2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Commission on the Status of Women hosts meeting at UMass
Josh Walovitch, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women hosted a commissions meeting embracing the voices of women from across the state at the University of Massachusetts last night.
"We are an independent state agency, our mission is to advance the women of the commonwealth to full equality in all areas of their lives" said Executive Director of the MCSW Linda Brandlet.
Female state representation is currently at a lopsided 30 percent Senate and 22.5 percent House. MCSW makes it clear that the current political representation needs to level out which in turn will help pass legislative activity.
The MCSW holds public hearings and regional briefings each year. The purpose of these meetings is to receive input and hear the concerns and issues of women in various parts of the Commonwealth.
The MCSW then issues summary reports to inform and educate legislators, public policy makers and advocates.
"Hearings are held at different areas around the state throughout the year in hopes of gathering enlightening information which we can then feed back to the state legislative" Brandlet said.
Sandy Mandel, a representative from Every Women's Center, hopes to see the women of Massachusetts "speak truth to power with the purpose to make an impact."
"The women of the commission have access to power that many of us women might not have but in order for them to speak truth to that power they must hear from us" Mandel said.
Important issues pertaining to women were discussed by female residents of the Commonwealth throughout the night.
Massachusetts resident Anne Poole expressed her concerns with teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Poole informed the audience that in Massachusetts 25 percent of teenage girls have sexually transmitted infections and pointed out that the area communities of Springfield and Holyoke rank number one and two for teen pregnancy.
"STI's and teen pregnancies can be prevented through the implementation of affordable services and practices along with an increase in awareness of these problems through the usage of education" Poole said.
Issues discussed included abortion, health care for the elderly, struggles of female minorities at UMass, the storing of umbilical cord blood and the negative affects of incarcerating women who have a dependency on drugs or alcohol and have committed crimes due to their addiction.
The commission works closely with its appointing authorities and state legislators, particularly the Massachusetts Women's Legislative Caucus, to promote and pass legislation that positively impacts women and families of the Commonwealth.
The commission holds a substantial amount of power which includes the studying, reviewing and reporting on the status of women in the Commonwealth, advising executive and legislative bodies on the effect of proposed legislation of women, informing leaders of business, education, healthcare, state and local governments and the communications media of issues pertaining to women, providing referrals and serving as a resource of information on issues pertaining to women, identifying and recommending qualified women for positions at all levels of government as well as serving as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with issues affecting women.
Josh Walovitch can be reached at jwalovit@student.umass.edu
"We are an independent state agency, our mission is to advance the women of the commonwealth to full equality in all areas of their lives" said Executive Director of the MCSW Linda Brandlet.
Female state representation is currently at a lopsided 30 percent Senate and 22.5 percent House. MCSW makes it clear that the current political representation needs to level out which in turn will help pass legislative activity.
The MCSW holds public hearings and regional briefings each year. The purpose of these meetings is to receive input and hear the concerns and issues of women in various parts of the Commonwealth.
The MCSW then issues summary reports to inform and educate legislators, public policy makers and advocates.
"Hearings are held at different areas around the state throughout the year in hopes of gathering enlightening information which we can then feed back to the state legislative" Brandlet said.
Sandy Mandel, a representative from Every Women's Center, hopes to see the women of Massachusetts "speak truth to power with the purpose to make an impact."
"The women of the commission have access to power that many of us women might not have but in order for them to speak truth to that power they must hear from us" Mandel said.
Important issues pertaining to women were discussed by female residents of the Commonwealth throughout the night.
Massachusetts resident Anne Poole expressed her concerns with teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Poole informed the audience that in Massachusetts 25 percent of teenage girls have sexually transmitted infections and pointed out that the area communities of Springfield and Holyoke rank number one and two for teen pregnancy.
"STI's and teen pregnancies can be prevented through the implementation of affordable services and practices along with an increase in awareness of these problems through the usage of education" Poole said.
Issues discussed included abortion, health care for the elderly, struggles of female minorities at UMass, the storing of umbilical cord blood and the negative affects of incarcerating women who have a dependency on drugs or alcohol and have committed crimes due to their addiction.
The commission works closely with its appointing authorities and state legislators, particularly the Massachusetts Women's Legislative Caucus, to promote and pass legislation that positively impacts women and families of the Commonwealth.
The commission holds a substantial amount of power which includes the studying, reviewing and reporting on the status of women in the Commonwealth, advising executive and legislative bodies on the effect of proposed legislation of women, informing leaders of business, education, healthcare, state and local governments and the communications media of issues pertaining to women, providing referrals and serving as a resource of information on issues pertaining to women, identifying and recommending qualified women for positions at all levels of government as well as serving as a liaison between government and private interest groups concerned with issues affecting women.
Josh Walovitch can be reached at jwalovit@student.umass.edu
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