Emory Report

October 25, 1999

Volume 52, No. 9

Issues in Progress: President's Commission on the Status of Women Chair Catherine Howett Smith convened the October meeting on Oct. 7 in 400 Administration Building. In committee reports, the faculty concerns committee said it is searching for a new project and added that the Passages mentoring program is "a hard act to follow" because it was such a success. The committee said it may address the sense of isolation some women faculty feel, using a San Francisco-area "professional problem-solving group" as a model. Kathy Reed of the staff concerns committee announced that the "Invisible Barriers" study is finished and will be discussed at the PCSW fall event on Nov. 3. Although women's attitudes are generally positive, Reed said, there are "pockets of concern" on campus. For example, she said a third of women surveyed reported that they had been asked to do things they felt a male employee would not be asked to do; Reed also said 25 percent of female custodial employees reported being made uncomfortable by sexual comments made by their male coworkers. President Bill Chace was "very interested" in the report, Reed said, and is looking forward to participating in the Nov. 3 event. The student concerns committee reported it will study several issues this year, including a pamphlet to be distributed by FAME volunteers, an educational project on public-speaking instruction for female students, a transportation system to the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center and resource development for eating disorders. Deb Floyd reported that the Nov. 3 event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Carlos Museum reception hall. It will focus on the invisible barriers study and will feature a panel discussion to be followed by a Q&A session. -Michael Terrazas Return to October 25, 1999 contents page