Alumnae Address Conference

Distinguished Radcliffe alumnae and other women yesterday addressed a wide range of topics during the first full day of a biennial conference aimed at inspiring more Radcliffe graduates to seek leadership positions.

More than 200 alumnae, mostly Radcliffe Club and class officers, attended lectures across campus on a variety of subjects, such as conflict negotiation, changing life patterns of women and individual involvement in local government.

"[Our purpose is] to try to expose women alumnae to different ways of learning and different skills involved in all fields of endeavor," said Renee M. Landers '77, president of Radcliffe College Alumnae Association.

Alumnae come to the three-day conference to "listen to outstanding alumnae panels and to keep informed about Radcliffe today," said Alumnae Council Committee Chairman Alison Lahnston '63.

In a program called, "Commitment to Scholarship," Brandeis University Associate Professor of Sociology Janet Z. Giele '58 spoke to about 70 people at Agassiz House on the changing life patterns of educated women.

The former Bunting Institute fellow said that educated women today are assuming increasingly complex roles in both family life and the professional sphere.

Meanwhile, across the hall, communications consultant and Radcliffe seminar instructor Helen S. Weeks '73 stressed the importance of cooperation in mediating confrontations.

In a lecture entitled "Conflict Negotiation and Resolution: From Family Relations to the International Bargaining Table," Weeks focused on the "downside factors of disagreement" which occur in business, family and internationial relations.

In an after-dinner speech at the North House dining hall, Schenectady, NY Mayor Karen B. Johnson '64 spoke to approximately 120 alumnae on the problem of the lack of citizens' involvement in local politics.

Although many people complain about local government and many communities face "social deterioration," Johnson said, "you would be surprised how little input we get from the public in local government."