2005 FromCenter the WINTER–SPRING CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY · UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Vigilant Attention to Race, Gender, and Ethnicity in Higher Education: A March 1 Panel Discussion Features Three Dynamic Speakers t’s been more than forty years since the will advance ideas and insights about such Mark Your Calendar ICivil Rights and Women’s movements vigilance and compassion. Each has made a demanded equity for all American citizens, significant contribution to the national move- “The Intersection of Race, yet even many of the country’s institutions of ment of gender and race equity. Each is an Gender, and Ethnicity in higher education are still a long way from that outstanding scholar who’s put her vision into Higher Education,” goal. That includes the University of Oregon. practice in diverse institutional contexts. Tuesday, March 1; 3:30 According to the UO Office of Affirmative Ac- p.m.; 175 Knight Law Gertrude Fraser tion, women continue to be underrepresented Center, 1515 Agate St. is currently vice in eleven of the university’s forty-seven job Followed by a reception provost for fac- groups, and people of color are underrepre- in the commons area. ulty advancement sented in fourteen of those forty-seven job at the University of groups. Virginia, and was On Tuesday, March 1, 2005, three scholars formerly a program providing leadership in the arena of racial director special- and gender equity in higher education will izing in education visit the UO to speak about ways to move and scholarship forward in that pursuit. The panel, entitled with the Ford Foundation in New York. She “The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Eth- is a professor of anthropology whose research nicity in Higher Education,” is cosponsored focuses on African American and rural health by CSWS and the Office of the Vice Provost care, including midwifery, African American for Institutional Equity and Diversity. To be women’s domestic dialogues about birth and INSIDE held at 3:30 p.m. in 175 Knight Law Center, their bodies, and mental health care in rural 1515 Agate St., the event is free and open to communities. the public. “I began to think in a new way about ad- centerview .............. 2 In January 2004, Gregory Vincent began ministration and organizational development work in the position of UO vice provost for as requiring critical thinking and the kinds centerview .............. 3 institutional equity and diversity, and a new of approaches I had developed as a scholar.” chapter began in the process of working to —Gertrude Fraser, speaking about diversity rig profiles ............... 4 expand racial and gender diversity among fac- issues at the Ford Foundation. updates .................... ulty, staff members and students. As Vincent 5 Yolanda Moses recently stated, he’s found renewed energy spearheaded efforts creative center ........ 6 around the goal of “raising cultural compe- to promote multicul- tence and sensitivity across campus.” tural curricula as the kudos ...................... 8 “When we have a community and an insti- former president of tution with such small numbers of minorities, the City University news ........................ 9 we need to be especially vigilant of what it’s of New York, at the like for these individuals,” he added, “and csws ..................... American Associa- 11 gain an appreciation of the differing perspec- tion for Higher tives and cultures they bring to campus.” author’s note ........ 12 The three scholars invited as panelists PHOTO: STEVE WALAG Continued on page 2 2 c e n t e r v i e w away reinforces the insights about global con- From the Director nections and the struggle for peace and justice By Sandra Morgen that the founders of WILPF sought to inspire. n April 1915, 1,300 wom- At CSWS, we are working to expand re- Ien from Europe and North search and programming that focus on women America founded the Wom- and globalization, international issues and en’s International League for connections, and the effects of militarization Peace and Freedom (WIL- and U.S. foreign policies on women across PF). Long before women had the globe. In addition to activities associ- secured the right to vote, to ated with the program on gender, race, and contraception or abortion, or militarization sponsored by CSWS and the other gains won later in the twentieth century, Women’s and Gender Studies Program, we WILPF understood militarization as a feminist have hired newly minted Ph.D. Barbara Sut- issue and international linkages as an essen- ton, who received the Jane Grant Fellowship tial feminist strategy. last year, to develop and implement plans for Today, tens of millions of women’s lives research and programming about these issues. across the planet are daily affected by war or We invite those of you pursuing research in CSWS Faculty and Staff conflict. Moreover, as we take in news of the these areas to talk with Sutton, 346-5247, or Sandra Morgen, director almost unimaginable death and destruction otherwise share your vision of how CSWS Judith Musick, associate director caused by the tsunami in Asia