Elaine Kaylor, the new Women's Affairs commissioner for Student Senate, has always been interested in gender issues, including sexual assault. With plans for a new women's center in the works and Sexual Assault Awareness Week beginning Monday, Kaylor has a busy year ahead of her.
According to the Student Senate constitution, The commission works to educate both men and women in the community about the issues that are important to women
including curriculum issues university policy and state and federal legislation.
It goes beyond that said Kaylor, a junior health care administration major. There's a lot of reaching out to other women's organizations. They're very separated. I think that when we collaborate together
we can do amazing things just for women and gender issues.
Kaylor helped to reach out to other organizations that were unfamiliar with the Women's Affairs Commission.
She was a key player in establishing those relationships
said Brian Footer, Student Senate president. She's a hard worker with a good reputation.
For Sexual Assault Awareness Week, the commission is partnering with POWER, Promoting Ohio University Wellness, Education and Responsibility, with which Kaylor also is involved.
Kaylor said she is initiating a new program for Sexual Assault Awareness Week called Sex Signals
which is a skit to demonstrate different dating situations.
The program's motto is: Your voice is your best sex signal
meaning communication is the key, Kaylor said.
The commission also is working with the University Life Commission and Campus Safety Patrol on a safety campaign.
Each year, the Women's Affairs Commission organizes a walk to examine trouble areas on campus that might not have enough lighting. The commission reports its findings to the university.
As the Women's Affairs commissioner, Kaylor is also in charge of planning Take Back the Night Week in the spring, a banding together of women to speak out against sexual assault.
As vice commissioner last year, Kaylor sat on the Women's Center task force. Even though the center had overwhelming support, it probably will be debated until the center's opening day, Kaylor said.
A big part of it was deciding if it needed to be a women's center or a gender center
and I'm still torn
she said. Women are talkers -communicators. We need a common ground.
Kaylor also plans to continue the Moms' Weekend dance night, a fund-raiser for My Sister's Place, which is a women's shelter in Athens. She said she would also like to do something for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Women's History Month.
But funding is always a concern with the center and other events. Funding for the commission itself is up to Kaylor, Footer said. Kaylor will put together a proposal to be approved by the budget committee.
Elaine is very aware of the issues
and she is a vivacious person
said Linsey Pecikonis, the former Women's Affairs commissioner. She will take hold and take charge
