Student Assembly Committee on Women’s Issues

Minutes - February 12 2012
Women’s Issues Committee Meeting

I. Issues we will continue to look at from last year

1. Safety- “forcible touching” — ( the phrase in itself, 2011 survey on how safe females feel on campus)
2. Want to reach out to broader spectrum of organizations.

II. Spring Semester Initiatives

• mandating a required sex-ed course in IFC houses
• Planning Rachel Lloyd’s visit - founder of GEMS
• International Women’s Week ( WRC Committee)

III. Suggestions for additional WIC Initiatives

- SHAPE: Sexual Harassment and Prevention Education

- mimics the UnH SHARPE committee to increase social responsibility

- The SHAPE initiative: Started by Eva and Jessica with Lynette chappell Williams as the faculty advisor. SHAPE’s mission is to streamline any information pertaining to women’s organizations and issues on campus. SHAPE will create an sort of “umbrella” organization for this information. - It’s base will be Lynette Chappell Williams office- centralizing resources that are already on campus.

-One of this year’s WIC goals has been to reach out to a broader spectrum of organization and to consolidate information into a hub. It has been noted by many students that there are a large number of women’s initiatives on campus, yet they are very dispersed making it more difficult for student exposure to these organizations. We hope that SHAPE will help to bring individuals, groups, and organization pertaining to women’s issues together so that we can unitedly influence the student body through our missions.

IV. Member Updates

- April Resource Fair - SHAPE initiative. Ithaca vendors will sponsor this event. WIC will help with event planning

- discussion of the campaign for dissent- in general, a will to encourage underclass students to get more involved in women’s related organizations in order to further these groups’ mission in years to come

- International Women’s Day is March 8th. the IWD committee of the WRC will be planning their event schedule for the next few weeks . We hope to promote these events as well as join the committee in planning their initiatives.

V. Adding an educational component to women’s issues organizations

- discussion in particular in a recent campaign that has caught our attention. Campaign’s mission is to create a new outlet for victims of sexual harassment and assault.
-We feel as if organizations should put more emphasis on engagement over exposure to these issues. Furthermore, creating a hub for women’s orgs, initiatives, and issues will help those in need of council more effectively.

VI. Next Meeting

February 19, 2012- 1:00pm