Blog Archive » 2007 » November

An article in slate.com this morning ruminates on the potential implications for women's leadership if Hillary Clinton succeeds in her quest for the presidency. Specifically, the article (entitled, in Slate's loquaciously satiric fashion, "It Takes A Village…To Fail To Thank Its Female Leader No Matter How Good She Is")discusses research on village councils in India that reveals that in places where women become civic leaders, the amount and quality of services to citizens improve, but the ratings of the leaders go down.

The question that emerges from this study is whether women leaders have a harder time being accepted/appreciated because of gender. The article goes on to discuss a different study at Harvard Business School in which, given the same fact pattern about a corporate CEO except that some students got a fact pattern with "Howard" as the CEO and some students had a CEO named "Heidi," with both being equally competent, the researchers (Anderson and Flynn) found that "…students described the female version of the character as overly aggressive, and were much less likely to want to work with or hire her. So the decisive, assertive traits that are often valued in leaders are received very differently when observed in women than when seen in men. Howard was a go-getter. Heidi was unlikably power-hungry."

Do women leaders have a harder time winning respect and acceptance? Research like the Harvard case study and the Indian village poll results is interesting. And, from my own long experience and many conversations over the years with other women who are university presidents and corporate CEO's, I know that we all sometimes encounter situations where gender becomes an overt barrier. Earlier in my career, I actually had male college presidents take me aside and counsel me to be more quiet in meetings, to be careful not to make my presence felt too much. I ignored that "brotherly" advice! But I've also had some women insinuate similar views, though not as directly. I've often said that as women move up the corporate ladder, we can see the glass ceiling even more clearly, and actually sometimes see what's happening on the other side. We're sometimes even surprised to see women on the other side of the glass ceiling putting reinforcements in place against our efforts to shatter the glass — gender discrimination is not always just a male versus female problem. See how Hillary fares in some polls among women.

But let's not overplay the reality. Yes, women leaders are still a relatively new phenomenon in too many places. At the same time, the more progress we make, the closer we get to the broad acceptance of women leaders — in the boardroom, the executive suite, even in the Oval Office.

We will be studied for generations to come, and we will certainly find gender differences and conflicts along the way. We must not let the research and findings be barriers to our progress, but rather, challenges to inspire even greater efforts to make permanent change in the ability of every woman to achieve whatever position she can reach on her own merits.

This is why it's so important that the "Hillary" debates stay focused on substance, not gender. Women's progress depends on our talent and competence, not on any sympathy or affinity vote. Let's prove what we can do — and let's accept the consequences of being leaders without complaint. The more progress we make, the more fire we may draw. That's the price we pay for being leaders, but the results are more than worth the effort.

See hillary, women leaders, womens-rights

In a flash, the six turnovers last Sunday no longer matter. Getting the "W" column fixed seems trivial. Playoff hopes, still well-nurtured just yesterday, now fading to a dull ache beneath the sharp sorrow of the unthinkable loss.

You don't have to be a Redskins fan to feel disturbed by the death of Sean Taylor, murdered in his Florida home in an apparent burglary.

Already, incessant cyberspace chatter hurls accusations and proclamations: another young Black man falls victim to gun violence; why care more about a celebrity than the thousands of dead and wounded youth whose names are known only to their loved ones; please, there's a war on, let's focus on more important things; what was really going on in that house. So goes the chatter out there on blogs and talk radio and in bars and backrooms.

Amid the dross, some kernels of truth: the only game that matters is the Game of Life. Some of that emerges in the recognition that this young man was beginning to grow up, that fatherhood had made him seem more mature, that he was becoming a team leader.

Another truth: we reap what we sow. A society that does not stand for peace must live with the consequences of violence. Sean Taylor is now one more famous face on the plague of violence in this nation. No one can escape — not the wealthy athlete living behind the gate, not the celebrity musician gunned down on the street, not the impoverished child on her front stoop. Violence respects no class, no status, no race, no age.

Guns. Yes, guns are only inanimate objects until they become weapons of personal destruction in the hands of criminals, madmen and suicidal people. But guns are destroying people in this country at an alarming rate. Politicians who think nothing of mandating seat belts and smoke-free restaurants look the other way when it comes to guns. Shame on them.

Our laws reflect our social values. Legislation that says "no" to guns may not end violence, but such laws proclaim the society's expectation for peace and security. A society that does not have the willpower to enact laws that reflect such values will never escape the consequences.

