Issues in Progress
President's Commission on Lesbian,
Gay and Bisexual Concerns
This month's meeting convened March 16, and co-chair Yvette Morgan first
introduced Jeremy Corry, who spoke to requestfunding to bring San Francisco
photographer Mark Chester to campus in October for Gay History Month. Corry
requested partial funds for the $700 in expenses for Chester, who asks for
no honorarium, to present a slide show and lecture. The commission approved
$250.
In subcommittee reports Dyshaun Muhammed's coffeehouse committee requested
funding for a Queer Family Picnic likely to be held April 4 in Howell Park
at Virginia Avenue and Ponce de Leon Place. The catered event will run from
1 to 5 p.m., and all members of the Emory community are invited. The commission
approved $400 to cover expenses.
Jack Zupko and Darryl Gossett of the honorary degrees committee presented
a list of names to be submitted to University Secretary Gary Hauk's office
as nominations to the Board of Trustees. The commission approved the list
for submission.
Danielle Doughman reported that the March 2 Pride Banquet went well,
although some 24 individuals who made reservations did not attend. Saralyn
Chesnut suggested some kind of deposit for next year's event.
Anne Rector volunteered to talk to General Counsel Joe Crooks about how
Emory's equal opportunity policy applies to affiliate organizations such
as Emory Clinic. The commission is looking into the feasibility of requiring
that Emory vendors and contractors hold to the same policy.
In new business, Chesnut reported on next fall's campus climate survey.
She said 100-150 schools will be participating in a national study on campus
attitudes toward underrepresented groups. Some 500 people will be surveyed
on Emory's campus, and Chesnut invited people to come to the Office of Lesbian,
Gay and Bisexual Life to read the survey questionnaire. Chesnut also brought
to the commission's attention the availability of grants on suicide research
(see, p. 2), a problem she said is of particular concern to lesbian/gay/bisexual
students.
-Michael Terrazas
President's Commission
on the Status of Women
The commission's March 5 meeting began with subcommittee reports. Lynna
Williams of the faculty concerns subcommittee said a final proposal of the
faculty-based family obligation leave policy will be finished in May. Members
of the subcommittee met with the staff concerns committee to talk about
their priorities in this area.
In her report staff concerns chair Deb Floyd noted that while the subcommittee
believes leave policy is an important issue to Emory staff, this is probably
not the best time to tackle such an extensive issue. The subcommittee continues
its focus on research determining whether a glass ceiling exists at Emory.
Subcommittee members attended a retreat led by Kim Harris of Human Resources
Training that helped bring consensus about their research, Floyd reported.
The group produced guiding principles and a value statement, she said, and
in general "did a lot of work" toward fine-tuning their ideas
about what "glass ceiling" really means and how to go about their
research. The subcommittee expected to have their work underway after spring
break.
Dilyn Loveless reported the student concerns committee is finishing up
the handbook and will turn its attention to establishing a for-credit self-defense
class and a mentoring program for students.
Joyce Jones of the nominating committee called for commission members
to pass out nomination forms to women in their departments or divisions.
She stressed that self-nomination is fine and encouraged current alternates
to nominate themselves or remind the nominating committee of their service.
The nominating committee will meet on or near March 20 to choose a roster
of two three-year staff, one three-year faculty and eight one-year student
appointments (four undergraduate, two graduate and two professional students)
to the commission.
In other business, Jones distributed brochures for the spring event and
reception at 5 p.m. April 9 in Cox Hall. The featured speaker is Johnnetta
Cole, president emerita of Spelman College who'll join Emory's faculty in
the fall. Her speech is titled "Dream the Boldest Dream," the
name of her recently published book of inspirational messages. Commission
Chair JoAnne McKenzie said about 20 papers had already been received for
the writing awards.
The bylaws committee did not receive any concerns regarding content of
the draft bylaws, McKenzie reported. However, suggested copy changes were
incorporated and the revision is complete. The commission will vote on the
new bylaws at the April meeting since the bylaws state there must be discussion
of any changes at two consecutive meetings. She then thanked committee members
for their service.
The PCSW's next meeting will be April 2 at 3:30 p.m.
-Stacey Jones
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