CHICHILNISKY VS. COLUMBIA SETTLEMENT

Thursday, June 26 the case of Graciela Chichilnisky vs. Columbia University was settled. AAUW advocates for equity for women and girls. We work to pass legislation that will enable them to fight for their rights through the legal system, as Graciela did.
These are Chichilnisky's comments about the setlement:Yes, it is wonderful, the law suit is over I keep my tenured appointment etc and the university had to pay a substantial amount of money in settlement.
I am ready and pleased to move forward to the future! I am ready and pleased to move forward to the future! Graciela will be able to continue her work of making this a better planet for us all.As I mentioned in a previous blog, this was my first experience in court supporting a litigant. I knew Graciela briefly before the trial. However as the trial progressed I came to greatly admire this courageous woman. She was fighting for justice for herself and the other women who are being discriminated against at Columbia.
The next comments are my thoughts about that justice system. (An aside, when I came into the public seating section of the courtroom one day, a little late after being held up in traffic for an hour, Graciela, also in that public area, leaned over and gave me a kiss, she was reprimanded for doing so.) I saw that the money that allows the hiring of a fleet of lawyers and the power of a large entity can seemingly subvert the intent of the law. Also that judges bring their own partiality to the bench with them. We will continue to preserver in seeking what is right and fair for all our citizen. We must applaud Graciela for fighting to stop pay inequities and retaliation.

Nancy Mion