graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 will officially premiere a new short documentary on campus this month spotlighting systemic oppression facing a Pakistani woman. PhD student, Haider Rifaat directed, wrote, narrated and produced In Shackles, which will be screened on Friday, January 24, at 1 p.m. in , Room 306.

The short documentary chronicles the life of Shamim, a 34-year-old Pakistani woman navigating the harsh realities of a patriarchal society in a village in Islamabad. Her story focuses on forced marriage and sexual violence, which are connected to more complex societal problems facing Pakistanis, including religious hypocrisy, impact of family conditioning on children and the culture of silence surrounding violence.

“The film鈥檚 title In Shackles is a metaphor to describe helplessness of a woman experiencing personal and professional problems that are connected to broader, more complex societal issues in Pakistan,” said Rifaat.

At only 29 years, Rifaat, who produced the film under his production label Haider Rifaat (HR) Films, is not only a filmmaker but an accomplished journalist and an actor. Through In Shackles, he critiques Pakistan鈥檚 legal system, particularly the Child Marriage Restraint Act, which sets the minimum marriage age for girls at 16.

“Although the short documentary supports women鈥檚 rights, it also centers on complex sociopolitical and legalistic problems that prevent women from progressing. Just like the controversial zina (illicit sexual intercourse) ordinances incarcerated female rape victims under Zia ul Haq鈥檚 controversial regime, laws surrounding child marriages aren鈥檛 accomplishing anything better for girls either. Setting the legal age of marriage for girls to 16 years may give families an opportunity to have their daughters marry without consent, which falls under forced marriage,” Rifaat added.

Rifaat鈥檚 film will also be released simultaneously on YouTube under following the premiere event.

The premiere is sponsored by the 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 , , and , a policy think tank based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Exploring female empowerment through multifaceted experiences was the goal of the University of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 W膩hine Mana virtual conference in April. Hosted by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) housed in the Office of the President, the conference, with more than 600 registrants, spoke to the challenges women face at different phases of their lives.

“As Tri-Chairs of the Commission on the Status of Women, we are immensely heartened by the profound dialogue and impactful connections developed during the W膩hine Mana virtual conference,” said Darsh Dav茅, Kapiʻolani Community College human resources manager and Kapiʻolani tri-chair. “Our dedication to women’s empowerment extends beyond mere discussion; it encompasses proactive measures, advocacy, and concrete initiatives aimed at uplifting and supporting every individual within the 东精影业 community. This conference has played a pivotal role in fostering a culture where every person, irrespective of gender, can flourish and achieve success.”

In ʻ艑lelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language), w膩hine mana means both “powerful women” and “female empowerment.” The conference began with remarks from President David Lassner and a conversation between wahine ʻ艒lelo Hawaiʻi experts, Luana Kawaʻa and Kaheleonolani Dukelow (东精影业 Maui College) about the meaning of “W膩hine Mana” and the significance of female empowerment in Hawaiian culture and history. This grounding and inspiring session set the tone for the conference.

There鈥檚 a strength in knowing that we鈥檙e all working on the same problems.
—Conference participant

Following this kick-off event, five webinar presentations addressed some of the most pressing issues facing the women of 东精影业: sexual violence on college campuses, growing families and careers, the reality of working parenthood, and financial security. Throughout the conference, speakers reflected on the meaning and significance of w膩hine mana, particularly in light of the obstacles faced by women in higher education.

One attendee anonymously shared, “It was wonderful to hear about how women within the 东精影业 System have navigated common struggles of balancing academic and professional work along with the rest of their lives. There’s a strength in knowing that we’re all working on the same problems.” Another described the conference sessions as, “truly eye-opening.”

Future plans for the conference

The conference highlighted the critical importance of making space for employees and students to share their experiences, particularly their common struggles, and to come together to find a way forward. CSW received more than 100 evaluations of the conference鈥檚 webinars. 东精影业ees were encouraged to share their ideas for initiatives and projects that CSW could spearhead to benefit the 东精影业 Community.

CSW is in the process of reviewing and unpacking conference feedback to assess tangible next steps. In the meantime, attendees and organizers enjoyed the galvanizing moment created by the conference, as an opportunity for reflection, support, and inspiration.

