Archives
Western's
Caucus on Women's Issues Timeline of Events
In the recent past,
a successful attempt was made to unravel the archival history
of an organization that set out to create solidarity among women
in all levels of employment at Western. This timeline and digital
gallery was made possible by accessing a dozen boxes that housed
Caucus newsletters, correspondences, campus and local news, reports,
agendas, research and general Caucus matters.
Most valuable to
the construction of this timeline was the past Caucus newsletters.
Significant details of Caucus activities, life, announcements
and business were recorded. Included in past issues were poems,
comics, recipes,
essay awards book reviews,
research, promotions and general information of interest to Caucus
members.
1974
- An Ad hoc
Committee from the President's Advisory Committee on the status
of women is established. The following year they release a report
on the Status of Women at Western. Members of the committee included
B. Campbell (chairperson), E. Bieman, G. Brent, S. Desmond, L.
Forsyth and D. Nutt. This report addresses issues of Western's
women not yet being full participants in the University's activities
and that the same women on campus are at a serious disadvantage
in the circumstances of their employment.
1980-1985
l 1986
-1990 l 1991
- 1995 l 1996
- Present
Caucus Past
Presidents
1980-1985
1980
- Hear
Ye! Hear Ye the Call! In January, the first town hall
meeting of UWO faculty women is held.
- Western's
Caucus on Women's Issues firmly establishes itself on campus with
Anne Bolgan as its first president. (See
list of past presidents)
- November
- Anne Bolgan tells Western News that about 100 members were
involved with the Caucus.
1981
1982
- Caucus presents
to the University's administration a brief on the status of women
at Western that contains a proposal for affirmative action. A
Caucus subcommittee prepares the report with full approval of
the general membership.
- Caucus and
Canadian Congress on Learning Opportunities jointly sponsor a
workshop on affirmative action with Ms. Beth Symes as the guest
speaker for Women (London ON chapter).
1983
- Caucus hosts
Women's Legal History/Violence Against Women in the 19th Century.
The December event features Connie Backhouse.
1984
- February
- Caucus submits the Status of Women at Western: A Current Appraisal
and Recommendation for Change, to the Ad Hoc Senate Committee
to Review Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure Policies and Procedures.
Top
1986 - 1990
1986
- Caucus works
with Louise Tamblyn, one of Western's first sexual harassment
officers, to releases its first video, Breaking the Trust dealing
with sexual harassment. The video's premier is held during the
fall general meeting and is well attended with representation
from the Provost's office, MP Tom Hockin's office, and Kem Murch,
the producer of the video.
- Caucus and
UWOSA jointly organize a lecture given by MPP Joan Smith. The
lecture is part of the Noon Hour Speaker Series on Women's Issues.
- Caucus hosts
a special event, an interdisciplinary conference, Heroines
and Harlots: Representation of the Feminine in
the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The participants come from
a number of different departments, including guest lecturer Rebecca
V. Coleman.
1987
- Caucus sponsors
a lecture given by Sylvia Gold, President of Canadian Advisory
Council on the Status of Women. The spring lecture addresses Fine
Balances: Equal Status for Women in Canada in the 1990's.
- The Centre
for Women's Studies and Feminist Research is established.
Kathleen Okruhlik becomes the first Director of the new centre.
1988
- Connie Backhouse
issues her report on employment equity at Western.
- Caucus holds
a summer town hall meeting with members and other interested women
for the creation of a Standing Committee on Employment Equity.
The committee aims to investigate and rectify the inequities that
women face at UWO. 260 members of the university's community representing
19 different departments and administrative units sign a petition
that circulates on campus.
1989
- Caucus members
design and implement a Report Card on Employment Equity. The questionnaire's
findings are used as a basis for planning relevant initiatives
address inequities on campus.
- Caucus membership
reaches an all time high of 104 members.
- November -
Connie Backhouse, Roma Harris, Gill Mitchell, and Alison Wylie
release the Chilly Climate Report. This report "chills" the
university community when details on the treatment of some
faculty women are made public.
- The President
of Western publishes a Policy on Employment Equity, and establishes
a Standing Committee on Employment Equity.
- Carol Agocs,
Caucus member, is appointed chair of the Standing Committee on
Employment Equity.
1990
- March - Caucus
celebrates its 10th anniversary.
