http://www.onenewsnow.com/Printer.aspx?id=126430Lesbian poised to lead UW-Madison
Ryan J. Foley - Associated Press Writer - 5/30/2008 7:40:00 AM
MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Madison is set to become the biggest university with an openly homosexual leader, according to homosexual-rights advocates who hail the appointment as a milestone for the movement.
Cornell University Provost Biddy Martin was recommended Wednesday to be the next chancellor at UW-Madison, a top national research university with 40,000 students. Martin, the number-two official at Cornell since 2000, is a professor of women's studies and German studies and author of the 1995 book Femininity Played Straight: The Significance of Being Lesbian.
About eight to 10 openly homosexual people have become college presidents and chancellors but mostly at small colleges, said Candace Gingrich of the Human Rights Campaign. "None the size of UW-Madison," she said in a phone interview. "It is a big milestone, and it's part of the progress that we're seeing at the college and university levels. When you've got more and more openly gay faculty members and openly gay administrators, there are bound to be those who want to aspire to presidencies and chancellorships."
UW System spokesman David Giroux said Martin's sexual orientation was not a factor in her appointment, which is expected to be confirmed by the Board of Regents next week. "What she is, in our eyes, is an exceptionally qualified academic leader. Period," Giroux said. "And she was brought here so she can apply that considerable experience to our flagship campus and move us forward in areas of education and research."
Amit Taneja, co-chairman of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, said Martin follows in the footsteps of other openly homosexual university leaders including Ralph Hexter, president of Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass., and Chuck Middleton, president of Roosevelt University in Chicago. "They have been trailblazers in showing to the public that sexual orientation has little to nothing to do with their ability to do their job, although it definitely shapes their worldview just like any other identity," Taneja said.
Through a UW-Madison spokesman, Martin downplayed the significance of her appointment for the homosexual rights movement. "Although she certainly appreciates the sentiment, she believes the focus and responsibility of her chancellorship is to make sure that all constituencies at UW-Madison are treated fairly," spokesman Dennis Chaptman said.
The appointment was met with enthusiasm among UW-Madison's homosexual employees, who were devastated when voters approved a constitutional ban on same-sex "marriage" in 2006. They have fought Republican lawmakers unsuccessfully to grant them domestic partner benefits.
Women's studies professor Jeanne Boydston, chairwoman of a university committee on homosexual, bisexual and transgender issues, said she was delighted Martin has a background in humanities and a commitment to undergraduate education. "And yes, I'm tickled to death to have an out gay person as chancellor," she said. "This is a savvy and experienced woman but certainly the appointment gives some encouragement to LGBT people."
Students at the LGBT campus center erupted in cheers when they learned Martin got the job. She was the only one of four finalists who stopped there to chat during her campus visit, said Eric Trekell, its director.
Topic: Lesbian poised to lead University of Wisconsin - Madison (Read 951 times)