The culture in a female-managed residential college that focused on communication studies was examined. The college, which was opended in 1981, is a unique living unit under the supervision of a head and associate master, in which 107 students live in a collection of suites representing the academic disciplines of journalism, radio/television/film, communication studies, communication disorders, and theatre and interpretation. The impact of having women in the positions of primary authority on the emerging culture at the college was assessed through interviews, participant observation, and surveys. Attention was directed to shared beliefs, culture, group development, social structure in process, authority relations, and perception of tasks. Preliminary findings focus on: confusion of role identity, title, and authorization of women masters; variations in degree of investment in the organization; denial and rejection of the mission as stated by the head master; polarity in perception of masters as 'good mothers' and devaluation of professional status and authority; ambivalence expressed by moving toward or away from mentor functions; and relationship and perception of a male graduate assistant. It is concluded that a powerful dependency culture took hold of the college: students felt helpless or unable to initiate activities and perceived the college as a kind of safe haven for escape. Students were not able to experience the masters as differentiated, competent, and caring women, but saw the master with the unidimensional view held by the group. (SW)