AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Milestone Timeline
1981
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Board of Directors votes at the June Convention in Boston, MA to for the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund as a two-year pilot program to provide moral and financial support to female plaintiffs in higher education sex discrimination cases. LAF national office staff is an extension of the Public Policy department at AAUW.
1983
AAUW directs the Board of Directors to establish a permanent Legal Advocacy Fund. To date, LAF has contributed $8,500 to the Cornell 11 (Zahorik, et al. v. Cornell University) and has granted support status to two additional cases: Penk, et al. v. Oregon State Board of Higher Education and Haffer v. Temple University.
1987
The first Progress in Equity Award is presented to the University of Mexico Re-entry Program for Women in Science. The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund established the PIE program to recognize a college or university program that has resulted in significant progress for women on campus. Since its inception, 23 programs have received the award and 24 others have received a special distinction award (carrying a monetary stipend) or honorable mention.
1987
LAF advertises outreach to promote Branch/State representation in Graduate Woman.
1991
With a generous contribution from LAF-supported plaintiff Colleen Roberts (Roberts v. College of the Desert), the LAF Board of Directors began making grants to fund travel for LAF plaintiffs to speak at state and regional AAUW meetings. Based on the enthusiastic response, LAF continues to make a limited number of Plaintiff Travel Grants each year.
1992
LAF supported its first case - Lever v. Northwestern University, et al. - to go to the Supreme Court, a case based on sex discrimination and denial of tenure in violation of Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964.
1992
LAF Board members are listed alongside those of the AAUW and the AAUW Educational Foundation Board of Directors as three separate entities in an AAUW publication (winter edition, AAUW Outlook) for the first time. (Note: LAF Board members has been previously listed in earlier publications, but in a separate table and different format).
1993
In the Fall the LAF Board is “strongly urged” to change its Bylaws during 1993-94 so candidates for officers of the LAF Board may be nominated by the Association Nominating Committee and be elected by the 1995 Convention delegates, and at conventions thereafter.
1994
LAF Update begins as a single page article in the winter issue of AAUW Outlook.
1996
LAF, along with AAUW, enters the Computer Age and goes “live” on the web.
1997
LAF recognizes Lani Guinier as its first Speaking Out for Justice honoree at the AAUW June Convention in Los Angeles, CA. Lani Guinier’s 1993 nomination as assistant attorney general for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Justice was withdrawn in a climate of intense controversy. Guinier argued that the existing legal education program in our country serves neither the needs of current students nor the legal profession. LAF continues to present this award biennially during the AAUW Convention to those who have made a significant contribution to the betterment and well-being of women and whose focus of achievement agrees with the AAUW mission and that of LAF.
1997
Virginia Tech hosts the first campus outreach program. LAF staff and leaders worked with school administrators to present Sex, Lies, and Lawsuits, a seminar for students and faculty, which was marketed as part of Virginia Tech's Women's Month. Since then, LAF has presented programs on more than 20 campuses, among them UCLA, Boston College, Stanford University, Michigan State University, the University of Southern Florida, Harvard University, North Carolina State University, Wayne State College, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Rochester, Columbia University, the University of Redlands, Eastern Washington University, and the University of Virginia.
1997
LAF makes headlines with Brzonkala v. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, et al., a landmark rape case that went to the Supreme Court. Brzonkala sued for sexual harassment under Title IX and also for disparate treatment.
1997
LAF issues Matter of Justice brochure for the first time. This publication highlights the Legal Advocacy Fund, its programs, with quotes from a featured plaintiff and attorney as well as LAF’s other rewarding outreach campus programs.
2000
LAF releases A License for Bias: Sex Discrimination, Schools and Title IX, a publication issued to dispel the belief that Title IX is a sports equity law and to determine the effectiveness of the current legislation.
2001
LAF Update first issued as independent publication.
2004
Network News, an online publication for LAF network attorneys and experts providing case updates and related information is launched.
2004
Tenure Denied: Cases of Sex Discrimination in Academia is released, a research report published jointly with LAF and the AAUW Educational Foundation.
2005
LAF supports its 100th case providing over $1.3 million in funding for its plaintiffs.
2005
LAF supports its first male case to go to the Supreme Court – Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education, a case based on sex discrimination and retaliation under Title IX.
2005
In order to cut administrative costs, LAF joins the AAUW Educational Foundation on April 26th as one of their programs. The LAF Board is dissolved effective June 30th.
2007
LAF supported plaintiff, Dr. Janet Conney is awarded $4 million from her sex discrimination suit again the Regents of the University of California. Conney had sued the university, along with three former male colleagues, for sexual harassment, retaliation, and pay inequity.
2007
LAF launches LAF Express, a monthly e-newsletter dedicated to keeping states and branches regularly informed on all the latest LAF activities, deadlines, and programming resources. Through this medium, LAF strives to highlight LAF branch activities of particular interest.
2007
LAF celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Progress in Equity Award. Since its inception The Legal Advocacy Fund has awarded $111,700 to 30 programs and initiatives to colleges and universities across the United States.
