Michelle Crockett

In a flurry of fanfare, Michelle Crockett pounded her gavel and began her reign as Basileus of Epsilon Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., at the first meeting of the new year Saturday, January 6.

During the energy-charged meeting, Crockett announced the chapter’s new theme, "The Heart of ESP: Celebrating Excellence in Sisterhood and Partnership."

She succeeds Catherine E. Miles and will head the local graduate chapter of more than 200 members in providing service throughout our communities for the next two years.

Vice president of community affairs for Genesis Behavioral Services, Inc., Crockett has been a member of the sorority since 1986.

She has an impressive list of professional and community affiliations including president of the National Council of Urban League Guild.

In 2006, she received the "Business Journal’s" Woman of Influence Award. In 2005, she was named Woman of the Year for Career Youth Career Development, Inc., and was recognized as a Woman Putting her Stamp on Metro Milwaukee by the United States Postal Services.

She is a graduate of Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, Mississippi.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is the nation’s oldest African American Greek-letter sorority. It was established in 1908 at Howard University.

The graduate-level component gives members an opportunity to utilize learned skills while providing volunteer service to their communities.

In addition to Epsilon Kappa Omega, Milwaukee is home to one other AKA graduate chapter, Upsilon Mu Omega.

Also, there are undergraduate chapters at UWM and Marquette University in addition to a citywide chapter that serves local campuses without organized chapters.

Locally, the organizations will begin celebrating Alpha Kappa Alpha’s centennial by welcoming to Milwaukee a traveling exhibit organized by the international offices of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., January 20.

The exhibit, "100 Years of Service," will be at the Milwaukee County Historical Society, 910 North Old World Third Street, through April 8.

It is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.aka1908.com.

Urges legislators to make compassionate care for rape victims a priority in 2007

Madison--Members of the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Coalition (CCRV) are calling on legislators, policymakers and concerned citizens to share their New Year’s Resolution to ensure rape victims have access to comprehensive and compassionate care.

In the United States, more than 25,000 women a year become pregnant as a result of rape. Sixteen thousand (16,000) of these pregnancies end in abortion.

While American Medical Association guidelines require counseling and the provision of emergency contraception (EC) to rape victims, a recent CCRV Coalition study showed that only one-third of Wisconsin hospitals unconditionally provide EC to rape victims.

"As we enter the New Year, we must enter a new era in terms of health care for survivors of rape in our state. Providing rape victims with the comprehensive, quality care they deserve is long overdue," said Alena Swansen, sexual assault victims service coordinator with the Turningpoint for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence Inc. in River Falls. "It’s time to treat our rape victims with a higher level of compassion."

EC is a high concentration of birth control pills that prevents pregnancy if taken within 120 hours of an assault. EC is at least 75 percent effective when taken within 72 hours. The sooner taken, the more effective EC is in preventing pregnancy.

Despite the efforts of the CCRV Coalition and incredible public support, state legislative leaders have refused to schedule a public hearing in Madison to discuss legislation requiring Wisconsin hospital emergency rooms to provide information about emergency contraception and, if requested, dispense the medication.

In 2007, CCRV Coalition members are committed to making sure the public gets the opportunity to formally discuss this important issue at the state’s Capitol.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a brand of EC called Plan B for over-the-counter (OTC) sales to consumers 18 and older earlier this year.

But a rape victim is not guaranteed access, especially if she is under 18, her pharmacy does not stock Plan B or a pharmacist decides to deny her the medication.

"Emergency Contraception is one of many critical options that rape victims need to consider. Emergency rooms should not presume that women would have access to EC at the pharmacy. Instead of risking that a victim will be further traumatized by embarking on a search for medication, we must improve access to EC at her first point of contact--the hospital emergency room--by passing the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims legislation," said Carmen Pitre of the Task Force on Family Violence.

For more information regarding Compassionate Care for Rape Victims, visit: www.supportwomenshealth.org.