More than seven months have passed since the Women’s Center has had a director, and some say it shows the University’s lack of commitment to the center.
Amber Shrier, the outreach coordinator for the Women’s Center, said in an e-mail she thinks the Women’s Center is one of the lowest priorities for the University.
“They don’t think we do much at the Women’s Center, so they are not motivated to get us a director,” Shrier said.
The director position for the Women’s Center has been vacant since July 2007.
Marco Barker, assistant to the vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach, said in an official statement to The Daily Reveille that the Women’s Center is moving forward. He said despite the absence of a director, the Women’s Center has continued its partnerships and activities with student and community groups.
But Shrier disagrees.
“There would be more involvement in the community and school, but since there is no one there to guide us, we do nothing and have little to no structure at all,” Shrier said.
According to the EDCO Web site, the Women’s Center received two upgrades in August 2007 from an enhancement proposal signed by Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Astrid Merget.
One of the upgrades includes changing the title of the Women’s Center leadership from “manager” to “director” with an increased salary package. The other upgrade was to increase the operational budget for the Women’s Center.
Barker said Katrice Albert, vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach, received additional funding for the Women’s Center in July 2007. The additional money resulted in the creation of the Women’s Center director position and additional operational dollars for improvements and programming.
Barker said the search for a director began in the middle of fall 2007. EDCO has advertised the vacant position in both local and national distribution channels such as The Advocate, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, American College Personnel Association, National Women’s Studies Association and Higher Ed Jobs.
“Because the directorship is a high-level and extremely important position, the search committee is dedicated to having highly-qualified applicants who possess advanced education and years of experience directing and coordinating a Women’s Center,” Barker said. “Simply filling the position for the sake of having someone … does the Women’s Center, the LSU community and its constituents an injustice.”
Chaunda Allen, director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs and a member of the search committee, said the committee has met twice during the fall 2007 semester.
According to the EDCO Web site, the search committee has evaluated 20 applicants for the Women’s Center director position. The committee recommended that EDCO wait until this semester and re-advertise the position.
Allen said the search process is confidential and the committee will protect every applicant’s right to privacy.
Even though Governor Jindal’s hiring freeze has affected Louisiana, the search for a director will continue in hopes of finding a “transformational leader”, Albert said on the EDCO Web site.
Barker said to ensure the Women’s Center fulfills its mission, they are supported by professional staff in EDCO, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Wellness Education, Greek Affairs, Women’s and Gender Studies and the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]