The Sunnyvale-Cupertino Branch of AAUW supports national AAUW's Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF), which provides funding and a support system for women students, faculty and staff seeking redress for sexual harassment and gender discrimination in academia. Our branch annually supports LAF through private donations and fund raisers.

Facts about the Legal Advocacy Fund...

It began in 1978. Members of AAUW's Ithaca (NY) Branch had a daring and new idea. They were determined to support a resolute group of women professors who had brought a class action lawsuit against Cornell University charging sex discrimination in denial of tenure. The branch turned to the Association and sought its help in raising funds.

The Ithaca proposal meshed perfectly with AAUW's historic mandate to rally in defense of equity for women. However, at that time no budget category existed then from which to tap funds. In 1981, the Association Board of Directors voted to establish the Legal Advocacy Fund. In doing so, the Association placed its considerable weight and reputation in support of the "Cornell Eleven" as they had come to be known. The Fund donated $22,500 to these courageous women and, thereby, helped in further fund raising for their cause.

Since that first lawsuit, the Legal Advocacy Fund has grown in scope and impact. It has become the nation's largest legal fund focused solely on sex discrimination in higher education.

(rev. 9/19/2003)