During a year when female representation on the Undergraduate Council is higher than ever, women are making their voices heard on women's issues.

The recent debate about equalizing male and female diplomas brought women from all over campus to Sever Hall. Some of them later joined the council because, in the words of Colleen T. Gaard '99, they were "appalled" by their own representatives' lack of concern for women's issues.

Most council members say women are still not adequately represented, and add that initiatives such as a new women's caucus have not yet effected a shift or change in the council's direction.

Different but Equal?

"[The diploma bill] incited such strong grassroots action from women on campus," says council member Emma C. Cheuse '99.

"Dozens came to the meeting to speak and guided the debate on the floor."

Cheuse, along with fellow members Anna M. Baldwin '00 and Ann E. Schneider '99, opposed the original piece of legislation.

The original bill mandated equal diplomas for male and female graduates of Radcliffe College. It did not specify how the diplomas would be equalized.

Currently, the University president, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Dean of Harvard College, and the House masters sign male diplomas. Female diplomas differ in that they display the signature of the president of Radcliffe College, instead of the Harvard College dean's signature.

The original sponsors of the bill say that since Harvard students of both genders receive the same education, they should receive identical diplomas.

But the bill's opponents saw the bill as an attack on Radcliffe, since the bill might have eliminated a mention of Radcliffe on the diplomas.

"The split that came up over women's diplomas reflects the ambiguity women have with their relationship with Radcliffe," says Rachel E. Barber '99, one of the sponsors.

The opposition sponsored an amendment which specified the addition of the Dean of the College's signature to female diplomas. This passed, and the bill's sponsors withdrew their support for the legislation.

The change was in a part a reaction to the large number of guests at the meeting who said they wanted to protect Radcliffe.

"Our bill expressed particular support of Radcliffe," says Cheuse. "It proposed to equalize the diplomas in terms of Harvard College."

But Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 declined to sign the bill, meaning he will not advocate the changes to University officials.

To change the diplomas, Harvard and Radcliffe would have to renegotiate their agreement of 1977, which stipulates that no change can be made to female diplomas. It was in this agreement that Radcliffe ceded female education to Harvard College.

"[Lewis] wanted to say clearly, 'Radcliffe does not come into the picture," Cheuse says. "His not signing confirmed my suspicions."

But council President Beth A. Stewart '00 says that a debate on Radcliffe is not dead.

"There's still a question on campus of what Radcliffe's role is," Stewart says.

While women stood on opposite sides of the diploma bill, the debate focused attention on women's role on the council, and sparked an increase in female membership.

One Chorus, One Caucus

A record number of women were elected to the council this fall, due in large part to the efforts of former council President Lamelle D. Rawlins '99, who actively sought to increase the diversity of the council. She ran an ad hoc committee to reach out to women and minorities on campus and encourage them to run for the council.

"Before [Rawlins] and [former council Vice President Mark A. Price '98] changed the image of the U.C. I didn't feel it was worth my time," Cheuse says. The recruiting efforts encouraged progressives to join the council, which is traditionally dominated by conservatives, according to Cheuse.

Despite the increased numbers of women, the council did not become a voice for them on campus, according to fall-term council Secretary Olivia Verma '00.

"I don't think any important legislation for women has been discussed at all," she says.

This perception led Gaard, who was elected to a vacant seat in Cabot House last month, to revive a council Women's Caucus at her very first meeting, last month.

"It's important to have women's perspectives," Gaard said. "There are no issues that are just women's issues but there are issues that women are more invested in than men.."

Gaard has created an e-mail list for the caucus open to all undergraduates. She hopes that the caucus will both recruit women for vacant council spots and inform those busy with other activities about the resources and opportunities the council can offer.

"This school has been a male bastion. We need to have women in leadership positions," Gaard says. "This is a training ground for the real world."

Gaard's effort is not the first attempt to organize women on the council, as a women's caucus led by Nicola A. McKinney '99 was formed last spring. Though many people came to the first several meetings, council members quickly lost interest.

"We discussed personal things, the role of women on the U.C. and problems that we might face," McKinney says.

"After they addressed these issues a little bit they felt like they should do new stuff."

McKinney says the caucus' mission was to make women feel comfortable participating in the council.

Last year's caucus focused more on women "on the council whereas Colleen [Gaard] has made it her goal to reach out to women not on the council," Stewart says.

Council men are generally positive about the new caucus.

"The guys aren't like, `Oh no we don't want campus safety!'" says council Vice President Samuel C. Cohen '00. "I don't see it as being a divisive thing."

But the spirit of unity is the most important goal of the caucus.

"Men can be representative of women as well," Barber says, but adds that the caucus can encourage council women to pursue theirs.

It was this spirit that brought this spring's high numbers.

"When I first began I went to a lot of the recruiting meetings," says Alison F. Egan '01, a council member. She says the meeting made it seem like council women had a united front.

Indeed increased direction can only help women voices. "The more issues there are that relate to women, the more women that will become involved," Cheuse says.