The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, June 19, 1984 - page 5
Women face tough climb
through engineering ranks
A crane reaches to the top of the Ambulatory Care Building being
constructed behind the University's replacement hospital.
By THOMAS HRACH
Although the job market looks
promising, a recently released article
may be bad news for aspiring female
engineers.
From the results of a study perfor-
med several years ago, Naomi McAfee,
a design manager with Westinghouse
Electric, concluded that women
engineers with bachelor's degrees
receive slightly higher starting salaries
than their male counterparts.
YET AFTER three years on the job,
women end up earning less than men in
the same positions. McAfee blames this
on the typical "masculine mystique
which has developed from the time of
Adam and Eve."
McAfee is one of many contributors
to Women in Scientific and Engineering
Professions, a book recently published
by the University Press. According to
Carolyn Perrucci, an editor of the book,
the collection of articles attempts to
show "the continuing dificulties women
face in the technical professions."
An example is the fact that female
engineers constitute about four percent
of all professional women in the coun-
try, yet women hold only one half of one
percent of the engineering
management positions.
"IT'S A SIMPLE case of supply and
demand," said McAfee. "About ten
years ago there were more engineering
'U' fixes new
(Continued from Page 1) 4&
struction technique called 'fast
tracking' to build the new hospital. The
'fast tracking' construction technique
allows construction to begin before all
the working drawings are completed.
For example, construction could begin
on the foundation before drawings for
the first floor were complete.
The 'fast tracking' method allows the
University to save money and to
accelerate completion of the project.
However, once the project moves
through several phases, it might be
necessary to go back and alter some
portions because the plans are made at
different times.
e
"It's a complicated juggling act,"
said Matthews.
"THE DISADVANTAGES of fast
tracking are far outweighed by the
advantages," said Kathy Wright, a
hospital spokeswoman.
The 'fast tracking' method was
necessary, according to University
officials, because of the economic
situation and because a lot of
construction firms could not bid on the
entire hospital project.
The building would have cost a lot
more if the University had not used
'fast tracking', according to Wright.
Officials said the University accepted
the risks involved when it agreed to the
'fast tracking' method of construction.
"It's a trade-off," said Regent
Thomas Roach (R-Ann Arbor). "We
had to take the risk... I'm satisfied that
the risk has been worthwhile," added
Local group
hounds violators
(Continued from Page2)
citizen would then have to appear in
court and identify the defendant.
Hughes said the police try to curb
moving violations through a selective
enforcement program. Each month,
patrol officers are given a list of the ten
intersections where the most moving
violations occurred during that month
in the past two years.
The patrol officers then concentrate
on enforcement in those areas, and
Hughes said the program successfully
reduces the number of accidents. "Just
the presence of patrol cars is a help,"
he said.
hospital
Roach
The completion date for the hospital
is now set for August 1985 instead of the
original date of May 1985.
In order to stay on schedule, several
inspection and moving phases will have
to be accelerated.
There might be additional cost shifts,
said Brinkerhoff, adding that it is not an
unusual event. Any additional costs
would be handled in the same manner,
he said.
jobs to fill, but very few women to fill
them."
"Today the current backlash on af-
firmative action programs has brought
us back to the old ways. Now I see
women still lacking in management
positions but losing ground in their star-
ting salaries," said McAfee.
Despite having no recent statistical
evidence, McAfee sees the oppor-
tunities for women engineers on the
decline. Engineering has long been
considered one of the best fields for
women to enter, but McAfee suc-
cessfully points out the blatant
inequalities in the field.
McAfee is critical of engineering
colleges around the country that ac-
tively recruit female students because
she says there are few good oppor-
tunities for women who graduate from
those programs.
Officials at the University's College
of Engineering said women comprise
about 20 percent of the college's
enrollment and that they have no
special recruiting programs for
women.
"Women should persist in their
education perhaps even to the Ph.D.
level," Perrucci said, advising women
not to jump at the first job offer that
comes along after undergraduate work.
"Many times people overestimate the
ease which women have entering
professional careers," she said.
1984 1
Ap-
S1961
A SOJOURN FOR HOPE:
Ann Arbor celebrates the
PEACE CORPS
For over 23 years Peace Corps volunteers from Ann Arbor have shared their
expertise in food production, sanitation and health care, education and in
countless other human need areas at the request of nearly 90 developing
countries around the world.
Today's Peace Corps volunteers continue to make a difference. Not only do
they provide technical assistance, but they, also offer something to developing
countri.'; that few other Western nations can: Hope.
Come speak with Peace Corps representatives and former volunteers during a
celebration of the world recognized program that had its inception in Ann
Arbor. Look into "the toughest job you'll ever love." Consider for yourself "A
Sojourn for Hope."
Thursday, June 21
Featured Activities
INFORMATION TABLE AND DISPLAYS
Liberty Plaza. (Corner of Liberty and
Division) Ann Arbor, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Questions answered by Michael McDevitt,
Peace Corps Health Recruitment Coor-
dinator, and Micronesia/Pacific Region
Specialist.
" FREE FtLM PRESESNTATION
"The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love."
Ann Arbor Public Library
343 South Fifth Avenue
Ann Arbor, 7:30 p.m.
Brief question and answer session to follow
the 30 minute movie.
June 21 - 23, 1984
Schedule of Events
Friday, June 22
Featured Activities
INFORMATION TABLE AND
DISPLAYS
Liberty Plaza, (Corner of
Liberty & Division) Anno
Arbo, 10:D0R o. . 6:0p.m.
Questions answered by Kathy
McBride, Peace Corps Math/
Science Recruitment Coor-
dinator and Kenya/East Africa
Region Specialist.
Saturday, June 23
Featured Activities
" INFORMATION TABLE AND DISPLAYS
Liberty Plaza, (Corner of Liberty & Divi-
sion) Ann Arbor, 10:00 aRm. - 4:00 p.m.
Questions answered by Louise Baldwin,
Ph.D. candidate/ anthropology and
Peace Corps Representative,
University of Michigan Office.
" POT LUCK PICNIC CELEBRATION
Gallup Park shelter, Ann Arbor
4:00 p.m.
V bo rt framili es andfriends invite
anyone interested in the Peace Corps to at-
tend. (RPCvS please bring a covered dish.
Peace Corps friends are asked to bring
snacks, soft drinks and/or questions and
omments about life overseas)
For more information call (313) 226-7928, or 764-9310