Pray for Sean Taylor's family, fellow players, fans trying to make sense of the senseless. Pray for all of the victims of gun violence in this nation. And, pray that at some point this nation will have the courage to act against this violence in a truly meaningful way, taking up the cause of peace and justice, fighting for what is right. In the words of legendary labor leader Mother Jones: "Pray for the dead. Fight like hell for the living."

See Washington Post coverage

I spent a part of this afternoon before Thanksgiving watching the Trinity Tigers Basketball Team mount a valiant effort against the Catholic University Cardinals. Today's strong showing followed a game last evening at the Trinity Center against Christopher Newport College. What do basketball games have to do with my Thanksgiving message? Well, I found myself reflecting on the fact that I am so grateful to all of the women and men who work so hard to teach our students well, and among our many great teachers here at Trinity, our athletics coaches sometimes do not get the recognition they deserve. They are some of the most valuable teachers in the lives of some of our students. They have helped many young women develop specific skills in particular sports while also learning the lifelong skills of leadership, discipline, health and conditioning, good competitive spirit and the ability to accept loss without bitterness but with a good measure of determination to improve tomorrow.

Our coaches work hard, often coming to work with our teams after full days at other jobs. They work odd hours during the playing seasons, traveling with the teams and supervising the students on the road trips — study halls are part of the deal, as well as recruiting the next crop of student athletes in each sport.

Most important, our coaches make us glad because we can see the fine results of their hard work in the performance of our student athletes. I'm a big fan of all of our teams, as everyone knows, and I find few pastimes more satisfying than watching our teams compete well. Victories may be occasional, but that's not the real gladness — seeing how well our students have prepared for the games, knowing that students and coaches have devoted a great deal of time to practice, realizing that some of our students are now varsity players in sports they never imagined they could play just last summer — this is what makes me glad, and causes me to pause to give thanks for our coaches: Gary Blake and Briana Green in Basketball; Beth Stone (who is also our Sports Information Director) and Erik Beall in Soccer; Liz Scheiner in Volleyball; and new this year, Kevin Bembridge and Marvin Parker who are developing a Cross Country team, and Caron Whitaker working on the Swim Team. In the spring, we'll cheer for Lacrosse whose coach, Kristine Manning, does double-duty as Athletics Director, and Ellen McEwen, our Tennis coach and Associate Athletics Director.

Many thanks as well to Chad Jones, our tireless Athletics Trainer who keeps our athletes healthy.

And of course, the Athletics Program would not be where it is today without the overall guidance and outstanding work of Trinity Center Executive Director Becky Vuksta, Assistant Director Jamie Burket and the excellent staff of the Trinity Center. Thanks to the good work of the Trinity Center staff, everyone at Trinity can enjoy a broad variety of fitness, wellness and recreational sports activities.

Let me take this opportunity to thank all of our student athletes as well — we have other occasions to celebrate their achievements, and you can see their photos on the screen in the Well from time to time. But they also wear our school colors proudly, and they work hard to represent Trinity well in every game. I am proud of these students and the level of excellence they strive to achieve in each game. We're not a big "sports school" and that's as it should be, since the academic and intellectual life of every student is why Trinity exists. But as our partners at the Women's Sports Foundation have documented regularly, a fine athletics program is a vital part of an excellent educational program for women, and Trinity's Athletics Department has become a truly vital part of the lives of many of our students.

Of course, I also have to thank all of the many fans — students, families, faculty, staff, friends. The many fans who come out to root for the teams, often wearing Trinity colors and cheering loudly, also are a source of great joy and encouragement for our student athletes and coaches.

In this season, in thanking the coaches, athletes and fans, I want to highlight just a few of the people who contribute so much to the education of students at Trinity. Of course, I am immensely grateful to the faculty and staff for all of the hard work accomplished each day. We have so many generous benefactors, loyal alumnae and alumni, great friends and distinguished leadership on our Board of Trustees.

To everyone who has given us reason to cheer for Trinity this year, who have brightened our days and been sources of true gladness — many thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Political engagement has long been a hallmark of Trinity Women — and the current generation of Trinity students continues this tradition in a remarkable range of endeavors. Just last week a group of students from Trinity's College Republicans went to the Hill to visit with Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) (top photo, from left: Allyson Portee, Allison Dobbs, Lauren Romero, Senator Dole, Marie Smith, Melissa Borofsky) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) (bottom photo, from left: Allyson Portee, Allison Dobbs, Senator Murkowski, Lauren Romero, Melissa Borofsky, Marie Smith). The students and Senators talked about women in political leadership and how important it is for today's college women to think about their future leadership roles in society.

