University Daily Kansan, October 10, 1983
Page 7
NOW official cites unequal computer access
By GINA K. THORNBURG Staff Reporter
School systems in the United States often do not provide equal access to computers for all of their students, the student or the National Organization for Women.
Women said saturday. Barbara Timmer, the executive vice president, discussed a variety of issues that concerned women in the law profession, at a morning seminar at Green Hall.
In her closing address, Timmer sait that the computer age had created new forms of discrimination among the sexes, the rich and the poor.
She said that computers were not being introduced equally into the high schools because rich school systems could not afford them, computers, and poor school systems could not.
"THERE SHOULD be a center for various schools," she said, so that students from both rich and poor school districts would have the same access to computers.
Timmer told an audience of about 70 that computers were generally set up in school math departments, which were typically dominated by males.
"Boys take more math," because boys don't see it as a choice, and girls do.
Boys view math as a necessity for
future jobs, she said, whereas girls grow up thinking that they have other options. Girls often are afraid of computers and machinery.
Girls are not putting their hands on computers as boys are, she said, because girls rarely have had the opportunity to work with computers.
'Timmer' described a scene at a typical junior high school in which the girls were standing behind the boys, who were working at computer terminals. The girls would cheer the boys on, amazed at the boys could do with the computers.
PARENTS SHOULD monitor how computers are being used in their children's schools and should run for them. They can also help make decisions, she said.
In addition to parents, women attorneys have a special place in making sure that computer technology is used equally among people. Timmer said.
Parents on school boards should demand that the educational programs be modified just as much as necessary.
She said that women need to try to change the traditions that have prompted them.
"As a civil rights advocate, change to no matter important and necessary," she said.
Women attorneys should help change employment trends so that more
women are more involved with designing and using computer data, she
"THE MAJORITY of women who are going into computer work are putting in data," she said, "whereas men are retrieving data."
Timmer that women law students should take computer and math courses which would prepare them to work with computers. A lack of computer skills would be detrimental to their careers.
She said that when she was in college, she did not take courses in mathematics.
In addition to being literate in computers, lawyers should have a strong liberal arts background, she said.
"TELECOMMUNICATION law cuts across so many different areas," she said. "You have to know how technology affects what you're doing."
"I did what girls and women were supposed to do in school," she said. "Now I'm in an information age, and I have to catch up."
Public policies in computer technology are not yet settled, Timmer said, and attorneys have the power to force the formation of policies in this area.
"People listen to what you have to say more than they would if you weren't a lawyer," she said.
SIGN UP TO SAVE A LIFE! RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
(Oct.18-20)
Appointments taken on Tues. & Wed., Oct. 11 & 12 in front of the Kansas Union, Satellite Union and Wescoe Beach.
Residence Halls & Scholarship Halls, Fraternities & Sororitiessee your rep.
BLOOD IS LIFE . . . PASS IT ON!
Sponsored by Interfraternity Council & Panhellenic Assoc.
ON CAMPUS
THE KU MOUNTAINEERING Association will meet at 7 p.m. in the Oread Room of the Kansas Union.
THE LIFE ISSUE Seminar titled "The Committed Marriage: A Christian Perspective" will meet at 4:30 p.m. at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center, 1204 Oread Ave.
TODAY
THE STUDENT CREATIVE Anachronists will meet at 8 p.m. in the Union.
THE PHOTOJOURNALISM Students Association will present Rich Clarkson, assistant managing editor graphics at the Denver Post, giving
THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINAR titled "The Life and Thought of Thomas Merton" will meet at 4:30 p.m. at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center to discuss "Discovery of the East."
a slide presentation at 4 p.m. in Room 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
TOMORROW
CHARLES STANISFER, professor of Latin American studies and history, will give a speech titled "The Process of Revolution in Sandinista Nicaragua" at 8 p.m. in Room 203 Green Hall.
THE TAU SIGMA Dance Club will meet at 7 p.m. in Studio 242 of Robinson Center.
CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR Christ will meet at 7 p.m. in the Big Eight Room of the Union.
THE KANSAS TEACHER of the Year, Patricia Boyd, will address the School of Education Student Enrollment in the Jayhawk Room of the Union.
CAMPUS CHRISTIAN Fellowship will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Campus Christian House, 1118 Indiana.
THE KU SWORD AND Shield will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the Walnut Room of the Union.
KIHK'S ALTERNATIVE Conversations program will feature George Wedge discussing alcohol awareness at 6 p.m. on FM 91.
842-0600
WHIP THE WILDCATS FUN RUN
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PHONE___
STUDENT___FACULTY/STAFF___OPEN.
THIS IS AN INFORMAL RECREATIONAL RUN IN WHICH THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE FOR AN ENJOYABLE RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
** ENTRIES DUE BY 5 p.m., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 IN 208 ROBINSON
** RACE IS AT 10 a.m., SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 AT THE SHENK COMPLEX, 23rd & IOWA
THIS IS A FREEBIE!!!! SPONSORED BY RECREATION SERVICES