WHITE PLAINS, New York, March 12, 2007 – Activist Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, will be honored with the Pioneer of Justice and Equality for Women and the Law Award by Pace Law School ’s Women’s Association of Law Students (WALS).  Smeal, the eleventh recipient of the annual award, will be honored at a brunch on March 17, 2007. The event will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the Tudor Room of Pace Law School’s White Plains campus. 

Smeal is known for her contributions to women’s rights as a political analyst, strategist, and grassroots organizer. She has played a pivotal role in defining the issues, spearheading public debate, and steering the direction of the modern day women’s movement during the last 30 years.

Tickets to the brunch are $15 each. They can be purchased by credit card or check payable to Pace Law School Women’s Association of Law Students and mailed to: WALS Pace Law School 78 North Broadway White Plains NY 10801. For reservations, contact Antoinette D’Orazio, (914) 422-4233.

Twice a president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Smeal was an integral player in the passing of legislation such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Equal Credit Act, Civil Rights Restoration Act, Violence Against Women Act, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, and Civil Rights Act of 1991.

Smeal developed the Feminist Majority Foundation’s National Clinic Access Project, which has trained over 45,000 clinic defenders in some 26 states in non-violent clinic defense techniques. She was also the chief architect of Madsen v. Women’s Health Center, the Feminist Majority Foundation’s landmark 1994 U.S. Supreme Court case. In December 2001, Smeal, feminist author and activist Gloria Steinem, and Ms. magazine joined to make the Feminist Majority Foundation the sole publisher of Ms.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University , Smeal holds an MA in political science from the University of Florida and an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Duke University .

WALS is an active student organization at Pace Law School whose mission is to provide a forum for information concerning women’s issues in the law. Each year WALS invites speakers to the school, and sponsors lobbying and involvement with off-campus activities of concern to women.

WALS established the Pioneer of Justice and Equality for Women and Law Award to recognize outstanding individuals whose dedication to women’s rights has enabled them to bring women’s position in both society and the law closer toward equality.  Past winners include Dr. Sarah Weddington, The Honorable Sondra Miller, and The Honorable Judith S. Kaye.

Founded in 1976, Pace University School of Law has nearly 6,500 alumni/ae throughout the country. It offers full- and part-time day and evening JD programs on its White Plains, NY campus. The School also offers the Master of Laws in Environmental Law and in Comparative Legal Studies. The School, which has one of the nation's top-rated environmental law programs, also offers the SJD program in that field. The School of Law is part of a comprehensive, independent, and diversified University with campuses in New York City and Westchester County. www.law.pace.edu.

A private university in the New York Metropolitan area, Pace University is commemorating 100 years of providing opportunity, educating achievers in business, industry, healthcare, education, government, and law. Pace has a growing national reputation for teaching and learning based on research, fostering engagement with critical issues locally and globally, for international perspectives and measurable outcomes. It is one of ten founders of Project Pericles, developing education that encourages lifelong participation in democratic processes. Pace has seven campuses, including downtown and midtown New York City, Pleasantville, Briarcliff, and White Plains. Approximately 13,700 diverse students are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Lienhard School of Nursing, Lubin School of Business, Ivan G. Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, School of Computer Science and Information Systems, School of Education, and School of Law.  www.pace.edu