Emory’s highly debated pre-employment drug testing policy was the first item of discussion at the March 6 meeting of the President’s Council on the Status of Women (PCSW), held in 400 Administration.

Junior Chair Kim Smith said the commission submitted a letter to the University Senate opposing the policy. Co-signing the letter were the President’s Commissions on Minoritiy and LGBT Concerns and the Student Government Association executive committee, said Susan Gilbert, who presented the letter at the meeting.

Anne Kelley said the faculty concerns committee is still working on collecting more information from the School of Medicine to add to its faculty gender-equity study. The committee is continuing its study of women in administrative leadership positions, by comparing Emory to peer institutions. The group is writing a report of its findings to submit to the Board of Trustees, President Bill Chace and various search committees filling leadership positions on campus.

Susan Lee said the staff concerns committee will update signs with information about sexual assault and harassment on exisiting signs in women’s campus restrooms. The committee also hopes to add this information to men’s restrooms, she said. Elaine Gossett reported that the Mentor Emory pilot program recently underwent a review by its first-time participants, and funding is being sought to continue the program.

Jill Clark said the student concerns committee will help with the restroom signs. The group will meet with Robert Ethridge, vice president of Equal Opportunity Programs, to discuss updating Emory’s sexual harassment information and publications after spring break.

PCSW will host its annual spring event on Wednesday, April 9, at Miller-Ward Alumni House. Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, associate professor of women’s studies, will speak.
The commission will meet again April 3 at 3:30 p.m. in 400 Administration.

If you have a question or concern for PCSW, e-mail chair Beth Seelig at bseelig@emory.edu.