Female regents discuss women's issues, concerns

Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich) and Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor), two of four female members of the University's Board of Regents, met with members of the University community yesterday at the Rackham Amphitheatre to address issues concerning women on campus.

Sponsored by several campus women's groups, the forum focused on gender equity and attitudes toward women on campus. Both Maynard and McGowan discussed their role as regents in making changes to benefit women.

"I feel like this is an incredibly different place today then when I came to the board. Is that climate?" McGowan asked, in response to a question about the change in gender climate on campus. "I think so."

DANA LINNANE/Daily University regents Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich) and Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor) discuss issues that affect women at a forum held yesterday at the Rackham Amphitheater.

Although regents cannot make final budgetary decisions, both Maynard and McGowan said it is their responsibility as regents to raise questions and present issues to their colleagues on the board. Maynard said the regents want to be included in what the public is talking and thinking about.

"Let us know when you are pleased," Maynard said. "If you are pissed at us, let us know, but be kind."

McGowan also said she is interested in what students have to say as well as being to open to receiving input from University staff and other members of the campus community.

University President Lee Bollinger's plans concerning gender equity were also a topic of discussion.

"What I am concerned about is that there was some really positive energy going on with (former University President James Duderstadt). Is that going to deteriorate?" asked Nursing Prof. Connie Greene, who was in the audience.

Carol Hollenshead, director of the campus' Center for Education of Women, said Bollinger's main concerns at the moment are assembling his executive team and dealing with the two lawsuits challenging the use of race as a factor in admissions processes of the College of Literature, Science and the Arts and the Law School. But issues of gender equity have not been forgotten, she said.

"The bottom line is that there will be more heard in the future and we are trying to keep the pot boiling," Hollenshead said.

Maynard said the University is committed to educating a diverse student body regardless of the outcome of the lawsuits.

But McGowan said she is fully confident that the University will win the suits.

"We don't intend to lose the lawsuits. Every single energy at the moment is being put into winning the two lawsuits," McGowan said. "I don't think you will find anybody who will answer your question differently."

The regents also addressed the issue of whether minorities on campus feel equal to their white counterparts.

"The glass ceiling is there for both women of color and women that are white," Maynard said. "It is breaking, but very, very slowly."

02-19-98