Trinity students today engage with a broad variety of political issues across an equally wide spectrum of political viewpoints. The Green Leaders Association led by Chrissy Palmer has undertaken the considerable task of educating the campus community about environmentally sensitive practices. The Student Anti-Genocide Coalition focuses on raising awareness about the crisis in Darfur. LACASA and BSA have been active with various community service projects. Many students have participated in demonstrations for peace, for justice in the Jena 6 cases, for immigration reform.

With the critical presidential election looming in 2008, I am quite sure that we can count on the College Republicans, College Democrats, third party advocates and independents on campus to keep all of the issues vibrant within the larger campus community. By modeling the best forms of political engagement among Trinity students, these women follow in the footsteps of Trinity's well known public political and civic leaders.

And, who knows, maybe someday we'll cheering wildly during the swearing-in ceremonies for Allyson or Allison or Lauren or Marie or Melissa or Chrissy or Tega or Ana or any one of dozens of today's most engaged Trinity students who offer great promise as tomorrow's public leaders. I urge all students to uphold Trinity's grandest traditions of leadership and civic engagement through getting involved in the program, party or issue of your choice. And, by the way, register to vote!

Just when you think that maybe the District of Columbia government is getting its act together, along comes the news of a scam so large, so breathtaking in its sheer audacity that even the cynics among us cannot quite believe that people charged with the public trust could be so profoundly corrupt. $20 million dollars has gone missing, not from any old government office, but the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, the very public officials charged with collecting our money to use it for the public good. Or, apparently, purchases of luxury goods at Nieman Marcus, several mansions, and who-knows-what else. All of this happened on the watch of D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Ghandi, a decent and smart financial manager whose good work in turning around the city's financial management and credit rating now appear to be at some risk of diminishment because of the utter corruption, selfishness and astonishing immorality of his subordinates.

The city and its citizens will be the biggest loser because of this scam. Already, out in the blog-o-sphere, those narrow minds who already take a dim view of the District are gloating over this latest example of humanity's dark side — as if corruption never happened in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago or elsewhere — Jack Abramoff and a few congressmen, anyone? But, sadly, for all the wrong reasons, people will use this incident to say, "See, I told you they couldn't govern themselves…" and the "they" word will be a thin veil over the racism that pervades too many perspectives on D.C. outside the Beltway, and even closer to home.

This large crime must not be allowed to tarnish the city's great progress in the last several years. D.C. has truly come a long way from the dark days of bad management and corruption that required the Congressional imposition of the Financial Control Board. With the leadership of Mayor Anthony Williams and now Mayor Adrian Fenty, the District of Columbia is steadily improving fiscally, reputationally, even educationally. The economic boom in the city is clear in many places where new homes and new businesses have replaced once-abandoned blocks. Chancellor Michelle Rhee is bringing new energy and vision to the D.C. Public Schools. Thousands of people — citizens, business leaders, academics and politicians — are working together to ensure that the District of Columbia continues to grow in stature and stability as the home town where the nation's capital also resides.

Mayor Fenty must act quickly to address the conditions in the D.C. Tax Office that allowed this shameful crime to occur. He and Chancellor Rhee must also act quickly to address another scandal that emerged last week concerning the management of student activity funds in the schools. The fact of these crimes is sad; but the measure of the city's strength will be found in how well and how quickly the leadership moves to root out the co-conspirators and put safeguards in place to be sure it doesn't happen again.

Here at Trinity, we take great pride in the community of honor, symbolized in the Honor Agreement that students sign as freshmen, and repeated and reinforced at every exam period. Sometimes, students wonder why Trinity is so strict about the Honor System. My response is: just read the newspaper. Sadly, in too many places, dishonesty seems to be the norm, and institutions and people suffer greatly because of the corruption of a few. Just ask the former employees of Enron or Worldcomm, giant corporations that collapsed because of the crimes of greed of their executives.

We who work in education in the District of Columbia need to redouble our efforts to teach our students the most fundamental moral values of honesty and integrity. Too many children grow up today in a public climate that tolerates lies and deception, in households that teach them to take whatever is available whether it belongs to them or not. Children absorb the moral values of the adult community. When a public scandal like this week's news breaks open, we need to use the opportunity to teach children about why this behavior is wrong — not just because these public officials got caught, but because they took what did not belong to them, even worse, money they had access to because the public trusted them to handle the money with integrity.

Read Colbert I. King's column on the scandal