Class unity played a central role in campus life. As president of her class senior year, Perkins held immense responsibility. Typed up by Perkins herself, 1902’s class constitution outlines exactly what such responsibility entailed: Article III, Section II, states that “The President shall preside at all class meetings, shall have authority to call a special class meeting, shall appoint all committees unless otherwise specified and shall represent the class”. The meetings described in the constitution were not optional; absentees were fined 15 cents, with even tardy attendees being fined 5 cents.
Perkins made her stage debut at Mount Holyoke her senior year in “The Lamentable Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” taking on the role of Brutus. Like most productions during this time, the play was sponsored by her class. Putting on plays was a privilege that came with seniority — while the younger classes usually put out one production at most, the senior class produced multiple, leading to Perkins coming on stage yet again in “Colombe’s Birthday” as Gaucelme. In both programs, she is listed as “Fanny,” as she was known by her classmates.