AAUW
New Jersey

The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) is the nation's largest legal fund focused solely on sex discrimination in higher education.  Since 1981 the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund has helped students, faculty, staff, and administrators in higher education challenge discriminatory practices - practices such as

•  sexual harassment
•  denial of tenure or promotion
•  pay inequity
•  inequality in women's athletic programs. 

Since 1981 the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund has contributed more than $1 million to 78 cases involving women fighting sex discrimination in higher education.  LAF offers plaintiffs financial and technical assistance for their cases.  LAF does not engage in litigation.

Marian Haag, AAUW-NJ LAF Chair, reminds us that we in NJ know of one particular woman who fought against discrimination.  She spoke at the AAUW Annual Meeting in May 2003.  She is "our" LAF recipient, Dr. Ruth Daly - she sued the university for sex discrimination in the denial of tenure and sexual harassment in violation of New Jersey state laws .  AAUW-NJ contributed to the LAF in support of Daly. In October 2004, the parties reached a confidential settlement.  The AAUW website provides details on the Daly case.

The 2006 annual conference keynote speaker, Roderick Jackson, whose lawsuit was adopted by the LAF, gave members an opportunity to understand the importance of LAF support in a case and the difficulty in bringing a Title IX lawsuit. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Jackson. The AAUW website provides details on the Jackson case.

Contributing to LAF is important. AAUW-NJ contributed $10,933 to LAF in 2005 and $9,059 in 2004.

Contributions can be made with a check payable to "AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund" and sent to
Marian Haag at 308 Jefferson Rd, Elmer, NJ  08318. 
Contributions may be made for a specific case.
For any donations by individuals beyond branch donations, please include amounts donated by individuals and their names.

Contact: Ruth Nielsen, Legal Advocacy Fund Chair