In their Dec. 4 meeting in 400 Administration, members of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) read and edited the draft of a letter to President Jim Wagner regarding last semester’s racial incident in the anthropology department. The letter stated that while the PCSW does not tolerate racial discrimination in any form, it does not have enough information on the situation to make a definitive statement on the issue.

Susan Gilbert updated members on a survey by the faculty concerns committee that will ask Emory College deans and department heads about their knowledge and departmental implementation of the Family Medical Leave Act. Gilbert also said the committee is examining their committee membership and replace non-participating members.

Elaine Gossett of the staff concerns committee said the group is continuing work on a handbook for Emory women that could encompass an electronic version.

Maggie Juliano of the student concerns committee said her group would like to help with that handbook. Juliano also said the group is continuing its current projects and has a meeting with Emory’s new sexual harassment coordinator in January.

Allison Dykes said the women and leadership committee is working with Daniel Teodorescu of Institutional Planning and Research on obtaining data for its initial study of women and leadership roles on campus. Dykes reported she is also working on an executive summary of the group and a letter to Wagner asking if there are any specific areas he wants the committee to explore. She added the group would like to meet with the outgoing president of Duke University, who led that school’s “Women’s Initiative.”

PSCW will meet again on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3:30 p.m. in 400 Administration.

If you have a question or concern for PCSW, contact chair
Kim Smith at ksmith@emory.edu.