Dear Editor:

I’d like to weigh in on the “nonexistent” controversy regarding the appointment of Nora Spencer as the director of the Women’s Center and all the subsequent missteps there. First of all, while Andrew Moe may never have required the services of the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center and therefore never had much reason to get involved, many men and women at Vanderbilt have. If he’d spoken to anyone who was involved with the WC prior to Nora Spencer’s appointment, he never would have described it as “sorely (in) need” of “new life.” In fact, the Women’s Center exhibited an excess of life, something I would argue it is currently severely lacking. Walk by it at any time of day, and you’ll wonder why Spencer even bothers to come into work; the once cozy home for so many of us has become an untouchable, empty facade.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, allow me to describe the magnificent chaos that was the pre-Nora WC. The staff was a group of remarkable women who positively impacted an unknowable number of students at Vanderbilt. Students could be found on both floors meeting, planning, discussing, supporting, empowering, and sometimes even relaxing with each other and the staff, sharing experiences and constantly learning from each other. Rich friendships were formed, rewarding programs were planned and executed, and perhaps most important of all, survivors were counseled. The WC — specifically Project Safe — provided counseling services to anyone who needed them, and they came in early and stayed late most days before their jobs were terminated. Vicky Basra and Kacy Silverstein were welcoming, approachable and highly accessible; they made time for everyone who needed them. Furthermore, they and the rest of the staff advised all of the student groups associated with the Women’s Center, including Vanderbilt Feminists, Peer Educators, Every 2 Minutes, and more. The countless students who got involved one way or another came into contact with these admirable women, and together they provided a variety of moving, educational events, such as Take Back the Night (over 800 in attendance last year) and the Vagina Monologues (all three shows sell out year after year).

Where are those programs now? Where are the student groups? Nora Spencer’s appointment and the unjustifiable firings that followed have alienated nearly every student previously involved with the Women’s Center, and it’s not a sign of solidarity with those who were let go. Nora has not made any attempt to engage the students who love and need the Women’s Center. We have not received one single e-mail introducing the new staff, nor an invitation to discuss the changes with the new director, or any information on programming for the year. According to the Vanderbilt Events Calendar that was printed for this year, Take Back the Night is tonight, October 19. To the dismay of the many people who benefited from the event in years past, it appears to be postponed indefinitely. I attended my first Take Back the Night last October, and no one there could deny the deep, lasting impression left by the survivors who spoke out bravely after the march to Centennial Park. Women drove in from out of town just to share their stories for the first time. The support of the crowd lent strength to women who had been silenced by fear or circumstance.

Meaningful programs and an actively engaged student body are vital to the survival of the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center. Without them, the Center has arguably already lost its utility. To those of you disheartened by this unfortunate turn of events, I invite you to join Vanderbilt today as we demonstrate our disappointment with the administration’s uninformed decisions. We will meet at 12:55 p.m. on Alumni Lawn to begin the silent flash protest, which will end in time for people to make it to 1:10 classes. I urge you to join us as we show our support for the independence of the Women’s Center. On the Center’s Web site underneath the mission statement there are 10 declarations pledged in the way of “fulfilling our mission” (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/WomensCenter/about.html). None of those assurances are being carried out right now. If that disgusts you as much as it does me, I’ll see you on Alumni Lawn this afternoon.

Ashley Thomas

Senior, College of Arts and Science

Member of Take Back the Night' committee, Vagina Monologues and Peer Educators

Submitted by athomas on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:28.

Clarification

Some of the details of the search for a new director of the Women's Center were revealed by Provost McCarty himself in an e-mail he sent in response to students' reservations about appointing Nora Spencer to the directorship: " A search committee for the director of the Women’s Center was unable to identify a candidate from a local pool of applicants that matched with the qualifications of the position. · Given this outcome, I was faced with appointing a new interim director for the coming year while launching a national search. I decided that having an interim director for the coming academic year would place the Women’s Center in a compromised position and would limit its service to the university community. · I approached Ms. Nora Spencer about adding the directorship of the Women’s Center to her list of responsibilities. She was excited about the challenge and accepted my offer of a three-year appointment." He states that the search was local and that he opted not to launch a national search, instead appointing Spencer to the position.

Submitted by hohzo on Tue, 10/20/2009 - 00:20.

