U.C., RUS Address Women's Concerns

Representatives of the Undergraduate Council and Radcliffe Union of Students (RUS) met yesterday to examine ways to increase female participation in the College's student government.

"We wanted feedback on how the U.C. can improve its relationship with women and diversity issues," said Council representative Elizabeth A. Haynes '98. "Right now, this [problem] erodes our credibility."

Most of the discussion centered around possible ways to make the council, which is 75 percent male, more accessible to female students.

Representatives agreed that the council's provision of grants--which support many student groups on campus, including women's groups--is central to achieving the council's goal of increased accessibility.

"The grants process helps shape students' images of the U.C.," said RUS co-president Sarah H. Lieberman '96.

"Many student groups on-campus are headed by women. By responding to student groups [and] giving them grants, the U.C. can demonstrate its accessibility to female undergraduates in a tangible, visible way," Lieberman added.

Council Vice-President Justin C. Label '97 said yesterday that the group's male-female ratio has remained about the same for the last several years.

Haynes noted that the Council has never had a female president. "A lot of women's issues are not addressed through the U.C.," Haynes said.

"[Female underrepresentation] is inherent in the U.C.'s structure," said former Council representative Denise A. Ebery '95. Ebery said she believes the lack of female Council members discourages women from running for office.

Lieberman said the initial meeting was productive. She said she hoped other student organizations, such as the Black Students Association (BSA) and the Asian American Association (AAA), would be invited to join the discussion in the future.

"Feedback from more participants would be helpful," Lieberman said.

"This is an important topic and we'd like to discuss it further," she said.