Conference on Sexual Harassment
Wed, March 23, 2011 • 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM • Student Activity Center
Cathy McBroom and Donna Wilkerson, Keynote Speakers
Free and Open to the Public
On March 23, 2011 the Center for Women's and Gender Studies will sponsor a day-long Conference on Sexual Harassment. We will honor keynote speakers Cathy McBroom and Donna Wilkerson, who were featured in the Texas Monthly article “Perversion of Justice” written by Skip Holliandsworth in December 2009 (http://www.texasmonthly.com/2009-12-01/feature4.php). Through their bravery, these women exposed the pervasive sexual harassment and assault by their boss, Federal Judge Samuel Kent, resulting in his impeachment and ultimate incarceration in federal prison. We are thrilled to help these women share this incredible story with the university and Austin community. See a short You Tube video of the testimony of Ms. McBroom and Ms. Wilkerson.
The conference will be held in the new Student Activity Center. All events are free and open to the public, but please register as there is limited seating:
Register here:
http://cwgssexualharassmentconference.eventbrite.com/
Center for Women’s and Gender Studies
Conference on Sexual Harassment
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
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Student Activity Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Student Activity Center
2201 Speedway
Austin, TX 78712
Click for map of Student Activity Center
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Schedule of Events
Legal and Policy Perspectives: Federal Law and UT Policy
10:00am – 11:30am, Room 2.120 (Opening Remarks by President William Powers)
In the eyes of the law, what constitutes harassment? How does UT Policy dovetail with Federal Law? Often there are misunderstandings about these issues and such misunderstandings can impair a victims ability to protect themselves personally and legally. Come join us to discuss these issues with university attorneys and equal opportunity administrators.
- Zipporah Wiseman, LLB., Professor at the School of Law – Moderator
- Linda Millstone, MPA, Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Workforce Diversity, Equal Opportunity Services
- Susan Bradshaw, J.D., Associate Vice President For Legal Affairs
- Latoya Hill, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Students
Gender Equity Report: Two Years Later
1:00pm – 2:30pm, Room 2.120
What were the gender equity report findings with regards to the incidence of sexual harassment on the UT campus? How has the report shifted university priorities over the last two years? Where do we go from here in terms of continuing to raise awareness and enforce policy in cases of sexual harassment? Architects of the gender equity report as well as scholars will attempt to address these difficult questions.
- Susan Heinzelman, Ph.D., Director for the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies; Associate Professor of English – Moderator
- Judith Langlois, Ph.D., Vice Provost, Member of the President’s Council for Gender Equity
- Gretchen Ritter, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Faculty Governance
- Omi Jones, Ph.D., Director Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, Associate Professor Department of African and African Diaspora Studies
Interconnections between Race, Gender, and Sexual Harassment
3:00pm – 4:30pm, Room 2.120
At its core, sexual harassment is about power. Understanding such acts includes understanding the multitude of power structures that exist in our culture. Harassment can be multifaceted and include race, gender, and sexual orientation. Join our distinguished cultural scholars in learning more about this issue.
- Michele R. Guzmán, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Research and Evaluation, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health – Moderator
- Ixchel Rosal, MPA, Director Gender and Sexuality Center; Division of Diversity and Community Engagement
- Madeline Hsu, Ph.D., Director Center for Asian American Studies; Associate Professor Department of History
- Christine Williams, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Sociology
Keynote Address
5:00pm, Ballroom
Cathy McBroom and Donna Wilkerson
Reception
Following the Keynote Address, Ballroom
From Skip Hollandsworth’s Texas Monthly article written about their story:
As the most powerful jurist in Galveston, Judge Samuel Kent intimidated everyone: the lawyers who argued cases before him, the defendants and plaintiffs who appeared in his courtroom—and the female courthouse employees he groped, kissed, and forced himself on when no one was looking. Imperious, charismatic, and seemingly above the law, he almost got away with it. Until one woman decided to fight back.
Come hear Cathy and Donna tell their amazing story.
Sponsored by: Co-sponsored by the Office of the President, College of Fine Arts, and The Center for Women in Law
