An awful state for women?

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Those who want to claim that South Carolina is an awful place for women have several salient statistics to brandish: Our state ranks No. 1 in the nation in domestic violence homicides and last in the nation in the rate of women elected to public office.

In most national comparisons, South Carolina women fare poorly: They're more likely to live in poverty and less likely to complete four or more years of college. The state also has traditionally ranked among the worst in the nation in measures of women's health and well-being.

Those facts alone shouldn't condemn South Carolina, but they do underscore the need for serious attention to the problems faced by women in our state. For years, the state has given largely token consideration to the status of women through the poorly funded Governor's Commission on Women.

The commission's budget has hovered around a paltry $100,000. Last year, Gov. Sanford eliminated the budget entirely. He appointed a committee, however, to investigate the commission's role; he believes the private sector should take more responsibility for investigating how to improve the lives of women.

Meanwhile, Columbia College has stepped up to assume some of those duties. Sanford is probably right that the private women's college may do a better job than the state of bettering the lives of women — but only because the state's commitment to that goal has been so halfhearted.

The Methodist-affiliated college has pledged to raise $250,000 a year and take over the research and program development responsibilities of the commission. Those duties should fit in well with the college's Leadership Institute, which provides seminars and other programs for women. The college will provide staff and a permanent home for the commission. It also will train women to take leadership positions and continue studies on women's health and other issues.

The college's much-welcomed participation does not eliminate the need for the Governor's Commission on Women. The state needs this official entity to continue lobbying for state policies favorable to women. The politically appointed members of the commission's board are in a better position to advocate legislation than are Columbia College staff.

In fact, the committee appointed by Sanford — and chaired by Dr. Virginia Uldrick, founder of the Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville — recommended an ongoing role for a state-supported commission. And the Legislature reinstated $100,000 for the commission next year.

With this promising public-private partnership, South Carolina may finally get serious about improving the well-being of women in this state.