Grosz, who chaired the committee that published the 1991 report, says she has been dissatisfied with the recent pace of progress towards equality for women.She says she believes the new task force will help speed things along.
"It has some impressive people on it, and they are committed to doing something," she says.
On the other hand, Franklin says she doubts whether the task force's attempts will succeed where so many others have failed.
To her, the task force seems like nothing more than the first step in an all-too-familiar progression: task force, to committee, to report, to obscurity.
Franklin says there is no point in hiring more female faculty if they are still marginalized and unhappy once they arrive.
"It's like tennis--you have to hit the ball and follow through," she says.