2007 Approved Resolutions
2007 Approved Resolutions at the August 11th Business Meeting
The Roosevelt Hotel, New York, New York
Click here to download the PDF version.
Keith Kilty, 2006-07 Vice-President presented five resolutions for consideration by the membership. The following were approved by those present.
Resolution 1
Our sincere appreciation is expressed to all of the officers, committee chairs and members who have made this program possible and whose efforts maintain the vitality of the SSSP. First, we thank President Valerie Jenness for her outstanding leadership in developing this 57th Annual Meeting and its Theme: Research Matters: Creating Knowledge, Policy and Justice. We also thank this year’s Program Committee: Chair: JoAnn L. Miller and committee members Billie Gastic, James A. Holstein, Lynn Schlesinger, Michael Smyth and Deborah Thorne; Local Arrangements Committee: Chair: Susan Will and committee members Sarah Damaske, David Levinson and Nickie D. Phillips. We thank the staff of The Roosevelt Hotel for fine accommodations and we particularly want to recognize the efforts made by Raquel Arnold, Group Rooms Coordinator, Gunay Bayrasli, Catering Conference Planner and Kevin J. Klein, Director of Association Sales.
The Society wishes to express its gratitude to Past President Claire M. Renzetti for her years of leadership; Vice-President Keith Kilty for managing the resolutions process; JoAnn L. Miller for her service as Secretary; and David Rudy for his service as Treasurer. The Society also thanks Nancy Naples, President-Elect; Carrie Yang Costello, Vice-President Elect; Board of Directors Donald Cunnigen, Tracy L. Dietz, John F. Galliher, Michelle Y. Janning, Carolyn C. Perrucci; outgoing members Wendy Simonds and Shirley A. Jackson; Ingar P. Johnson (outgoing) and Naomi Nichols, student representatives of the Board; Nancy Mezey, Chair of the Council of Special Problems Divisions; Amy S. Wharton, Editor of Social Problems; Ken Kyle, Editor of Social Problems Forum: The SSSP Newsletter; Marino Bruce, outgoing Budget, Finance and Audit Committee Chair and committee members Gray Cavender, Frances G. Pestello and Susan M. Carlson; James Orcutt, outgoing Editorial and Publications Committee Chair and committee members Patricia Yancey Martin, Peter J. Kivisto, A. Javier Treviño, James A. Holstein, Suzanne Vaughan, Amy S. Wharton, Ken Kyle and Marino Bruce; the University of Tennessee and the Department of Sociology for hosting the SSSP Executive Office; the University of California, Irvine for their financial contribution to the awards banquet; and the University of California Press for their financial contribution to the registration bags.
Finally, the Society wishes to thank Executive Officer Thomas C. Hood, Administrative Officer & Meeting Manager Michele Smith Koontz and Graduate Research Associate Mary Walker for continuing to make the organization run and do all that it does year in and year out.
Resolution 2
From: Racial and Ethnic Minorities Division
Statement by the Society for the Study of Social Problems Supporting the American Sociological Association Resolution that calls for Discontinuing the Use of Native American Nicknames, Logos and Mascots in Sports
WHEREAS the members of the Society for the Study of Social Problems recognize the need to fight racism, prejudice and discrimination;
WHEREAS the Society for the Study of Social Problems recognizes the harm that is caused by stereotypes of Native Americans embodied in the use of nicknames, logos and mascots in sports;
WHEREAS many Native American individuals across the United States have found Native American nicknames, logos and mascots in sport offensive and called for their elimination; and
WHEREAS the continued use of Native American nicknames, logos and mascots in sport has been condemned by numerous reputable academic, educational and civil rights organizations, and the vast majority of Native American advocacy organizations, including but not limited to: American Anthropological Association, American Psychological Association, North American Society for the Sociology of Sport, Modern Language Association, United States Commission on Civil Rights, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Association of American Indian Affairs, National Congress of American Indians, National Indian Education Association and American Sociological Association; whose resolution on this issue served as the foundation for this current resolution and the shared wording has been used with permission of the author and association;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Society for the Study of Social Problems along with the American Sociological Association call for discontinuing the use of Native American nicknames, logos and mascots in sport.
Resolution 3
From: Labor Division
WHEREAS only 60% of the U.S. workforce is eligible for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and
WHEREAS evidence indicates the status of the United States as the only developed country without maternity leave benefits results in undue harm to families lacking unpaid leave or the ability to take time off from work; and
WHEREAS employees at small firms or with less than full-time status are not eligible for FMLA, resulting in harm to families; only 60% of U.S. workers are covered by FMLA;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
• That the FMLA be extended to apply to all employees, including new parents, those with preexisting medical conditions and those in domestic partnerships;
• AND that one-half of wages be paid to all using FMLA leave regardless of firm size or part-time employment status supported by tax dollars;
• AND that all employees be encouraged to make use of these benefits regardless of gender.
This resolution should be copied to federal legislators.
Resolution 4
From: Sexual Behavior, Politics, and Communities Division
WHEREAS medical and social science research shows that abstinence only education is ineffective in reducing the rates of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections; and
WHEREAS research shows that abstinence only education does not delay the age at which people begin sexual activity; and
WHEREAS abstinence only education does not provide information on prevention and protection from STIs and unplanned pregnancies,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT SSSP calls for comprehensive sex contraception and abstinence education in American public schools.
This resolution should be copied to federal, state and appropriate legislators.
Resolution 5
From: Global Division
Contact: Richard Dello Buono
Philadelphia Consensus Statement on University Policies for Health-Related Innovations
WHEREAS university-owned intellectual property is necessary for the development of health-related end products such as drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, monitoring tools, know-how and technical expertise; and
WHEREAS universities can play an important role in encouraging the broadest possible access to health technologies, something especially important for developing countries;
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the SSSP joins hundreds of scientific, medical, legal and public health policy professionals along with numerous prominent activists and their organizations in endorsing the Philadelphia Consensus Statement on University Policies for Health-Related Innovations.
The consensus, readily available at the website listed at www.essentialmedicine.org essentially calls on universities to implement the following broad recommendations:
Promote Equal Access to University Research, especially regarding technology transfer agreements that ensure low-cost access to health-related innovations in the developing world.
Promote Research and Development for Neglected Diseases (NDs), including new, non-traditional partnerships such as public-private partnerships, non-profit institutions and developing-world companies.
Measure Research Success according to Impact on Human Welfare, including for example, the collection and public disclosure of university intellectual property practices related to global health access.
We instruct the SSSP Board of Directors to publish their endorsement of the Philadelphia Consensus Statement in the Society Newsletter. The SSSP endorsement shall also be listed on the Philadelphia Consensus Statement official website.