in late Decem- can best support international research and Shirley Marc, office coordinator ber, the understanding of our deep links to build international collaborations that seek to Peggy McConnell, accountant women and communities thousands of miles understand and better women’s lives. Stephanie Wood, senior research associate Debra Gwartney, research assistant Three Dynamic Speakers Continued from page 1 Initiative Directors Feminist Humanities Project Education, as president of the American A Harvard Law School graduate, Cantu Anthropological Association, and in her cur- worked for fourteen years as regional counsel Judith Musick rent position as special assistant for excel- and education director of the Mexican- Research Program lence and diversity for the chancellor at the American Legal Defense and Education on Women’s Health University of California. Also a professor of Fund. She then went on to serve as assistant Marie Harvey anthropology at the University of California, secretary of education for civil rights in the Women in the Northwest Riverside, Moses conducts research that fo- Clinton Administration. She currently holds Sandra Morgen cuses on education, particularly as it pertains joint appointments in education and law at to cultural change in the United States and the University of Texas at Austin. From the Center is published two times a year by the Center for in the Caribbean. She recently published a “This is about an American society where the Study of Women in Society monograph entitled, Black Women in Aca- discrimination has no place in the classroom. at the University of Oregon. It is deme, and played a leading role in launching Scholarship without discrimination is es- edited by Debra Gwartney with the national diversity initiative, “Racial Lega- sential. Being able to build leadership skills assistance from Shirley Marc, belongs to both men and women.” —Norma CSWS, and designed by Barbara cies and Learning: An American Dialogue.” Oppliger and copy-edited by John “We must take what we know about stu- Cantu R. Crosiar, Creative Publishing. dent learning environments that support the The gathering of this distinguished panel For more information: success of each one of the students. We need presents a rare opportunity for faculty and (541) 346-5015 to create environments where all students can staff members and students to learn from the http://csws.uoregon.edu be successful.” —Yolanda Moses vision, institutional successes, and cautionary tales of three leaders. Norma Cantu “The idea of the panel is to spark dialogue has, in the course on campus about this critical topic,” says of her career CSWS Director Sandra Morgen. “This is an as an attorney, ongoing discussion with deep roots and high litigated scores ideals. Greg and I hope to see many from the of cases affecting university at the event, as part of our own educational process of dialogue and planning.” funding, disability Accommodations for people with disabili- rights, student ties will be provided. Call Shirley Marc at disciplinary CSWS, (541) 346-5015, one week in advance policies, and racially hostile environments. to make arrangements. 3 It’s Time for a Pro-Woman Tax System u p c o m i n g early half the nation’s taxpayers are Nwomen, yet limited scholarship has “One concern that emerged is that been directed at understanding how women of different racial, ethnic, and class back- tax cuts almost always translate into grounds are affected by tax policy. Given service cuts, and that hurts low-in- the recent prominence of tax issues at the national and state levels, attention to and come and middle class women.” advocacy for a system that treats women taxpayers fairly is long overdue. Why are tax issues specific to women of- tax cuts during the Reagan, Bush, and G.W. ten neglected? Why are women underrepre- Bush administrations—hit women espe- sented among legislators and policymakers cially hard, as these programs help balance who determine tax policy and implementa- employment with the needs of families. The tion? What can ease the erosion of public tax cuts touted by President Bush in his first services that most directly benefit women term, and the large cuts on his second-term taxpayers? Why are reproductive rights and agenda, have done little to help most fami- CSWS Online domestic violence understood as feminist lies, but will result in enormous deficits and Scholars Directory issues, but economic security and tax issues program cuts in coming years. An online searchable relegated to the sidelines? Also, a less visible “fiscal welfare system” database of CSWS affiliated scholars is soon to be launched. A report to be published in early 2005 allows individual and corporate taxpayers The database promises to be a by the National Council for Research on who itemize (mainly moderate and higher valuable resource in supporting Women (NCROW)—an umbrella organiza- income taxpayers) to reduce their tax burden two activities we hold dear— tion of women’s, academic, and public by taking advantage of deductions, exemp- facilitating the development of policy research centers based in New York tions, and credits.