I enjoyed reading the June 11 coverage of Aclarity, a cutting-edge water treatment technology start-up that has emerged from the labs of the University of Massachusetts Amherst (“Pure water could mean green for start-up”).
As was clear by the second paragraph of the story, Julie Bliss Mullen, a female doctoral student in the civil and environmental engineering department, developed the technology. She also serves as the company’s chief executive officer.
Her co-founder and chief operating officer (not CEO as the article wrongly states), Barrett Mully, recently completed his MBA. While there’s no question that he plays a critical role in the company, I was extremely disappointed to see that not one but three photos associated with the print version of the story were of white men (two of Mully and one of a banker) and none of the inventor herself.
I expect more of the Gazette. Blatant gender biases like these are difficult to excuse, particularly at a time when women’s rights and empowerment in the workplace are making near daily headlines.
Ashley Muspratt
Northampton