Weber State Women’s Studies News

VOL. VI, NO. 3                                                                                                                                 NOVEMBER 1999

COORDINATOR’S CORNER

October’s perfect "Indian Summer" weather helped make the Women’s Studies Picnic a great success. Students joined faculty, alumnae, and community friends of the program to celebrate a pleasant sunny afternoon on the lawn of the Police Academy Annex. Delicious food, intriguing books, and wonderful conversation rewarded those gathered, and the annual book sale netted a $100 contribution to the Friends of Women’s Studies fund.

Among those in attendance was long-time program friend and supporter Carla Trentelman. After 4+ years as Executive Council community representative, Carla has been forced to resign (bad news) by a recent work promotion (good news.) Our pleasure in Carla’s success helps to temper our disappointment at having to replace her on the council.

The Executive Council has been examining and approving new courses, especially in light of the diversity requirement. WS2050 and 3050 have received support as diversity courses from the Social Sciences curriculum committee and are being considered by the university committee. New courses approved by our council for cross-listing or as variable topics courses include Psychology of Diversity; Women, Work, and Organizations; Love, Intellect and Convent: Hispanic Women Writers Through the Centuries; Men’s Studies; and Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/ Transgendered Studies.

In cooperation with Gender Equity and Services for Women Students, Women’s Studies faculty and students staffed a booth for the first annual Women’s Expo at Newgate Mall on October 23. A number of people stopped at our table to pick up information and to chat. Most helpful in this project were members of F.U.N. , a most energetic and enterprising collection of students. Open to Women’s Studies minors and other interested students, the group’s activities are described in their newsletter.

Phoenix scholarship recipients will join other women scholarship awardees in gratitude to scholarship-providers for "An Elegant Evening of Recognition," planned and provided by Services for Women’s Students and cosponsored by Women’s Studies. The Women’s Studies traditional women’s scholarship has no recipients as yet since the fund is still $1500 short of the endowment level. Anyone considering a donation to a campus organization, please keep that need in mind.

Besides an ever-growing collection of videos, the Women’s Studies offices have teaching materials, suggestions for speakers, and a recently-acquired CD - Casting the Circle, a "symphonic poetry, song and dance suite that weaves a story about a woman’s journey from birth to death, exploring roles and rituals at several stages of her life." See Linda in SS381 Monday through Friday from 8-12 or Dr. Diane Krantz in SS382 on Thursdays. Diane is also in her English office Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after 1:00 pm and all day on Tuesday and will be glad to help anyone who wishes to check out resources in Women’s Studies.

Remember the campus Diversity Conference on Friday, October 29. Many presentations will fill the day with varied opportunities to be challenged, stimulated, and, perhaps, educated with regard to issues of diversity impacting Weber State. The day’s activities begin with Keynote speaker, Evelyn Hu-DeHart, Professor and Chair of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. All events occur in Ballroom B of the Union Building.

In this month when we traditionally give thanks, we thought it would be appropriate to profile someone to whom the program owes a great BIG thank-you – our secretary, Linda Shoemake. (And what better way to thank someone than to embarrass her in public! So, here we go.)

Linda is a native of southern California, relocating to Utah three years ago. She and her family had to try out a few other spots first, but they have now settled into a comfortable home in Plain City, where they are enjoying the rural surroundings. Despite a terrible aching for the beach (but Linda, can’t you share the Great Salt Lake beach with the brine flies?), she’s enamoured of the change of seasons here. The first winter "up north" did provide a rude awakening for family members whose expectations of snow and winter temperatures were based on TV images. The real thing turned out to be much colder!

Prior to her job with Women’s Studies, Linda worked full-time as Administrative Secretary for a school district superintendent. One of the attractive things about this from the program’s standpoint was that we figured she was already familiar with "less than optimal" budgets. Linda had attended Cerritos Junior College in California, and she is now continuing to pursue her goal of obtaining a college degree in either education or business. (We’re hoping that she’ll take more Women’s Studies classes in addition to WS 2050, which she completed last year.)