More on the Commission on the Status of Women

The 东精影业 President鈥檚 Commission on the Status of Women is committed to improving the support, well-being, development, and advancement of all women in the university community by actively promoting a safe working and learning environment free of sexism and discrimination through policy, advocacy, and education.

Resources and support

If you or someone you know needs support, help is available. For support relating to sexual misconduct or gender-based misconduct, Title IX and Confidential Advocacy resources are available. 东精影业 and community-based mental health resources are also available.

A special quarter celebrating the life and legacy of Patsy Takemoto Mink, a distinguished University of Hawaiʻi alumna, is from the U.S. Mint, and began shipping on March 25. An event announcing the release and honoring the former U.S. Congresswoman and Title IX champion was held at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补.

The quarter design depicts Mink holding her landmark Title IX legislation, which prohibits educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of sex in any way, and wearing a lei representing her home state of Hawaiʻi. The U.S. Capitol Building is in the background.

“As the first woman of color to serve in Congress, Patsy Mink was a trailblazer who fought to ensure that generations of girls and women could have every opportunity men have,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono. “Congresswoman Mink鈥檚 legacy lives on through Title IX, the landmark legislation she authored to outlaw sex-based discrimination in education. As we work to build on the progress she made, I am proud to announce the launch of this quarter honoring Patsy and her legacy, so that people across our state and country can learn more about her life and contributions to the fight for social justice, equality and civil rights.”

Distinguished 东精影业 alumna

Mink graduated from the University Hawaiʻi in 1948, with majors in zoology and chemistry. She was the first woman of color elected to Congress. Title IX, which she co-authored, was renamed the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act following her death. 东精影业 celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX in 2022.

“All of us at the University of Hawaiʻi are beyond proud and grateful to have been part of the important work of Patsy Takemoto Mink and to be able to celebrate this milestone honoring her today. Patsy is a distinguished 东精影业 alumna who left a lasting legacy to the world with the enactment of Title IX,” said 东精影业 President David Lassner. “东精影业 stands fully committed to the values of equity, inclusion, and justice that are championed through what is now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. We stand fully committed to the hard work we know is needed by all of us to create a future free from all forms of sex discrimination and that provides equal opportunity and access to education for all.”

Enduring legacy

The Patsy Takemoto Mink quarter is the 12th coin in the U. S. Mint鈥檚 , which celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women who have shaped our nation鈥檚 history and helped pave the way for generations that followed.

“The release of Patsy Mink鈥檚 quarter serves as a reminder for us to continue to fight for gender equity,” said 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 student Ashley Badis. “It is thanks to Title IX that myself and other women have been able to carry on her legacy.”

The National Women鈥檚 History Museum, the Smithsonian American Women鈥檚 History Museum and the U.S. Mint will celebrate Mink and the release of her quarter at an , which is free and open to the public.

The average male in Hawaiʻi out-earned the average female by 50%, a smaller margin than the 69% gap observed nationally, but according to a , the margin is “still very large.” 东精影业ERO cites data from the American Community Survey spanning 2015 to 2022.

“These aggregate figures, however, overlook crucial factors such as educational attainment and occupation, which significantly impact earnings,” wrote 东精影业ERO Research Economist Rachel Inafuku, the author of the blog. “An accurate measure of the gender pay gap needs to consider whether women with similar skill levels and educational backgrounds earn less than their male counterparts.”

When examining earnings across education levels from 2015 to 2022, lifetime earnings are consistently higher for men than women, even within the same level of education. The smallest discrepancy is found among individuals with professional or doctoral degrees, where men earn 33% to 35% more than women holding the same degree.

The most substantial gap surfaces among those who attended college but didn鈥檛 complete their degree: men in this group earn 63% more than their female counterparts. For a woman to match the lifetime earnings of a man with some college experience but no degree, she would need to attain at least a master鈥檚 degree. At every educational tier, women in the subsequent degree bracket fail to surpass the earnings of men at the previous education level.

Pay gap across occupations

Among the 130 occupations examined in 东精影业ERO鈥檚 sample, men earned more than women in 82% of these careers, while 18% of these professions saw women earning more. Occupations such as financial managers, chief executives, and pharmacists exhibited some of the lowest ratios of female to male earnings, indicating that women working these jobs earn much less than men. Conversely, roles like hosts/hostesses, bartenders, and paralegals show the highest ratios of female to male earnings.

