Show I I Women of speak out on social equality lity Jeren W. W Canning The Globe hosted the 2005 Social Equity Conference on Oct 20 at Redwood Campus's Student Center The Social Equity Conference is the first of its kind thanks to the formation of Social Equity Committee which is chaired by Kathy Hurd Kurd The Committee was formed to Foster an inclusive inclusive inclusive sive climate at the College that supports women develop develop develop devel devel- op the leadership abilities of women to their fullest potential connect interested women to informal mentoring mentoring mentoring mentor mentor- ing relationships and ensure equal representation of all women at the college by advancing women into executive administrative and managerial positions Although the Committees Committee's statement currently currently currently cur cur- mentions only women they emphasized that in the coming months they will begin to expand into other areas of inequity such as minorities at The Committee doesn't only deal with women said Larry Maughan the Conference Planning Committees Committee's only male member The employment base at consists of percent percent percent per per- cent or being women But only percent or of college faculty members are women According to the presenters presenters presenters presen presen- the situation of women at is improving but they still have a long way to go Karen Gunn was the first speaker at the conference she presented the results of ofa a survey given to all full and time part-time employees of the college The survey consisted consisted consisted con con- of a series of questions questions questions ques ques- that were geared toward finding out if the women of have been stifled Some of the questions questions questions ques ques- included in the survey were Do all employees of have the ability to tobe tobe tobe be mentored and Have you or someone you know experienced barriers to advancement at As Gunn pointed out at first look to the numbers of the survey is headed in the right direction Results of the question about barriers to advancement advancement advancement advance advance- ment suggested that only 10 percent of men and 39 percent of women knew someone that experienced or experienced barriers themselves Those that answered yes to that question question question ques ques- tion were asked the follow up question Were those barriers related to gender lack of contacts or education education education tion age or disability The strongest response was gender Gunn said She went on to state that Something behind the numbers not being addressed that should be addressed The survey also found that employees unanimously unanimous unanimous- ly agree that gender does impact them and percent percent percent per per- cent agree that there is gender gender gender gen gen- der dominance prevalent in some departments of the college With their findings the committee decided a task force audit was necessary Gunn said The audit found that women employed at t the e college college college col col- col- col lege tend to stay longer than men stating men choose to move on to other employment employment employment employ employ- ment opportunities Another finding that the audit came up up with was women tend to compete against each other for positions positions positions at the college Stop competing with each other start supporting each other othe Gunn said She also said this year has been an excellent year for women at the college We have female division leads female deans we even have havea a female college president a statement that garnered much applause from the largely female audience After Gunn finished presenting presenting presenting pre pre- the findings of the survey she turned the podium um over to Dr Diedre Tyler Tyler first stepped onto the podium asking a question about women at the college Where are the women She then presented some figures that women in the educational field would find interesting Nationally 40 percent of year two-year college college college col col- lege division chairs are women 20 percent of two- two year college deans are women and finally 40 percent percent percent per per- cent of year two-year college presidents are women Tyler also went on to say that the college should focus on promoting qualified qualified qualified women not just any woman The speeches by Gunn and Tyler were part of the opening session of first annual Social Equity Conference The speeches I were followed by a panel i i discussion and round table i discussions that were meant meant to help the Committee I refine their mission statement statement statement state state- i ment and goals for the coming coming coming com com- ing ing months President Dr Cynthia I Bioteau also made a pre pre- |