Linda is very active in community service, having participated multiple times as Little League team mom and School room mom. She’s also been a field trip volunteer, a member of the PTA Board, School Bond Committee, City/School Facilities Advisory Committee, Cub Scout Committee, and Wrestling Booster Club. She’s honed her leadership skills as Assistant Girl Scout Leader, Church Youth Group Leader, and President of her Church Women’s Organization. Last year, as Women’s Studies secretary, she took a major role in organizing many of the program’s activities. Linda’s family includes husband Rusty, three children, and two dogs. Son Dustin attends Weber State; daughters Emily and Jenna are students at Fremont High, a senior and a sophomore, respectively. All family members contributed to a big early October bash celebrating a "significant" birthday milestone for Linda.

Linda keeps herself in shape while enjoying the outdoors with such activities as camping, hiking and whitewater rafting. She also likes to play basketball and baseball, and, in less strenuous moments, to read. She confesses to having a soft spot in her heart for an "occasional big ol’ juicy cheeseburger and chocolate chip ice cream."

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Remember the "Women on Wednesdays" noon presentations sponsored by Services for Women Students and the last two video presentations on "Women in Sports", in UB 338 at 1:15 PM, 3 & 10 November. See the F.U.N. Newsletter for their activities!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Feminists’ United Network

I joined F.U.N. in order to come to a better understanding of feminist issues and as a means of gathering ideas related to an assignment for a communication course taught by Dr. Lyle Crawford. The course is on feminist rhetorical theories and we’re supposed to put into practice some of the principles contained in these theories by engaging in a "heartfelt act of subversion." A "heartfelt act of subversion" concerns itself with questioning the status quo in a manner that is somewhat public and involves personal risk, but it is done without violence or destruction of property.

I found out about F.U.N. by way of a flier posted in the library. It contained the following definition of a feminist: "An individual who demands dignity, respect and an end to all forms of oppression and inequalities among the human race." I found this definition appealing and felt it included me, so I joined.

Attention all witty feminists! F.U.N. is putting out a call for enlightening and intelligent feminist slogans to use on T-shirts, bumper stickers and buttons. These items will be sold in order to raise funds for our trip to India. The slogans can be thought-provoking, amusing, serious, light-hearted, etc. If your slogan is chosen, you will receive a free F.U.N. cookbook filled with recipes for vegetarian meals and desserts, artwork, poetry and prose. E-mail your submissions to F.U.N. at or to Carrie Wagner at . We appreciate your help.

by Heather Harris

Women’s Realities is a project sponsored by F.U.N. and another student organization called Information Dissemination. It consists of six presentations concerning women’s issues, free and open to the public, made by a combination of WSU professors and community professionals. The theme for this semester is entitled, "A Time for Empowerment."

The first presentation of the semester was entitled, "Women Acting Up." The panel of local women activists included Diana Hirschi, a nonviolence trainer involved with Utah Peace Test and the Peace in the Middle East Coalition, and Hazel Roechrig of Food Not Bombs, Industrial Workers of the World, and Books Behind Bars. It also included Kathleen Gage of The Murdock Group and formerly of Dykes on Bikes. Each panel member gave a passionate and enlivening presentation on her activism and empowerment as a woman. The lucky crowd of fifteen people was treated to a one-of-a-kind presentation, (and we got it all on tape).

Don’t miss the remaining presentations for fall semester. On Nov. 10^th, we will discuss the topic, "Women, Religion and Empowerment," featuring Dr. Diane Krantz and Reverend Sarah Lambert of the Ogden Unitarian Church. Wednesday, Nov. 17^th we will discuss the topic, "Reproductive Empowerment," and on Dec. 1^st we will present "Women in the Arts." All three presentations are still in the works, so please let us know if you have any suggestions. The presentations begin at six p.m. at Your Community Connection, (YCC, 2261 Adams Ave.) If you have any questions please call

Information Dissemination at 745-1690.

