AAS Committee on the Status of Women
Issue of December 8, 2006
eds. Patricia Knezek & Joan Schmelz
This week's issues:
1. Response to "Yes, Virginia, Discrimination and Harassment Do Still Happen"
2. Life as a Mother-Scientist
3. Feminists Who Changed America
4. APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women
5. Conference on Extreme Solar Systems
6. Faculty Position, Department of Astronomy, Ohio State U.
****** The following position was taken from WIPHYS **********
7. Asst. Professor, Dept. of Physics, Oregon State U.
8. How to submit, subscribe, or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Response to "Yes, Virginia, Discrimination and Harassment Do Still Happen"
From: Joan Schmelz [jschmelz
memphis.edu]
[Eds. note: This response stems from item #1 in the November 17, 2006 issue of
AASWOMEN, unethical conduct by a superior.Additional comments and suggestions
are welcome.]
Most universities have a procedure to address complaints of sexual harassment
and gender discrimination. This procedure should be outlined on the
university's web site, but if the link is not obvious, try searching on
sexual harassment complaint. Details can vary, but the first few steps
you take as the victim should be roughly the same.
1. Write everything down (as suggested by our first anonymous respondent
from last week): times, places, nature of the incident, and comments made.
Save emails, notes, etc.
2. Tell someone you trust: advisor, best friend, parent, sibling, etc.
Talk about the pros and cons of filing an official complaint.
3. If your university is fortunate enough to have an ombudsperson, consider
talking to him/her. The ombudsperson is an independent, confidential, and
impartial resource available to facilitate cooperation and consensus
through education and mediation. Bring copies of the items from (1) to
your meeting. You can also bring your trusted confident from (2) if this
helps calm your nerves. Prepare for the meeting. Know your facts. Be
organized.
4. If you decide to file a complaint, your first official step could be a
meeting with your department chair. The ombudsperson and/or your confidant
from (2) can come with you. It helps to know there is someone in your corner.
5. You will most likely have to write and sign an official letter of
complaint, documenting the nature of the harassment and/or discrimination.
Be as detailed as possible. This is where the information from item (1) is
most useful. Take time to write this letter. Ask the ombudsperson and/or
your confidant from (2) to read it over. Edit is thoroughly.
6. If you have any supporting documentation or statements from witnesses,
these should be submitted to the chair at the same time as your official
letter of complaint.
7. Once you submit this letter, the department chair is compelled to address
your complaint. At my university, the letter goes up the chain of command
to the dean. The person against whom the complaint is lodged is also
notified and must provide a written response.
Does anyone know of a particularly good university website where this
procedure is outlined and explained? If so, please let us know. We can
distribute the link with the caveat that the details will vary from
university to university.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Life as a Mother-Scientist
From: Cindy Tobery [cynthia.toberyyale.edu], Meg Urry [meg.urryyale.edu]
The X-gals, a group of nine female biologists, see a direct correlation
between their productivity and the quality of their child care. Read more
on the Chronicle of Higher Education website:
http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2006/12/2006120101c/careers.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Feminists Who Changed America
From: Patricia Knezek [knezeknoao.edu]
A new book has just been published entitled "Feminists Who Changed America
1963-1975." It is edited by Barbara J. Love and has an introduction by
Nancy F. Cott. The book documents the efforts of more than two thousand
women and men who were involved in the second wave of the women's movement.
More information can be found at:
http://www.press.uillinois.edu/f06/love.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women
From: WIPHYS December 6, 2006
Information on the 2007 APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women
is now available! These summer internships are salaried positions typically
10 weeks long, and include in addition a $2,500 grant, plus the opportunity
to work with a mentor at one of three IBM research locations. Applications
must be submitted by February 1, 2007. Complete details on the program
and how to apply are available at
http://www.aps.org/programs/women/scholarships/index.cfm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Conference on Extreme Solar Systems
From: Fred Rasio [rasionorthwestern.edu]
This International Conference will be held on the occasion of the 15th
anniversary of the discovery of the first extrasolar earth-mass planets,
around PSR 1257+12. This also happens to coincide approximately with the
60th birthday of their discoverer, Alex Wolszczan. The main scientific
themes of the meeting include the detection and characterization of
earth-like planets (using all presently available and future techniques),
planets in extreme environments (dense star clusters, binaries), planets
around evolved stars (giants, white dwarfs, pulsars), and all "extreme
precision" measurements. The conference will be held in Santorini, G
reece, on June 25-29, 2007. For more information, see
http://www.astro.northwestern.edu/Santorini2007/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Faculty Position, Department of Astronomy, Ohio State U.
From: Jennifer Johnson [jajastronomy.ohio-state.edu]
The Department of Astronomy in the College of Mathematical and Physical
Sciences at The Ohio State University invites applications for an
anticipated faculty position, junior or senior, depending on qualifications
and experience, effective Autumn Quarter 2007. *This search is targeted
in the area of cosmology theory, broadly conceived.* A Ph.D. and post
doctoral experience in astronomy, or a closely related field are required,
as is a commitment to teaching excellence. A key strength of the Department
is its extraordinarily vital scientific atmosphere, and we seek candidates
who will contribute to and benefit from that atmosphere.
A successful candidate will also have the opportunity to play a leading
role in the newly funded University initiative (joint between the
Astronomy and Physics Departments) in cosmology and astro-particle
physics. Ohio State has a one-sixth share of observing time on the Large
Binocular Telescope and is a member of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
(SDSS-II) consortium. Applications should include a C.V., a publication
list, and a statement of past, current, and planned research. Applicants
should arrange for three letters of reference to be sent to the above
address. The review of applications will begin 15 December 2006 and will
continue until the position is filled.
Email Inquiries: facultysearchastronomy.ohio-state.edu
www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu
Review of applications with begin *2006 December 15* and continue
until the position is filled.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Asst. Professor, Dept. of Physics, Oregon State U.
From: WIPHYS December 6, 2006
The Physics Dept. at Oregon State University, Corvallis invites
applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the
Asst Professor level, with an anticipated start date of September 16,
2007, subject to available fiscal support. The Physics Dept is building
on nationally-recognized programs in curriculum development at the upper
division level, and we are expanding our focus to the adaptation and
development of innovative curricula in large-enrollment introductory
courses. See posting number 0000081 at:
http://oregonstate.edu/jobs/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. How to submit, subscribe, or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN
[Please remember to replace "" in the below e-mail addresses.]
To submit to AASWOMEN:
send email to aaswomenaas.org
All material sent to that address will be posted unless you tell us otherwise (including your email address).
To subscribe to AASWOMEN:
send email to majordomoaas.org, with message in the BODY subscribe aaswlist yourusernameyouraddress
To unsubscribe to AASWOMEN:
send email to majordomoaas.org, with message in the BODY unsubscribe aaswlist yourusernameyouraddress
----------------------------------------------------------------------------