Women lobby for changes at Lincoln

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 16

Women lobby for changes at Lincoln

Making ft happen

Lincoln College, for more than half a century a male bastion, is changing fast. For the second time running, a woman has been made president of the students’ association — and the two have brought major changes to college policies and daily campus life. Maryanne Aynsley has been elected unopposed, taking over from Kirsty Burnett, who was the first full-term president in the college’s 111-year history. Both are studying for a degree in agricultural science; both are having to lengthen their studies by a year because of the demands of the presidency. The president’s job is to represent students both on the college council and at national level. Says Maryanne, “My aim is to be seen as a fair individual,

and not stereotyped as a woman.”

During her two-year term Kirsty introduced a college policy on non-sex-ist language in all official documents and statements. “We’ve moved away from references to the farmer and bank manager as he, and the image of the farmer’s wife baking scones,” she says.

Only last month, an equal opportunities committee was set up — the result of much lobbying by Kirsty. Only 4 per cent of the staff are women, and only one has senior status. The ratio of women to men staff is by far the lowest of all seven universities in the country.

Last year Kirsty and Maryanne instigated procedures for sexual harrassment complaints.

“There’s a need in universities throughout the country. It’s important that women have somewhere to go with their grievances,” says Maryanne.

Before Kirsty was elected president, the college council was entirely male. Now Margaret Austin, member of Parliament for Yaldhurst is a member — partly thanks to Kirsty’s hard campaigning.

Kirsty has constantly encouraged women students to play a significant part in campus life. She has also liaised with secondary schools and produced a booklet on life at Lincoln — crammed with as many photos of women as she could find! Next year will see childcare facilities on campus.

Twenty years ago, women made up only 4.5 per cent of the total college population. In 1975 this had risen to 10.9 per cent, last year 26 per cent, and this year 30 per cent — out of a student body of 1700. “The number of females is increasing by leaps and bounds,” comments Kirsty. Women are represented in all college degrees and

diploma courses, with most in horticulture and the parks and recreation programmes. The diploma in agriculture course is the most weighted towards men, with more than 120 to only 12 women. A male student has described the changes brought about by Kirsty and Maryanne as “massive” — but Maryanne

sounds a note of caution. “Lincoln is changing. Women here are living out equality. We’re being judged more on our capabilities and less on our looks. But there is still lots of room for improvement — especially among the older people in college. The changes in attitude are more apparent among students than the staff,” she says.