by Emilie Turner

F.U.N. was represented at the recent protest against the "Knight Bill," which is a proposal by the California state government to prevent the legalization of same-sex marriage. The bill is being partially funded by the LDS church which, we would like to remind our readers, is a NONPROFIT and TAX EXEMPT organization. About two hundred people showed up in front of the S.L.C. temple on General Conference Sunday with signs protesting the church’s involvement in the "Knight Bill." Some signs focused on the rights of homosexuals as citizens, while others focused on the idea that the church should not involve itself in the political arena. Some signs read, "Church or Political Action Committee?" and "A Lesbian Can Have a Wife; A Man Can Have a Child." Despite a few fearful looks, hateful comments and the group across the street protesting our protest, it was a peaceful and successful event. F.U.N. would like to ask any of you who have connections in California to inform us of the "Knight Bill." It will be voted on in March of 2000. Also, writing to the California legislature and the governor explaining your concerns will help a great deal in supporting this human rights issue. As of now, same-sex marriage is not legal in any of the fifty states. According to the U.S. constitution, it will be a state by state decision. The LDS church has already contributed financial support to the success of the bills proposed in Alaska and Hawaii. Let’s not allow them to win in California!

We would like to introduce our fellow student and founding F.U.N. member, Ammi Rowley. Ammi is originally from Payson, Utah. She decided to move to Ogden to attend WSU. Two weeks after she graduated from high school, she realized that all but one of her friends had been married, given birth to babies or gone away to college. Ammi and her remaining friend decided to go to the Univ. of Utah until she received a postcard from WSU. She had never been to Ogden but noticed that Weber’s color was purple - a color she likes - so she decided to give Ogden and WSU a chance. Ammi enjoys reading, hiking in the woods and taking road trips to places like San Francisco and Portland.

Ammi describes herself as reserved and serious around new acquaintances but says she feels free to be silly around old friends. She says she is a list-maker, careful planner and a non-procrastinator. She is also a dedicated feminist and campus activist who hopes that F.U.N. will continue to grow and be recognized as a legitimate student organization. She has confidence that the group will better inform students by erasing the negative stigmas surrounding feminism and by creating a deeper understanding of feminist issues.

Ammi chose social work as her major because she wants to play an active role in helping young mothers. She chose Women’s Studies as her minor after she was introduced to feminist theories in an early-college literature class. She has taken every Women’s Studies course she could fit into her schedule, with her favorite class being "Women in the Arts," taught by Dr. Tracy Callahan and Dr. Kathryn MacKay. She feels the Women’s Studies program has taught her quite a bit about feminism and thus, about herself, which has allowed her to grow as a person. After graduation at the end of this semester, Ammi will be moving to Seattle where she will take on a job as a caseworker and apply to the graduate program in social work at the Univ. of Washington. Later, she will seek her doctorate in Women’s Studies and teach at the university level. Good luck to Ammi in all her endeavors. We will be forever grateful for her friendship and participation in F.U.N.

Mon., Nov 1 FUN Mtg, Lair, 5:30 PM

Tues., Nov 2 Election Day

Sun., Nov 7 PBS Documentary on Women Suffragists, 8:00 PM

                                        Mon., Nov 8 FUN Mtg, Lair, 5:30 PM

Mon., Nov 8 PBS Documentary, 8:00 PM

Wed., Nov 10 Women’s Realities, YCC, 6:00 PM

Wed., Nov 10 AI Hunger Banquet , WSU, 12:00 PM

Mon., Nov 15 FUN Mtg, Lair, 5:30 PM

Wed., Nov 17 Indigo Girls Concert, USU

Wed., Nov 17 FUN Tabling Day

Wed., Nov 17 Women’s Realities, YCC, 6:00 PM

Fri., Nov 19 FUN Tabling Day

Mon., Nov 22 FUN Mtg, Lair, 1:00 PM

                                        Thurs., Nov 25 Thanksgiving

Heather Harris, Co-President; Michelle Stevens, Co-President; Jonathan Yates, Contributor; Emilie Turner, Contributor; Carrie Wagner, Newsletter Editor. fun30@yahoo.com