Dean Parker

In the past century, women have broken countless stereotypical barriers and earned a place in the forefront of the American work force. Despite prime examples of this on campus, nowhere is it more prevalent than right in SMC's own police department.

In recent years, efforts have been made to hire a growing number of female parking enforcement officers within the department. Formerly, only men had held this position.

Like the job titles of "secretary" and "receptionist," the roles of Police Dispatcher and 911 Operator have long been associated with women. The men were supposed to be the big, strong police officers, while the women stayed behind the scenes answering calls in a seemingly non-essential capacity.

The Central Dispatch Center at L.A.P.D. averages about 80% women to 20% men. Here at Santa Monica College, however, those statistics are completely reversed. The dispatch staff is predominantly male, with the exception of one female, dispelling the notion that only women are suited to these particular jobs.

While there are currently no women police officers at Santa Monica College, the entire police department is headed by Chief of Police Eileen Miller. A former cadet with the Santa Monica Police Department, and an officer with the campus police since 1974, Chief Miller worked her way up in a male-dominated environment at a time when women--especially women police officers--were seldom tolerated or accepted by their male counterparts.

Fortunately, the new millennium is finding men and women redefining professional boundaries and discarding outdated beliefs to better serve the needs of modern society. It is unavoidable that there will always be biased individuals, whether discriminatory of race, sexual orientation, or gender. However, the central viewpoint of simply hiring the best-qualified applicant for the job is becoming more widely accepted by newer generations of students and professionals.

Lest there be any doubt that Santa Monica College is not continually progressive in the movement towards women's equality, all campus operations are still under the direction and guidance of one extremely competent woman, College President, Dr. Piedad Robertson. These examples of supreme capability, and long-overdue assertiveness, will help shape tomorrow's men and women for these ever-changing roles.

Dean Parker is a police dispatcher with the Santa Monica College Police Department.