The Former Emperor's New Clothes

The reply titled "More Reponse" had a few problems. I would like to address a few of the more problematic passages. “All successful programming on Vanderbilt's campus in terms of LGBT initiatives have been completely student-driven to my knowledge” Nice touch, adding the phrase “to your knowledge,” which precludes the ability for the reader to gauge whether or not this phrase is accurate. Of course, the Office of LGBTQI Life is just over a year old, so it has not had decades of programming behind it. However, this ties into and leads to my objection to the next phrase. “all events organized by Spencer's office have been completely unorganized and poorly attended.” Such as? A overly generalized statement like that needs examples to have even the slightest credence. I know that the screening of _For the Bible Tells Me So_ was one of the most-attended International Lens events of Spring 2009. Anatomy of Identity: Gender Embodied also had a great turnout and was co-sponsored by the Commons’ Sutherland House and the Dance Program. The first-ever Transgender Day of Remembrance on campus had a solid turnout, depiste the cold, blustery weather that night. The Office additionally co-sponsored many “successful” events, including student-led ones, such as the many wonderful programs originated by Lambda, OUTLaw, and others during the wonderful Spring 2009 Rainbow ReVU. . Should the Office have wrested control of and credit for the events from the student-led initiatives to assert their leadership and authority? I do not believe so. Additionally, programs this year (Mel White's and Robyn Ochs's programs, e.g.) have had good attendance. “If Nora was truly competent in these fields with a firm command of advocacy and sociology, she would know better than to initiate such a drastic move.” Ah! So, the problem is _Nora_ herself. Perhaps if this letter writer had a better grasp of sociology, ze would realize that anyone with minimal reading skills can recognize an ad hominem attack masked in the guise of the stewardship of social justice. The former emperor’s new clothes are as transparent as ze is. “Some things I would like to point out: the search for the Director of the Women's Center was NOT a national search” Having been involved in an actual search committee at Vanderbilt, I know the proceedings are supposed to remain confidential. Unless you were on this search committee, you seem to have inside knowledge of the workings that are either speculative or were divulged to someone in a Gossip-Girl manner. Either way, the nigh contractual confidentiality of the proceedings is breached. “The final important point to notice is the fact that Kacy and Stacy were terminated for insubordination because of things they did NOT do.” Again, the administration doesn’t disclose such things, but you _seem_ to know a lot here. Why do you know this? How can you verify it? Whose loose lips led to their termination, I wonder? “Obviously, someone is lacking in social justice experience and diversity initiatives.” Just as some are trying to make a tempest in a teacup because ze has deep _personal_ issues with the director? That shows a lack of something.

Submitted by advocate35 on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 21:44.

More Response

First, I find it interesting that the editorial written by one, Andrew Moe, is the best Nora's defender can do. All successful programming on Vanderbilt's campus in terms of LGBT initiatives have been completely student-driven to my knowledge, and all events organized by Spencer's office have been completely unorganized and poorly attended. Props to the students for their ability to do fantastic programs in light of the individual obviously in the directorship of the LGBTQI Office.

Honestly, this decision is astonishing to anyone working in social justice issues. Women's and LGBT issues are equally important and cannot be meshed in this way. If Nora was truly competent in these fields with a firm command of advocacy and sociology, she would know better than to initiate such a drastic move.

Some things I would like to point out: the search for the Director of the Women's Center was NOT a national search and of course resulted in Nora herself as the director. However, the search for the Associate Director of the Women's Center WAS a national search and resulted in Nora's colleague from her previous institution getting the job. Questionable? Without a doubt. Furthermore, the combined staff of the Women's Center and LGBTQI Center (4 at this point) are ALL Caucasian. Obviously, someone is lacking in social justice experience and diversity initiatives.

The final important point to notice is the fact that Kacy and Stacy were terminated for insubordination because of things they did NOT do. In fact, the things they were accused of doing happened BEFORE Nora effectively took the position of director on July 1. Therefore, Nora was not their superior at the time they allegedly committed said acts of insubordination (which they did not do).

Please defend the Women's Center! This decision negatively affects our entire campus.

Submitted by athomas on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:19.

Response

The Take Back the Night event was posted to the website within the last 24 hours in response to news of our silent protest. I wish there were an actively engaged student presence, but the current administration/staff of the MCWC needs to recognize that most of us are unhappy with the decision and that in order to regain a vibrant student base, they need to reach out to us. The unfortunate truth is that many of us don't feel comfortable in a place where no one knows us, we know no one, and no effort is made to welcome us back through its doors.

Submitted by hohzo on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:12.

Take Back the Night

http://www.takebackthenight.org/calendar/index.php According to the website for Take Back the Night, the marches, etc., take place at different dates at different places. The calendar actually lists no events anywhere in the US for October 19.

Submitted by lilas on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:34.

Firstly, Take Back the Night

Firstly, Take Back the Night is a NATIONAL event. The time and date simply cannot be moved to fit the administration's agenda. Secondly, the women who were fired at the women's center were terminated for "insubordination." While it's sweet to assume that the university of Dean of Students Office would not fire someone unjustifiably, that assumption is ridiculously naive. In the opinion of the administration, "insubordination" means digging into personal email accounts and finding out that the women were simply unhappy with the new direction of Project Safe, which is supposed to focus less on assault and violence. Since Vanderbilt leads ALL of Tennessee universities with the highest numbers of sexual assaults against women, changing the direction of Project Safe in this way only serves to demonstrates the administration's lack of concern for its female students. The loss of Kacy, Stacy and Vicki combined with only ONE director for TWO very different student centers is a huge disappointment. Vanderbilt, which is supposed to be a top university, is letting its students down TREMENDOUSLY.

Submitted by hohzo on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 10:50.

Programs, etc.?

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/WomensCenter/calendar.html You complain about the programming at the MCWC, but several things are listed on the calendar at the website. Take Back the Night, which is indeed a moving and important event, is happening Nov. 17. The website even has links to a Facebook event. Additionally, I really doubt that the University or the Dean of Students Office would fire someone “unjustifiably.” Finally, you say you want an actively engaged student presence. Why can that not be done? I believe it could be accomplished and could flourish if one made an effort to work within the system.

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Women's Center alienates students