April 1, 2004 60LCR#12
Women’s Rights
Sponsored by: Stephen
Fenberg, Representative
Authored by: Stephen
Fenberg, Representative Laura
Reinsch, Legislative Council President
Jessie Ulibarri, Director of Federal Affairs
and
Financial Aid
A
Resolution
Resolution History
Recently, administrators like Chancellor Richard Byyny and President
Betsy Hoffman have set the stage for a new commitment from CU to the rights of
women as human rights. However,
students have asked the administration to do more to protect the rights and
safety of women not only on our campus, but also in all arenas that CU is
involved in for many years. For
example, in 1998 over forty student groups asked the administration to sign a
code of conduct that would protect the rights of factory workers making CU
apparel. At that time, both the Boulder
Faculty Assembly and the UCSU Legislative Council adopted resolutions in
support of the code of conduct. The
administration ignored these requests.
When asked to sign a Basic Commitment to Human Rights, Chancellor Byyny
told the group WAAKE-UP! That he was not certain if equal treatment of women
was actually a human right.
It would seem, in the light of recent controversy, that the University
of Colorado at Boulder would take strong steps to ensure the empowerment, well
being, and safety of all women who fall within the large scope of influence
this University has. However, attempts
to end the marginalization of women within the campus community, as well as the
world at large, have been dismal at best.
Not only has the administration constantly ignored the issues of women
making the products and services which create profit for the University of
Colorado at Boulder, but also have ignored the rights of women to feel safe and
equal on our campus.
Resolution Summary
WHEREAS the University of Colorado has recently committed itself to the support of women and an
atmosphere of appropriate and equal treatment of women, and;
WHEREAS the University President, Chancellor, and
Regents have publicly denounced the marginalization and/or assault of women,
and;
WHEREAS University officials recently expressed
dedication to policies and practices that advocate and promote the respect of
women and demand fair, safe, and equal treatment for women, and;
WHEREAS recent events have exposed the University’s
traditionally weak commitment to policies that protect women’s rights to the
same degree as all other human rights, and;
WHEREAS a traditionally unsupportive atmosphere has contributed to the oversights leading to recent scandals, and that atmosphere has been noted publicly in the past by Chancellor Richard Byyny’s public remark in the April 1999 Colorado Daily, stating “I do not believe women’s rights are human rights,”
WHEREAS a new spirit of support for women’s rights has publicly emerged in front of the world’s press in light of recent events exposing inadequate protections for women’s rights on college campuses, and;
WHEREAS the University of Colorado benefits from the
exploitation of women through the use of apparel made by sweatshop workers (of
which 80-90% are women), and;
WHEREAS the University of Colorado and its students, faculty, staff, colleagues, and administration would all benefit from a definitive and resolute commitment to the rights of women as human rights to be defended and respected in all university policy and practice,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislative
Council of the University of Colorado Student Union, THAT:
SECTION 1: The University of Colorado Student Union resolves to commit the student body to the rights of all women as equal human rights, noted in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
SECTION 2: The University of Colorado Student Union demands that the University of Colorado further formally and publicly commit itself through its written policies to the unequivocal support, defense and promotion of women’s rights as human rights all over the world and in all University of Colorado practices.
SECTION 3:
ENACTMENT. This resolution takes effect upon passage by the Legislative
Council and upon obtaining the signatures of the Council President and the
Tri-Executives.
4-1-04 Tabled
4-8-04 Passed 12-1-0
4-22-04 Passed Acclamation
________________________________
Laura Reinsch, Legislative Council President Vershara Lott, Tri-Executive
________________________________
Richard Murray, Tri-Executive Sergio
Gonzales, Tri-Executive