The gender pay gap has been a focal point in economics especially within the past year when Claudia Goldin won the Nobel Prize for uncovering key drivers of gender differences in the labor market. While female labor participation increased substantially over the past century, Goldin found that the earnings gap between men and women in the U.S. hardly closed over a long period of time.

What drives Hawaiʻi鈥檚 gender pay gap?

Several national studies have found that women are more likely to prioritize home activities, such as reducing their work hours to care for their children, which often results in career sacrifices.

“Here in Hawaiʻi, the data aligns with Goldin鈥檚 findings,” Inafuku wrote. “Throughout their mid to late 20鈥檚, men earn slightly more than women. After that, this pay differential widens as men鈥檚 wages grow at a much faster rate than women鈥檚, and the gap continues over the course of a worker鈥檚 career.”

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东精影业ERO is housed in 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

The Women of 东精影业 Esports (Women of 东精影业E), an organization within the award-winning University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 esports program, has achieved a program milestone: competing in its first national tournament.

The organization was founded in 2022 to support women and all marginalized genders in esports at 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补. Several of its players competed against more than a dozen institutions in a Valorant competition called the Aurora Series in February 2024. While the team didn鈥檛 capture the top spot, 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 esports program director Nyle Sky Kauweloa said it wasn鈥檛 as much about winning as it was getting the players experience, and playing against and interacting with other women across the country.

“Taking part in the Aurora Series allowed our students to interact, socialize and interface with a larger community of women and non-binary players,” Kauweloa said. “That鈥檚 the mission of these tournaments. It鈥檚 not so much about being the best.”

Read more about the Women of 东精影业E

“We only had a couple of practices together before competing so our main goal was to try our best and play well as a team,” Zelda Cole said. “After competing against some crazy good teams, we all felt inspired and excited for the potential of Women of 东精影业E. It’s always been a dream to play in a supportive community with other girls. Being able to turn to them, fist bump, laugh at our mistakes, and cheer each other on side by side was so special and I can’t wait to compete with them again.”

Haley Teramoto added, “This past Aurora tournament was my first time competing in any video game at a higher level, and while we may have lost I felt like it was a really good learning experience for us. We had fun implementing what we’d learned into a match with actual stakes and got to see the level of other teams in the field. Now that we’ve been practicing as a team for a bit longer now I’m excited to see how much we’ve improved in this upcoming tournament.”

Cora Kennedy, the founder of the Aurora Series, explained why she started the series for marginalized genders in esports.

“I have always recognized the power of marginalized gender competitive spaces because, for many players, it is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space that they feel comfortable starting out their competitive journey in,” Kennedy said. “These players are typically ignored and disenfranchised in the traditional esports infrastructure, so by creating a dedicated space for them, they can grow and thrive in a place free from the harassment and trappings of traditional esports communities.”

The Women of 东精影业E will be participating in the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup later this spring.

For more about Women of 东精影业E, .

东精影业 Esports receives funding from the . Visit the 东精影业 Esports team鈥檚 and . More stories on 东精影业鈥檚 esports program.

There are no female esports players in the world鈥檚 top 300 earners, and only a small fraction of the millions being won in competitions around the world is going to women, according to a . This is just one of the examples showing that esports is still a male dominated industry. A group of University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 students, however, is hoping to change that.

Women of 东精影业 Esports (Women of 东精影业E) was founded as an organization within the award-winning 东精影业 惭腻苍辞补 esports program by 东精影业 Esports Player Support Coordinator Madeline Gilbert in 2022. Gilbert said the main goal of Women of 东精影业E is to support women and all marginalized genders in esports, making sure that they have equal opportunities to play and potentially earn a future career in the gaming industry. .

“It鈥檚 always felt like a good environment to be in and I think that carries out with our players as well,” Gilbert said. “They鈥檝e always been super happy to support our Women of 东精影业E program, especially our other Valorant teams that are in our 东精影业 Esports program. 鈥t鈥檚 been a really nice environment to create this program in.”

