Pass

NIU Center of the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality will be hosting a “Feminist Politics/Queer Methods” seminar that will give students insight in to the struggles of a community they are most likely unfamiliar with. The goal of the seminar is to educate students about the politics and research of gender and sexuality. This will give students the chance to understand the challenges that these women face everyday. Students will gain a new perspective about the LGBTQIA community, and understand the struggles which is important because some people may have questions about this community that they feel are sensitive which may make them hesitant to ask in other situations.

Fail

Biological sciences professor Virginia Naples brought the issue of salary inequality to the attention of the Board of Trustees in 2006, but it is disappointing to see that no attempt at improvement has been made. I agree with Naples that actions speak louder than words and while the university has shown concern for the issue, they have yet to do anything about it. There is a wage gap of $8,000 between professors of the College of Liberal Arts and Science due to gender, according to a Monday Northern Star article. This wage gap should not exist and it is sad that salary inequality is still a major issue in today’s society. Although I commend NIU for planning to implement a salary equity task force, until that task force is actually created I feel the university is failing to create an equal work environment.