Issues in Progress
President's Commission
on the Status of Women
At the outset of the commission's Nov. 6 meeting, Chair JoAnn McKenzie
thanked the events committee members and volunteers for their work on the
Nov. 5 fall event, "Steel Magnolias: A Tribute to Southern Women."
Joyce Jones, event chair, recognized Victoria "Prune" Harris who
did the majority of work on the event's display. Jones and Harris are now
investigating possible places to remount the display. Ali Crown suggested
displaying it during Women's History Month.
The PCSW's spring event, to be held April 9, will feature former Spelman
College President Johnnetta Cole, who will be joining Emory's faculty next
year.
In committee reports: Carol Burns reported Lynna Williams and Mary Delong
agreed to serve as co-chairs of the faculty concerns committee. The committee
is still looking at maternity leave issues, with discussion of broadening
the focus to family leave and how both affect the tenure clock.
Melinda Keller reported the staff concerns committee has contacted a
New York consultant to help design the glass ceiling study. Deb Floyd will
be following up with Human Resources Vice President Alice Miller to get
data for quantitative research on promotions for women at Emory.
McKenzie passed out copies of a 1996-97 progress report. She asked that
members update the projects outlined there and submit changes to subcommittee
chairs for the upcoming meeting with President Chace, which has been postponed
until January.
She also announced the formation of a bylaws committee. Recent review
of the commission's bylaws finds some outdated language and information,
McKenzie said. She invited a cross-section of members to sit on the committee,
and she distributed copies of the current bylaws for members to review and
submit changes to the bylaws committee.
Leigh Partington, PCSW liaison to the President's Committee on Lesbian,
Gay and Bisexual Concerns, reported on the equal opportunity policy, which
has been the primary focus of the L/G/B committee this fall in regard to
same-sex commitment ceremonies and University chapels. The PCSW agreed to
pass a resolution in favor of the equal opportunity policy or at least write
a letter of support, following the lead of the University Senate and the
Student Government Association, whose resolutions Partington read in full.
Commission members empowered the executive committee to draft a document
that drew specific attention to women's concerns surrounding this issue
and the "vunerability of all rights when assumed rights have been abridged."
The executive committee planned to draft the document and distribute it
by Nov. 10, in time for the Nov. 13 Board of Trustees meeting that will
examine this issue.
Crown announced a new writing series sponsored by the Women's Center.
Its first keynote speaker will be Faye Wattleton, former Planned Parenthood
president, on March 30.
-Stacey Jones
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