Women of 东精影业E picked up momentum in fall 2023, gaining dozens of members and establishing Women of 东精影业E Valorant teams as part of the 东精影业 Esports program. Thanks in large part to Women of 东精影业E, the 东精影业 Esports program features one of the larger cohorts of women in collegiate esports in the nation. Gilbert said that they have also established connections with other marginalized gender groups in Hawaiʻi and across the world.

“Women of 东精影业E has really changed the tenor of our program,” said 东精影业 Esports Program Director Nyle Sky Kauweloa. “Having women at the forefront of their own initiative has been incredibly inviting for other marginalized genders to come into our space itself. I think that鈥檚 really important because this is a space for the entire student body of 东精影业. We want folks that identify inclusively to come into 东精影业 Esports and to understand that not only do they have a place to hang out, game and socialize, but they have a location to create.”

‘A wonderful team experience’

Paris Walker Nissen, a sophomore sociology major, and Camille Castro, a sophomore pre-nursing major, are both part of Women of 东精影业E.

“All the girls are really, really lovely,” said Walker Nissen. “It has been a wonderful team experience, a wonderful coaching experience. I could not have been more happy with the way that it鈥檚 gone. I think it鈥檚 a really well built program.”

Castro said that the best part has been the matches and scrimmages between players.

“It鈥檚 pretty friendly. We get to try out a lot of things. It鈥檚 very playful, but it can get a little competitive and that鈥檚 the best part of it,” Castro said.

Women of 东精影业E鈥檚 future

Members of Women of 东精影业E hope to see the program continue to grow and become more competitive, possibly even joining a program called “Game Changers,” a Valorant gaming league that creates new opportunities and exposure for women and other marginalized genders.

“If you join, there is a community here for you,” Gilbert said. “There are a lot of really friendly people. We keep a kind environment going around and so you鈥檒l make friends, you鈥檒l find people that you like.”

For more about Women of 东精影业E, .

东精影业 Esports receives funding from the . Visit the 东精影业 Esports team鈥檚 and pages. More stories on 东精影业鈥檚 esports program.

—By Marc Arakaki

A webinar series will be held across the University of Hawaiʻi 10-campus system, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) in October 2023.

The 2023 is hosted by 东精影业 Title IX Offices systemwide, in collaboration with the 东精影业 System Office of Equity Assurance and the Office of the Vice President for Community Colleges Office of Compliance, EEO/AA and Title IX.

“This issue can impact anyone, regardless of race, gender, age, socio-economics, disability, or sexual orientation,” said 东精影业 President David Lassner in a September 26 email to the system announcing the DVAM series. “Please join us by standing behind 东精影业鈥檚 commitment to ending intimate partner violence and taking time to being held across our 10 campuses.”

The DVAM webinars will highlight a range of relevant and timely topics, including the effects of domestic violence on children, the impact of disasters on families dealing with domestic violence, ways to support survivors of intimate partner violence and lighter topics such as unpacking the relationship dynamics in the movie Barbie.

The webinar series will also feature a crossover event for both DVAM and National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). In this special event, national and state experts will discuss the legal protections and accommodations for workers experiencing pregnancy and domestic violence.

The events (registration is required)

Crossover event for DVAM and NDEAM (co-hosted by 东精影业 systemwide EEO Offices)
October 17, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

October 17, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

October 24, 1 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

October 25, 3 p.m.–4 p.m.

October 26, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.

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In 1989, Congress , officially recognizing the national movement to raise awareness and unite efforts to address intimate partner violence. In the most recent results, a 2021 survey by 东精影业 found that approximately 18.5% of students who had been in a partnered relationship while enrolled at 东精影业 reported experiencing intimate partner violence. The need for power and control takes many forms—including emotional, physical and financial—but the effects of abuse linger and can be felt across generations.

If you are experiencing intimate partner violence or any other type of sexual harassment or gender violence, please know that support services are available, including confidential help. 东精影业 is committed to maintaining and promoting safe and respectful campus environments free from sex discrimination and gender-based violence, and 东精影业 has adopted a policy prohibiting domestic and dating violence, as well as other forms of gender violence.

Engineering and other STEM professions have long been challenged with attracting women, a problem that starts with engagement at the K–12 level and continues through college and beyond. At the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 , where female students make up only 23% of the student population, the imbalance is often not as apparent as the statistics indicate, with women students taking up prominent leadership roles within project teams and clubs and winning accolades for scholastic achievement. Still, it鈥檚 a statistic many at the college would like to see changed, an effort that involves not just recruitment but retention of talented women in the program.

