WEEA Center Celebrates
30th Anniversary of Title IX
In May 2002, the WEEA
Center began a year-long series of activities to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the landmark
law that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational institution
that receives federal financial assistance. The first activity, a
brown bag discussion held on May 15 at
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC),
in Newton, Massachusetts, focused on what Title
IX is, addressed some of the myths about the law, and provided
examples of how some schools are addressing key equity issues today.
Panelists included Victoria Alzapiedi, Executive Director, Title IX
Advocacy Project; Marianne Castano, Research and Development Associate,
Gender Healthy/Respectful Schools Project; and the WEEA Center's Director
of Technical Assistance
Terri Boyer Tillbrook and Director of Communications Susan J. Smith.
The brown bag discussion
preceded a special two-week, online Dialogue with the Experts,
held May 20-31, which focused on the significance of Title IX and
how the field of gender equity in education has evolved in the past
30 years. The panel featured nine distinguished experts in the field
who generated a lively discussion among the 850 subscribers to the
EdEquity electronic discussion
list. Click here to read the highlights
from this discussion.
In July, the WEEA Center
hosted a reception for four former directors of the WEEA Center—all
currently high-level managers at EDC: Janet Whitla, EDC president;
Cheryl Vince-Whitman, EDC senior vice-president; Vivian Guilfoy, EDC
senior vice-president; and Katherine Hanson, director of the Gender
and Diversities Institute (GDI) at EDC. During the reception,
which attracted over 70 guests, the former directors shared their
reflections on their tenure as director of the WEEA Center. Many of
the 70 guests commented that the gathering was inspiring, informative,
and fun.
In August, gender and
disability issues were the focus of the celebration. On August 13
we held a book signing for Gender Matters with co-author Harilyn
Rousso. This new publication is one of the few resources specifically
designed to enable special educators and others working with students
with disabilities to understand their legal responsibilities under
Title IX and to provide gender equitable education. For a summary
of this event click here.
Ms. Rousso
also participated in an EdEquity dialogue on gender and disability,
held August 20-24, which featured a panel of other well-respected
experts in the field.