Blatant sexism' to be on trial By JIM NAPOLI of the Cardinal Staff An amendment that would take the "blatant sexism" out of the rules for the Dane County Board has been introduced-by a man. Madison Supervisor David E. Clarenbach (Dist. 4), has proposed an amendment that would substitute the term "Chairperson" for "Chair- man" and make over 70 other changes in the language of the rules to make all references to gender non-specific. "IT IS ONLY through deleting these cases of blatant sexism that we can hope to change more subtle attitudes," Clarenbach said in a press release on his proposed amendment. The proposal will probably be referred to the board's judiciary com- mittee at its April 5 meeting, he said. Clarenbach admitted he had not consulted with any of the five women on the board before drawing up his bill. "The real problem is that there isn't any planned action or com- munication between board members. The liberal faction is really split up." He noted, however, that he first announced his proposal at a meeting of the Second Congressional District Women's Political Caucus. Madison Supervisor Mary Kay Baum, District 9, said she had also intended to draw up a bill to eliminate "sexism" from the board's rules. She added that although she hadn't yet seen Clarenbach's proposal, she would "probably support it, as long as it includes all the necessary changes.' WGT 3/30/73 Lunney Executive Write-In Pushed A group of liberal City Coun- cil and County Board members is urging a write-in vote for Wil- liam Lunney for county execu-| tive. They are Supervisors Roney Sorensen, Dist. 5; Mary K. Baum, Dist. 9; Eddie Handell, Dist. 8; David Clarenbach, Dist. 4; Ald. Susan Kay Phillips, Dist. 9; aldermanic candidates Tim Slater, Dist. 5, and Fred Kreu- ziger, Dist. 4. Lunney was defeated in the Mar. 6 primary. Anti-Sexist Rule Change Proposed An amendment to the rules of the Dane County Board that would substitute "chairperson" for "chairman" and make more than 70 other changes in refer- ences to members has been pro- posed by Supervisor David Clar- enbach, Dist. 14. "There are presently five women serving on the County Board and undoubtedly more will be serving in the future. By having the rules reflect a na- tionwide change in attitude in this regard, we can make fur- ther progress in the fight for equal rights for women," Clar- enbach said. He said the use of terms like "chairman" presumes that a woman either will not or cannot fill the position. "It is only through deleting these cases of blatant sexism that we can hope to change more subtle attitudes," he said. Beyond changing the "chair- man" references, the resolution calls for the addition of the words "or her" to every refer- ence to "his", and the addition of "or she" to every reference to "he." 4/13 CT "Environmental Goals for Roadsides' Workshop Set "Environmental Goals for Topics for discussion by high Roadside Maintenance." an all-way officials, game specialists day workshop for people in-botanists and other experts wil include identification of native volved with management of rights-of-ways along Dane species, the concerns of utili County Highways, will be held ties, esthetics, and problem with recent maintenance prac here Friday, April 13. tices. The workshop, sponsored by The Natural Beauty Counc the Dane County Natural Beauty Committee planning the work Council and the Dane County shop includes Olive Thomson Highway Department, is sched- Mt. Horeb; Mrs. Daryl David uled for 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in son, Belleville; and Count the Highway Administration Board Supervisors David Cla Building, 2302 Fish Hatchery enbach, Madison, and Claren Severson, Sun Prairie. Rd. --- FROM: Supervisor David E. Clarenbach 136 E. Gorham Street Madison, Wisconsin 53703 H: 251-2528; 0: 266-3518 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 1973 page 2 Board, but assuming leadership positions on key committees and commissions." A proposed amendment to the Rules of the Dane County Board which would substitute the word "Chairperson" for "Chairman" and make over 70 other changes which would place women on the Board on an equal footing with men, has been introduced by Madison Supervisor David E. Clarenbach (District 4). Speaking at a meeting of the Second Congressional District Women's Political Caucus, Clarenbach said, "There are presently five women serving on the County Board, and undoubtedly more will be serving in the future. By having the rules reflect a nation-wide change in attitude in this regard, we can make further progress in the fight for equal rights for Π women." "Language which is not specific to one gender or another is coming into greater use by legislative bodies and in governmental publications. It is not unusual to find a 'chairperson' of a state task force or of a federal department. It is time for Dane County to catch up," Clarenbach said. "By the rules of the County Board saying 'the Chairman shall do this' or 'his duties shall include that,' we are presuming that a woman either will not or cannot fill that spot. There are over 70 examples of this offensive language in the rules." "It is only through deleting these cases of blatant sexism that we can hope to change more subtle attitudes," Clarenbach said. "Dane County has adopted an affirmative action plan for its own employees. Women are playing an ever-increasing role in county activities, not only through serving on the County In the proposed rule change, where ever the word "Chairman" appears, the word "Chairperson" shall be substituted, where ever the word "his" appears, the words "or her" shall be added, and where ever the word "he" appears, the words "or she" shall be added. MORE - --- AMENDING THE RULES OF THE DANE COUNTY BOARD AS THEY RELATE TO GENDER WHEREAS there are presently five women serving on the Dane County Board, with undoubtedly more to come; and WHEREAS the County Board has adopted an affirmative action plan for its own employees; and WHEREAS women are playing an ever-increasing role, through participation and leadership, in county activities; and WHEREAS language which is not specific to one gender or another is coming into greater use by legislative bodies and governmental publications; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Rules of the Dane County Board be amended so that where ever the word "Chairman" appears, the word "Chairperson" shall be substituted; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that where ever the word "Vice-Chairman" appears, the word "Vice-Chairperson" shall be substituted; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that where ever the word "Chairmanship" appears, the word "Chairpersonship" shall be substituted; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that where ever the word "his" appears, the words "or her" shall be added; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that where ever the word "he" appears, except in Rule XVII, the words "or she" shall be added. submitted by: David E. Clarenbach Dane County Board District 4 ---