Student ambassadors at the College of Engineering are making strides to build a more inclusive environment for women with the creation of the school鈥檚 , a group that serves as an outlet for relaxation, relationship-building and professional growth.

In fall 2021, the college鈥檚 team of Engineering Student Ambassadors launched a program to foster a sense of community for its female students and create a safe space for growth and learning. The program, called the W膩hine Mentorship Program, started out over Zoom, with monthly events, such as online game nights, craft nights and panel discussions. The group gained steam and, after reviewing feedback from participants in the first year, was rebranded in fall 2022 as W膩hine Connect. With its new direction, W膩hine Connect has decreased the barrier to entry so that students can jump in and participate in programming at any time, offering all female engineering students (along with their friends and male allies) a chance to enjoy social activities, engage in professional development and build connections with one another via low-pressure, free monthly events.

Mia Casparian, a junior majoring in , serves as an engineering student ambassador and has been active in planning and developing the W膩hine Connect program since its inception.

“W膩hine Connect is really important because with our smaller female student population, it鈥檚 important for us to have a way to network, connect and make other female engineering friends, as well as learn from people who have moved on to work in industry and get advice from them on that transition,” Casparian said. “From an organizer standpoint, I love seeing it come together, and seeing people interact and form real friendships outside of the program.”

Connecting with local HS students

This year, W膩hine Connect integrated a service component to the program. At Castle High School, engineering ambassadors chatted with students about careers in STEM and the opportunities within the engineering pathway. The College of Engineering also has a year-round presence at Castle via a program called EngineeringHI, where tutors/mentors (some of whom are also affiliated with W膩hine Connect) come to campus multiple times a week for in-school and after-school assistance STEM subjects.

At Kapolei High School, ambassadors met with students in the engineering/design and building/construction career pathways.

Courtney Suma, Kapolei鈥檚 career academy advisor, said, “We truly appreciated that their presentation didn鈥檛 focus only on the College of Engineering, but included their lives as college students, their past experiences that shaped who they are today, and their future.”

The team鈥檚 final engagement opportunity of the semester was a “Women in STEM” presentation at Damien Memorial School. At this event, co-organized by Damien President Arnold Laʻanui and Principal Kyle Atabay, 12 middle and high school-age girls engaged with College of Engineering students and staff, hearing from student ambassadors about their experiences in college and engaging in friendly competition with one another via an engineering design challenge.

W膩hine Connect spring 2023 events

On campus, W膩hine Connect kicked off the 2023 spring semester with a Galentine鈥檚 event in February, complete with cookie decorating, a chocolate fondue fountain and a Valentine鈥檚-card-making activity to create cards for special women in the students鈥� lives. In March, the student ambassadors organized a Brunch and Learn event with engineering alumna Lindsey Tagawa, a 2021 bachelor of science in civil engineering graduate and now an engineer at NAVFAC Pacific. Tagawa shared her personal story of transitioning from student to professional and answered questions from an attentive student audience.

In April, W膩hine Connect held its last big social event of the year: the second annual Picnic and Painting in the Park. Students sat on the Holmes Hall lawn painting their own unique creations on small canvases as they enjoyed poke bowls and cream puffs.

For more, visit the .

To support the Engineering Student Ambassador Program, .

The University of Hawaiʻi continues to honor its commitment to foster supportive campuses where students feel safe from sexual harassment and gender-based violence. To help the university improve how and where resources are focused, 东精影业 is encouraging students to participate in an online survey by February 24, 2023.

• More information on the 东精影业 Sex-Based Discrimination and Harassment Student Survey

“东精影业 is committed to achieving a safe and supportive environment in which you can achieve academic success and personal growth,” 东精影业 President David Lassner said in a message to students at all 10 东精影业 campuses. “We have made significant progress in addressing domestic and gender-based violence across our campuses over the past years. We are now requesting your input to help us do better.”

