" originally scheduled at both women's schools were postponed indefinitely. Additionally, all three campuses banned any outside visitors, which possibly relieved the minds of the Amherst men who had felt threatened by the Ivy League students invading their territory.
Thankfully, the socially isolating ordeal lasted only two weeks and no new polio cases developed at Amherst in the meantime.