2008 Woodie Awards
Girls say, boys say
Briana Gapsis
Issue date: 3/14/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
When was the last time you saw that old friend of yours who used to live just across the BDG? "Since men and women do not typically live in the same residence halls or eat together after freshman year," says Jan Kauffman, the Director of Health Promotion and Student Health and Counseling, "they only see each other in class or in the party scene and frequently do not have the opportunity to develop meaningful friendships with the opposite sex."
Recognizing this problem, the university took its first steps towards actively improving the relations between men and women at Washington and Lee in the fall of 2003. Spearheading these efforts, the IFC and Panhellenic established four committees; the Educational Committee, which includes One in Four and Speak, the Curriculum Infusion Committee, which works directly with the faculty, the Judicial Committee, which entails the EC, and the SFHB, as well as the Programming Committee, which is the primary function of the GRC.
"The current 'hook-up' culture does not provide the environment for relationships to develop in the traditional sense," explains Jan Kauffman, and, while One in Four and Speak have been making strides towards reducing sexual misconduct, the Gender Relations Committee, or GRC, has actively striven to improve the more platonic interactions between the male and female constituents of W&L, promoting such activities as Date Night, a Fraternity-Sorority luncheon, and hiring such speakers as the Dating Doctor. "The most important thing that Washington and Lee students should know about the GRC is that they are tackling some serious issues at Washington and Lee---issues that students face across the country," says Kauffman.
"They need to overcome the environmental obstacles to ensure that W&L is a true caring community without inappropriate sexual misconduct."
In the attempt to become more effective, the GRC will be changing its structure so that it will be lead by two co-chairs and possibly divided into separate sub-committees with distinctive duties. Also, membership will be based on an application and screening process to insure the dedication of the committee. However, any lasting and meaningful improvements in the relationships between men and women at W&L must come from the students themselves. "The Committee has a clear charge to continue to educate the student population about the importance of this issue," says Margo McClinton, the Dir. Univ. Commons, Campus Activities. "This is an issue that everyone should own." Indeed, many of the largest successes in the effort to improve gender relations come from other student organizations, such as initiatives expected to be enacted next fall on the part of the fraternities and sororities to bring the men and women together outside of the frat basements.
However, improving gender relations starts at the individual level, so if you want to go the Daily Grind or catch a movie, think about inviting that long-lost friend of yours. And as far as I'm concerned, I could always go for some ice cream and good conversation.
Recognizing this problem, the university took its first steps towards actively improving the relations between men and women at Washington and Lee in the fall of 2003. Spearheading these efforts, the IFC and Panhellenic established four committees; the Educational Committee, which includes One in Four and Speak, the Curriculum Infusion Committee, which works directly with the faculty, the Judicial Committee, which entails the EC, and the SFHB, as well as the Programming Committee, which is the primary function of the GRC.
"The current 'hook-up' culture does not provide the environment for relationships to develop in the traditional sense," explains Jan Kauffman, and, while One in Four and Speak have been making strides towards reducing sexual misconduct, the Gender Relations Committee, or GRC, has actively striven to improve the more platonic interactions between the male and female constituents of W&L, promoting such activities as Date Night, a Fraternity-Sorority luncheon, and hiring such speakers as the Dating Doctor. "The most important thing that Washington and Lee students should know about the GRC is that they are tackling some serious issues at Washington and Lee---issues that students face across the country," says Kauffman.
"They need to overcome the environmental obstacles to ensure that W&L is a true caring community without inappropriate sexual misconduct."
In the attempt to become more effective, the GRC will be changing its structure so that it will be lead by two co-chairs and possibly divided into separate sub-committees with distinctive duties. Also, membership will be based on an application and screening process to insure the dedication of the committee. However, any lasting and meaningful improvements in the relationships between men and women at W&L must come from the students themselves. "The Committee has a clear charge to continue to educate the student population about the importance of this issue," says Margo McClinton, the Dir. Univ. Commons, Campus Activities. "This is an issue that everyone should own." Indeed, many of the largest successes in the effort to improve gender relations come from other student organizations, such as initiatives expected to be enacted next fall on the part of the fraternities and sororities to bring the men and women together outside of the frat basements.
However, improving gender relations starts at the individual level, so if you want to go the Daily Grind or catch a movie, think about inviting that long-lost friend of yours. And as far as I'm concerned, I could always go for some ice cream and good conversation.
Be the first to comment on this story