Students 18 years and older are eligible to take the confidential, voluntary 东精影业 Sex-Based Discrimination and Harassment Student Survey. The survey is easily accessible online through a hawaii.edu email received on January 24, 2023 titled #BeHeard东精影业: Sex-Based Discrimination and Harassment Student Survey. The 20-minute survey will ask students about:

• Their campus environment related to sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
• How well students believe the 东精影业 community responds to and addresses their concerns.
• Their awareness of resources and reporting options for those experiencing sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking and interpersonal violence (domestic and dating violence).
• Prevalence (e.g., how widespread) and incidence (e.g., how often) of sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking and interpersonal violence on the campuses.

Those who participate are asked to encourage their fellow students to also take the survey, promote #BeHeard东精影业 and urge everyone to speak up about sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

National best practice

The survey, considered a national best practice, was first identified as a priority by 东精影业 in 2015 and was then mandated by the Hawaiʻi State legislature as part of Act 208 in 2016. It has been administered every other year since 2017 with the first survey results released in 2018.

Data from the survey will also be used to inform 东精影业 about marginalized groups on the different campuses and their varying levels of risk, and will address the needs of these students. It is also used to measure how each campus is doing in addressing problem areas revealed in previous surveys.

According to the last survey in 2021, students in the 东精影业 10-campus system felt safer overall from sexual harassment and gender-based violence. About 17% of 40,122 adult students completed the 2021 survey, the highest response rate in 东精影业鈥檚 three biennial campus surveys, even with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey is coordinated by the 东精影业 Office of Institutional Equity and conducted by OmniTrak Group, Inc with consultant researchers, Professors Sandra L. Martin and Bonnie S. Fisher, who consulted on the Association of American Universities 2015 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Misconduct.

Resources for victims

There are several options available to victims of gender-based harassment or violence depending on the type of assistance wanted.

• Those who do not want to make a formal report yet may contact a confidential resource on their campus to explore their options and receive services:
• To make a formal report, please contact your campus Title IX coordinator:
• To seek help off campus, please contact a community resource in your area: /titleix/help/community-resources/

This message was shared with the students, faculty and staff of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on June 23, 2022.

Fifty years ago today, Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments was signed into law. The enduring civil rights legislation addressing gender equity in education is particularly significant for the university as one of its main authors, Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, a University of Hawaiʻi Distinguished Alumna, was Title IX鈥檚 most staunch institutional advocate. The act simply and profoundly states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Despite significant resistance, the Maui-born Congresswoman and her co-authors transformed U.S. schools and universities by prohibiting educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of sex in any way. To honor her unwavering commitment and perseverance to bring gender equity to all dimensions of education, Congress renamed Title IX as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act in 2002 after her death. While Mink had been denied admission to medical school for being a woman, Title IX now prohibits gender-based discrimination in any and all disciplines. Title IX also ensures equitable participation regardless of gender in athletics. And Title IX prohibits sex-based harassment, which encompasses sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; treatment of LGBTQI+ students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. These are all protections that must be ensured by any educational institution that receives federal financial assistance for all students and employees whether they are female, male, or non-binary.

Given the expansive scope of Title IX, legislators could have written hundreds of pages and not achieved what these 37 words have done. We have no idea what contributions Patsy would have made as a doctor had she been admitted to medical school. But it鈥檚 hard to imagine that she could have had a greater impact on Hawaiʻi and the nation than what she accomplished as a public servant armed with her law school education and her relentless passion for justice for all.

To honor the 50th anniversary of Title IX, and Patsy Mink, we have planned numerous educational and commemorative events this year to celebrate what we have accomplished, critique what is still before us, and challenge us to think about the importance of Title IX and its legacy. Throughout this year and as we look forward to the next 50 years of Title IX, we鈥檙e reminded that while much has been accomplished, there is still more work ahead. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to future generations of students as the only provider of public higher education in Hawaiʻi, maintaining our pledge to advance civil rights and gender equity protections within our university community. The University will continue to provide educational programming to raise awareness of Title IX rights and resources, strengthen programmatic initiatives toward prevention and early reporting, provide training and support resources for students and employees, and recommit to our collaborations with community partners. It is my hope that the underlying values of equity, inclusion, and justice championed within the spirit and intent of Title IX will bring about long-lasting change and a culture shift toward a future at UH free from all forms of sex discrimination while ensuring and celebrating equal opportunity and access to education for all.

E m膩lama pono,
David Lassner
东精影业 Presidnt