Most newspapers will only print original letters. This is a sample letter that you can use as a starting point for your own message.

• Personalize it! Letters with a personal and local angle are persuasive and are more likely to get attention. What is your unique contribution to this issue? What have you (or your branch) done to improve women’s success in education and in the workplace? Is there a specific example of this in your community that you can mention? Do you have plans for an upcoming event related to this topic? Be sure to mention it.
• Use Capwiz to help find your local media. AAUW’s Capwiz page includes a Media Guide that provides lists of local media as well as full contact information.
• Get to the point! Brevity works. Letters under 250 words have a better chance at being published.
• Share what you’ve accomplished. Send details on media coverage, letters to the editor, and your promotional accomplishments on this topic to media@aauw.org.

Sample letter: (download AAUW logo graphics from the Member Center)

The recent comments made by Harvard President Lawrence Summers suggesting that women’s innate genetic differences limit their ability to succeed in math and science as well as his contention that women’s failure to rise to the highest ranks of academia are rooted in their unwillingness to commit to the rigors of the academic profession were disturbing and unacceptable.

While Summers has issued an apology for the remarks, the firestorm that has ensued has brought several issues to the forefront of a debate that must be addressed on both a national and local level.

Since 1881, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has worked to overcome the discrimination that has limited women’s achievement. On a local level, AAUW-[insert branch] has sponsored several programs to further this process, including [give examples, i.e., running a science camp to encourage girls in technical fields].

Dr. Summers’ comments made the inequities that women continue to face very real. We call on our local colleges and universities to examine their support systems for women in science and technical fields to help promote their success. We also ask that these schools examine their tenure policies and work to ensure that they are free from discrimination and applied consistently. We encourage members of the community to join us for a forum [add details] to learn more about these issues and develop plans to create positive change.

This debate shouldn’t end with this news story. Equity is still an issue and AAUW is committed to achieving it.

Sincerely,

Your signature

Your name
Your address
Your telephone number