- Geraldine
Stephenson and Jennifer Tiller become the first co-winners of the
Caucus' student essay award. They are also the first to graduate
from the Women's Studies program.
- December
- First Montreal Memorial Book Award is awarded. The award recognizes
the female student with the highest average going into the second
year of Engineering.
Top
1991 - 1995
1991
- A commemorative
newsletter in honour of Mary Campbell
is created for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the
Caucus newsletter. It was Campbell who, at the first general meeting
proposed that Caucus be open to all employee groups.
- Caucus releases
its second video, Chilly Climate
for Women in Colleges and Universities. The video is released
in two formats, one with materials of interest to First Nations
groups and the other with an academic focus.
1992
1993
- The
first Person's Day celebration is organized. The October
event is co-sponsored by Caucus and London's Status of Women Action
Group.
- December
- Caucus and Women's Issues Commission work closely planning a
joint memorial for the Montreal Massacre. Approximately 200 participants
come for the showing of After
the Massacre. The event ends with a candle light
vigil.
1994
- Caucus joins
forces with the Faculty of Nursing and Women's Studies to present
Issues of gender and Culture in Conducting Research.
- Newly appointed
president, Paul Davenport, speaks at the fall general meeting,
sharing his thoughts on the status of women and equity issues.
- Second
annual Persons Day Dinner
is held at the Marienbad Restaurant. The event is co-sponsored
by Caucus and London's Status of Women Action Group. The event
features Connie Backhouse and Dr. Emily Emily (Roma Harris' alter
ego).
- Leela Madhava
Rau, Caucus member and Race Relations Officer, resigns. Caucus
awards Rau with the Madame Bhikaijs Rustomij Cama Medal in honour
of her leadership in educating people about inequities and discrimination.
1995
- Caucus presents
to the Strategic Planning Task Force on Equity a presentation
to ensure that equity is incorporated throughout the University's
policies.
- Caucus releases
its third video, Backlash:
Resistance to Change. The video is released in two formats:
one in English and the other with a significant First Nations
focus.
- Caucus, Womensline
Books, and UWO Women's Issues Network present Susan Cole, who
reads from her collections of essays, Power Surge: Sex, Violence
and Pornography.
- Caucus and
150 guests celebrated100 years of women at Western. Leola Neal,
last Dean of Women, is recognized.
Top
1996 - Present
1996
- Caucus hosts
Self-Care in an Age of Expendability. Time is well spent by discussing
and celebrating the primary importance of self-nurturance, as
well-spring of energy and courage for facing a life in which radical
change is the only constraint.
1997
- Caucus brought
together its constituents on campus to host a workshop for women
employees at Western. The event, Women at Western: Strengthening
Our Community was well attended and reviewed.
1998
- Caucus sponsors
a showcase of women's research in the Social Science building.
2000
- Caucus celebrates
its 20th Anniversary.
2002
- Caucus accepts
a proposal to help create a facilitator's manual for a video production
on sexual harassment, The Way Forward: Rethinking the Problem
of Workplace Sexual Harassment.
- In the fall,
Constance Backhouse and Nancy Kendall are both named honourary
Lifetime Members of Caucus.
- An online
discussion group, "UWO Purple Circles", is created to
allow Caucus members a forum to freely exchange information, opinions
and ideas.
2003
- At an October
Executive meeting, a Deed of Gift is signed by Caucus executives
and Robin Kierstead, the University's archivist, for the Caucus
archives to be officially handed over to the ARCC.
-
Caucus and Women's Studies invite the University's community to
a Showcase of Women's Research
at University College. The event features participants from Kinesiology,
Economics, Education, Sociology, Philosophy, FIMS, Engineering,
Biology, Medicine and Geography.
Top
Selected
Images from WCWI Archives
Poster
Advertising First Town Hall Meeting
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Poster
Advertising First Women's Studies
Courses
offered at UWO
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First
WCWI Newsletter
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Poster
of Heroines & Harlots: Representation of the Feminine in the
Middle Ages and the Renaissance
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WCWI 10th
Anniversary Poster
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WCWI 10th
Anniversary Newsletter
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Chilly Climate
Video Cover
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After the
Massacre
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First Person's
Day Poster
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Backlash:
Resistance to Change Video Cover
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WCWI Sponsored Workshops
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Showcase of
Women's Research
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WCWI Essay
Awards Poster
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