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Table of Contents
Why the seminar and speaker series?Because of the small number of women faculty at ESF, the series provides mentoring opportunities for students, both female and male, who have little regular exposure to female role models. Speakers meet with classes, clubs, and individual undergraduate and graduate students seeking advice about careers they may never have pictured for themselves. A small group of students has an added challenge and opportunity: students from the associated 1-credit seminar (FOR 797-2/496-10) are charged with coordinating these meetings during each speaker’s stay. The speaker is also the featured guest at a dinner, often hosted off-campus at faculty homes, during which class members discuss her experiences with the roles and topics of the course. Bringing these professionals to campus as seminar speakers helps women and men in all stages of their careers expand their vision of the roles of women in professional fields. The seminar and speaker series continue to provide a rare experience in interdisciplinary interactions across campus and on the University Hill.There aren't enough women that have been here long enough to form an "Old Girl's Club” at ESF--or at SU and Upstate either. The speaker series serves as chance for ESF women to develop a network with interested and interesting women across campus and the University Hill as well as around the country. Back to TopWhy do we take Daughters and Sons to work?The Daughter's only program was launched in 1993 by the Ms. Foundation as a response to studies by Harvard University, American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Minnesota Women's Fund, which indicate that a girl's self esteem and confidence in intellectual development plummet as they advance toward adolescence. In recent years, the program has expanded to encompass the boys who will become the partners, coworkers, and friends of the women of the future. Back to TopWhy should I come to a potluck supper? What if I can't cook? Can I bring my kids?Sometimes it seems like there are actually miles between the different departments, but it really is a small campus, and it would be nice to know some friendly people in every building. If you can't/didn't have time to cook or pick something up, bring a few dollars. We will pool funds and arrange for take-out or delivery from a local restaurant. This practice started in the early years of the Caucus, when a number of people forgot about one particular program, and then found themselves huddled around a vending machine looking for potential items to bring at the last minute. They opted to pool their funds and order a pizza instead. The practice stuck--but all these years later we are still trying to find a place that both makes great pizza and can deliver to campus without a hitch (e.g., what we ordered, reasonably close to when we placed the order). If you have an inexpensive pizza, or other place that you love and rely on--let us know! We'd be happy to give them a try. Adequate, affordable childcare is an issue affecting many families on campus, so we invite you to bring your kids along to all of our programs. And, they do a great job of entertaining one another! Back to TopWho is in charge?In general, the Women's Caucus is non-hierarchical. There are no officers and decisions are made by consensus. However, there are individuals who serve as the primary contacts for individual projects. If you would like the Caucus's assistance with any other program, please contact any of the names on that list. How many women are on the faculty?ESF began as an all male college; there were no women students until the 1950s. Even through the early 90s there were very few women professors, but numbers are on the rise across campus. Click here for a breakdown by discipline. What's with the signs in the bathrooms? Every women's and unisex bathroom on campus should have an acetate holder by the sinks or by the door specifically for announcing Women’s Caucus Events. Each holder should also have a little label that directs you to this website.
As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. The foremothers of the ESF Women's Caucus realized that quite a few staff and grad students spend the bulk of the day, every day, in their individual offices or labs, and many of the faculty and undergrads are rushing between classes. They would need to put something on every bulletin board on campus for every woman to have an opportunity to see one (assuming it hasn't already been covered over by some other flier). However, it was a safe bet that every woman on campus will visit a lavatory sooner or later. So, by placing more strategically, they could reach the target audience with only a handful of fliers, and with far less running around.
Fliers were previously taped to walls, and then affixed to some surfaces with magnets, until we came to an agreement with a former VP of Administration and Physical Plant. We purchased these holders, which Physical Plant installed, for our use to prevent the tape residue and water splashed fliers that really weren’t fair to those that try hard to keep those areas clean. Fliers stay up, and stay looking nice, much longer now, so whenever we can, we can announce multiple events on single fliers, saving us a little more time and paper.
Others are welcome to use the holders when we aren't actively advertising an upcoming event--especially when programs and events are consistent with our mission.
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