By Elizabeth Gerbush

We may have acquired the right to vote, reproductive freedom and even an anti-perspirant pH balanced just for us, but it's no Secret® that women still struggle with inequality, discrimination, fears for their safety and other daily hardships. In hopes of preventing adversities like these on campus, some members of the Buffalo State College faculty and professional staff are participating in the college's Women's Issues Group .

Never heard of it? The group has actually been around for quite some time. Formed during the 1989-1996 presidency of F.C. Richardson (the exact year of establishment was not provided as of press time), college faculty and staff have been concerned with women's rights since well before the Spice Girls made “Girl Power” fashionable.

According to Virginia Grabiner , chairwoman of the sociology department and longtime member of the group, it “identifies, tries to document and, where necessary, bring action with regard to issues that affect women on the campus.”

The group has conducted studies and reported to the College Senate on issues such as:

•  The existence of salary disparities between male and female faculty members. Are male and female faculty members paid equally?

•  The existence of promotion inequalities between male and female faculty members. Are male and female faculty members advanced in their positions equally?

•  The safety and harassment of women on campus. Do women feel safe on campus? How common is harassment of women on campus?

Assault and harassment of college women continues to be a prevalent occurrence nationwide. According to " The Sexual Victimization of College Women ", a study released by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001, during any given academic year approximately:

•  2.8 percent of college women will experience a completed and/or attempted rape (unwanted penetration by force or threat of force), with fewer than 5 percent reporting it to law enforcement officials. Only six sex offenses that occurred on campus were reported to Buffalo State College police in 2003.

•  15.5 percent of college women will experience either physical or non-physical sexual victimization (forced or coerced penetration or other sexual contact that is completed, attempted or threatened) .

•  13.1 percent of college women will be stalked (experience repeated, obsessive and frightening behavior that makes the victim afraid or concerned for her safety) .

•  54.3 percent of college women will experience sexist remarks , 48.2 percent will be the victim of cat calls, whistles, or sexual noises , and 21.9 percent will experience obscene telephone calls or messages .

Currently operating independently of the College Senate and headed by Elaine Polvinen , associate professor in the fashion textile technology program, the group meets monthly and is open to all faculty and professional staff, both male and female. With a fairly modest membership (a typical meeting draws six to eight people, according to Grabiner), the group welcomes those interested in joining it at upcoming meetings. The group will be meeting at 12:15 p.m. on Feb. 23, March 25, and April 28 in Butler Library , Room 133 .

“The college has been pretty responsive to the issues that do come up,” says Grabiner. “Interestingly enough, we don't have a lot of burning issues at the moment.

“Good news! Things are better for women than they were!”

Elizabeth Gerbush can be reached at gerbet47@buffalostate.edu .