American Association for Affirmative Action Mourns the Passing of its First President, Betty Harman Newcomb

AAAA Founder was a recognized civil and women's rights leader *May 23, 1926 to January 13, 2013*        Washington, DC - January 24, 2013  - The Founder and first President of the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), Betty Harmon Newcomb, passed away on January 13, 2013 from heart arrest and Alzheimer's disease. "The officers and directors of the American Association for Affirmative Action extend our sincere condolences to the family of Ms. Betty Newcomb on her passing", said Gregory T. Chambers, AAAA President.  Betty Harman Newcomb was born Betty Francis Harman, in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 23, 1926, to Isabel and Blaine Harman. Born in Maryland, where she spent her formative years, she attended Goucher College and graduated from the University of Maryland. Betty earned her M.A. in English from Ball State University.  Ms. Newcomb was appointed Director of Affirmative Action at Ball State University in 1973, a position she held until her retirement in 1987.     Betty was an ardent feminist and staunch advocate for minority rights throughout her life. She commenced her activism as a board member of the League of Women Voters of Indiana in 1959; soon after the Muncie League was formed. She counts one of the milestones of her life as sharing a committee with Alice Stokes Paul, the famous feminist, suffragist and political strategist and author of the Equal Rights Amendment. From 1970 to 1972, she organized and led a successful national caucus within the League of Women Voters to gain endorsement for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).  Indiana became the 35th and final state to ratify the ERA but the amendment fell 3 states short of the total needed for its passage. In her greatest achievement for minority and women's rights in 1973, and shortly after her appointment as Affirmative Action Director for Ball State, Betty Newcomb founded the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization for directors of equal opportunity affirmative action programs that now numbers more than a thousand institutional members. The AAAA was Betty's most successful effort to provide equal opportunity for women and minorities. She saw the organization as a way to effect change through collaboration between the two groups most disadvantaged by discrimination in educational institutions.  She said, "Minorities were then fighting women's efforts for equal access until their common interests were both served by the AAAA. " Ms. Newcomb served on the AAAA board for several years and also as President from 1978 to 1979. In addition, she wrote, edited and published most of the articles for the AAAA newsletter between 1973 and 1978. As author of the AAAA newsletter, she had a significant role in the early articulation and implementation of the Title IX Policy in colleges and universities across the nation as well as a significant role in the implementation of sexual harassment policy in colleges and universities. These programs have largely eliminated inequality in university and college sports programs, spurred women and minority enrollment in colleges and universities throughout the United States, and greatly diminished the threat of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation in educational settings.  In her retirement, Betty also helped found the Veteran's Feminists of America (VFA). "As the founder and first President of the Association, Betty was a lifelong champion for equal rights and a foe of discrimination and harassment. Her spirit and dedication will live on through her many AAAA friends and colleagues," said AAAA President Chambers. Betty Newcomb was the devoted mother of Blaine Newcomb, Philip Newcomb and Murray Newcomb and cherished grandmother of Nicolas, Ming Lee, and Arielle Newcomb. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert Howard Newcomb, who died February 1st, 2012.   ###

About American Association for Affirmative Action The American Association for Affirmative Action is the association of professionals managing affirmative action, equal opportunity, diversity and other human resource programs. Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) assists members to be more successful and productive in their careers. AAAA also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality, diversity and inclusion in employment, economic and educational opportunities.

American Association for Affirmative Action Gregory T. Chambers President American Association for Affirmative Action Shirley J. Wilcher Executive Director

Why Judges Can't Hear Each Other on Affirmative Action

By Garrett Epps, The Atlantic

There are many reasons to defend affirmative action—opening the doors of society to those who have been excluded, for one, and compensating present-day discrimination that minorities encounter throughout their lives. If those reasons were legitimate, then I think the Sixth Circuit majority would be on relatively firm ground. But currently the courts insist those reasons do not count. But they are the only things that the judges are thinking about, and lawyers can't address them. Until we agree on our terms, the constitutional dialogue on affirmative action will be like dinner at the most miserable Christmas dinner table ever.

Full Story:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/12/why-judges-cant-hear-each-other-on-affirmative-action/265938/

Michigan will 'wait and see' how affirmative action fares in federal courts before changing policy

By KellieWoodhouse, Higher education reporter

University officials are hesitant to reinstate formerly used affirmative action policies due to the possibility the ruling could be further appealed and because of an ongoing U.S. Supreme Court case that is examining the lawfulness of affirmative action.



Full Story:
http://www.annarbor.com/news/mary-sue-coleman-michigan-will-wait-and-see-how-affirmative-action-fares-in-federal-courts-before-ch/

Cornell University Takes Steps to Address Sexual Assault and Harassment

Women in Academia Report
Posted on Nov 21, 2012

Several incidents of sexual assault and harassment have occurred on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. In response the university has taken a number of steps to address the situation.
A task force was created to address issues concerning education and training, campus climate, victim support services, and enforcement. The university’s Women’s Resource Center created the Sexual Violence Prevention Working Group to design solutions to the university’s shortcomings in dealing with issues of sexual assault and harassment. Three Cornell University police officers have received special training in investigating alleged cases of sexual assault. Campus lighting was improved in areas where needed.

Full Story: http://www.wiareport.com/2012/11/cornell-university-takes-steps-to-address-sexual-assault-and-harassment/?utm_source=Women+In+Academia+Report&utm_campaign=f092688925-Women_in_Academia_Report_6_14_116_13_2011&utm_medium=email

AAAA Conference 2013 Call for Presenters

 

 

AAAA CONFERENCE 2013

CALL FOR PRESENTERS

 

The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is seeking presenters to share their expertise, passion and commitment to promoting diversity and affirmative action with a national audience during our 2013 National Conference and Annual Meeting in San Antonio from May 7 to May 10.  Our theme for the Conference is “Diversity on Trial: The Compelling Case for Affirmative Action in Education and the Workplace.”

 

We are seeking presentations from professionals with expertise on the challenges facing affirmative action in Higher Education, Government, and the Private Sector.  We encourage presentations that address our theme as well as other emerging issues, trends, analyses and perspectives related to diversity and affirmative action in education and the workplace.  There are tremendous benefits to participation including:

 

·         National recognition

·         Opportunities to learn and share experiences with others

·         Networking

·         Professional development

·         Complimentary Conference registration

 

Presentations will be one hour and fifteen minutes in length, including time for questions and answers.  Ideally, presentations should help conference attendees put theory into practice. Presentation format and suggested topics are detailed in the following pages.

 

AAAA is a national, not-for-profit association of professionals working in areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, human resources and diversity in both the public and private sectors. Our mission is to promote the understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equity in employment, economic, and educational opportunities.  For more information about AAAA, please contact us at:

 

AAAA

888 16^th Street NW, Suite 800

Washington, D.C. 20006

(202) 355-1399

aaaaconference2013@affirmativeaction.org

www.affirmativeaction.org

 To see the complete Call for Presenters with submission criteria, click here:

 

http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1101929144254-118/AAAA+Conference+2013++Final+Call+for+Presenters+112012.pdf

 

Proposals must be submitted electronically by December 14, 2012 to the following:

 

Matthew J. Camardella

camardem@jacksonlewis.com