Present: Barbara Burrell, Virginia Cassidy, Deborah Haliczer, Kathy Hotelling, Sharon Howard, Glenda Jones, Amy Levin, Doreen Mace, Carol Patch, Julie Robertson, Lise Schlosser, Lorraine Scurti, Leslie Simmons, Josephine Umoren, Randi Wolfe.
Absent: Stacy Allie, Karen Baker, Sally Conklin, Joanne Dempsey, Valerie Guyant, Jan Rintala, Denise Schoenbachler.
The meeting was called to order at 1:02 p.m. by Chair Barbara Burrell in Lowden Hall 304. Amy Levin made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 9, 2005 meeting and Carol Patch seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously. Doreen Mace was introduced as a new operating staff member of the commission from the Graduate School. She will begin her three-year term next fall.
Campus Climate and Quality of Life: The committee held a meeting by E-mail, The Alcohol Task Force will report at the May meeting. Kathy Hotelling reported on activities related to sexual assault awareness. There have been programs in place for 14 years on campus to increase sexual assault awareness with attendance being "mandatory" since 1998; these efforts were enhanced through a domestic violence grant four years ago that broadened the scope to include dating violence and stalking. In the past, as many as 90 two-hour workshops were held during the fall semester. Attendance has been steadily dwindling due to there being no consequence of not attending. Once this is known attendance falls off. Publicity has been stepped up this semester with Star and bus ads. Events during Sexual Assault Awareness Month include: Survivor Speak Out (very well received), clothesline display (activity with Safe Passage), Silent Statistics, Denim Day, Divas & Desserts, Voices for Change, MASIV. For fall, a letter will be sent to all new residential students stating that attendance at a Voices for Change program is required; meanwhile efforts to raise awareness will continue. We assume, but do not know as a fact, that increased numbers in reporting are a result of the awareness of sexual assault services among students.
Personal and Professional Development: There were four successful well attended networking luncheons held this year. We will not schedule any more until fall semester.
Research: The committee is still compiling results and should have data available at the May meeting. They are looking into the possibility of sending a congratulatory letter from PCSW to all women on campus receiving an award. More details on this will be given to members at the May meeting.
Awards and Recognition: There are fifty-eight Outstanding Women Student Awards being presented this year. The Wilma D. Stricklin Award will be presented to Kathy Hotelling. She was one of five nominated this year (Michele Crase, Gail Jacky, Amy Levin, William Minor). The Awards committee will be convened after the April 17 ceremony to discuss additional recognition awards (mentoring was of particular interest). The Martha Cooper Journalism Award only had one entry this year by Gerold Shelton. The entry, titled "NIU’s first Miss Asia crowned", did not meet the criteria of the award and therefore the award will not be given this year.
Salary Equity Task Force: No report.
Affirmative Action Diversity Resources Report (AADR): No report.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Randi Wolfe and seconded by Carol Patch. The motion was approved unanimously. Barbara Burrell adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Baugh