VOL. VII, NO. 4 DECEMBER 2000

It’s hard to believe we’re almost through another semester. We’ve had some great classes and worthwhile events so far this year. A few things are still coming. There will be a presentation by Nabiba Nur on Female Genital Mutilation on Thursday, November 30 in the Swenson Gym, room 63, from 5:30-7:00 in the evening. We also want to invite everyone to our HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE on Wednesday, December 6, from 1:30 to 2:30 PM in SS113. Come by to chat and share some holiday goodies.

We are hoping that everything comes together to take our Introduction to Women’s Studies class to the local high schools as a concurrent enrollment class. We’re trying to determine which course or courses could best house it and what teachers are open to teaching it. I’ll forward more information on that as it becomes available.

Looking ahead to Spring Semester, we will be hosting several videos and we expect an outstanding Women’s History Month. Be looking for more information on these and HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY!

This month we feature Kim(berly) Hyatt, who will be teaching the cross-listed (with Health) course "Women’s Health Issues" next semester. Kim has been a visiting faculty member at Weber State since 1998, stepping into four separate pairs of shoes in the Department of Health Promotion and Human Performance. As a result of those varied demands, she has taught nineteen different classes in her home department! Kim is an Oregon native who earned her baccalaureate degree in health education from the University of Oregon. From there, she moved on to Idaho State University from which she received an M.P.E. in Physical Education/Athletic Administration and an M.H.E. in Health Education. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Health Education and Promotion at the University of Utah, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2002. Prior to coming to Weber State, Kim worked in Oregon as a physical therapy aide and as an assistant coach in track and field as well as basketball at two different high schools. At Idaho State, she was an assistant track and field coach and developed her classroom skills as a graduate teaching assistant. She also worked with the Fitness/Wellness Center and wrote articles for their newsletter as well as the school paper.

Kim has published a study guide and instructor’s manual to accompany a health textbook and participated in/hosted health conferences and athletic clinics and camps. She has a history of service to her discipline and campus communities as a member of several committees, a volunteer for athletic teams and events from the local to the national level, the education specialist for the National Youth Sports Program in our community, a faculty advisor for the HPHP Student Leadership council, and a member of the Women’s Studies Executive Council.

An accomplished track and field athlete herself, Kim has been a USA Championship qualifier in the javelin from 1989 through 1997, including the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Trials. As a member of the University of Oregon Track and Field team, she received the Harry Ritchie Award for leadership, inspiration, scholarship and achievement, and she was an NCAA Division I All-American, Pacific 10 Conference Champion and NIKE-Oregon International Team women’s javelin record holder. Kim’s Olympic hopes were dashed unfortunately by a major injury and illness requiring a 2 1/2 month recovery, being dependent on a wheelchair and walker.

Kim LOVES (as if you couldn’t tell) most sports and she shares her personal life with Kelsey, her "true companion" @ a husky/elkhound mix "shelter pup." She also enjoys photography and traveling (a good combo); her past meanderings have taken her to most of the US, as well as abroad to Korea, China, Sweden, Denmark, and Canada. We are delighted to welcome Kim officially to the teaching faculty and wish her well with her Ph.D. program.

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Services for Women Students is looking for a "few good speakers" for their Women on Wednesdays lecture series. You are invited to share your expertise and/or your passion some Wednesday noon in UB 352. If you’d be interested in presenting a topic of interest to women students, faculty and staff to a group of 8 @ 10 participants, please contact Gloria Perez-Jensen at 626-6372. Remember that 30 November is the deadline for participating in the SWS scholarship program drive if you want to have your name included in the Holiday Card that is sent to all WSU Faculty and Staff. Send your tax-deductible contribution to the WSU Development Office (MC 4018) indicating that it’s for the SWS Scholarship Program. If you have questions about the scholarships, please contact the SWS office at 626-6090.

There will be no newsletter until the combined January/February issue, so here’s an early reminder that January is Diversity Month. "Watch your local listings" for events celebrating diversity and participate as much as you can in those events.

Next semester, Drs. Marjukka Ollilainen and Huiying Wei-Arthus will be teaching a special seminar in sociology (cross-listed with Women’s Studies) entitled "Women, Work and Organizations in America." Dr. Ollilainen has constructed a web site specifically for that course. The URL is http://weber.edu/socanthro/ollilainen/Womenworkorgs.htm and you are invited to check it out for more information.

As usual, there are a multitude of opportunities to celebrate musically this holiday season. For more information on these cultural opportunities, call the Performing Arts hotline at 626-6800. Of particular interest to this editor (and aging soprano) are the upcoming Ogden Community Choir concerts at 7 PM on 30 November and 7 December, the first at Temple Square’s Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City and the second in the Ogden Tabernacle. Please come enjoy the holidays at this and other events.

30 November - Nabiba Nur speaking on "Female Genital Mutilation", Swenson Gym, room 63, 5:30-7:00 PM.

6 December - HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE in SS113 from 1:30 to 2:30 PM.

8 December @ Fall Semester classes end.

15 December @ Fall Semester graduation.