Wouldn't you know it, I'm getting really excited about my conference on Thursday. I've been working my booty off this whole week with that paper (don't try condensing 20 years of history into 5 minutes at home, kids!), planning the last hurrah of my Feminist Majority, reading two novels and studying for an exam on them, and figuring out my postgrad plans.
I am so doing something on Friday or Saturday to let loose and celebrate! Yes, I know I have an exam and some papers due that coming week, but knowing my mad time management skillz, I can get those done. Maybe use up one of those nice gift cards I got at ROAR and then attend Rock for a Refuge? Who's coming with me?
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conference. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
200 unaccompanied women!!! OMG!!!
More fun in the microfilm room for today!
So for my Queer Studies class, I decided to look up some of the LGBT student groups of the 1970s. Since radicalism is somewhat fascinating to me (I might not identify as a radical feminist anymore, since I am now a material one, but I still find 'em cool), I decided to look up the really wildly extreme ones. So what did I find? Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis started as somewhat moderate but then began to get strong and powerful. But the one that really held my attention was the Lavender Menace. Named for a terribly derogatory term for lesbians (coined by Betty Friedan when she tried to limit NOW membership to hetero women), the Menace was a radical lesbian group. And they apparantly had a following on the U of I campus.
Now here is where the fun begins. So I found an article about the Lavender Menace in the Courier newspaper of Urbana, and it dealt with a conference they held for feminists and lesbians at the U of I. I kept reading, I attended a women's conference soph year, was the entertainment at the LGBT conference last year (woohoo! go monologues!), and have presented papers at conferences before. Tres intersante, to be sure...
Then I saw it. The editorial.
Some guy (presumably a student wrote in), shocked to discover "two hundred unaccompanied, unchaperoned women on the U of I campus!" He was going on and on about how shocking it was to find so many women there! He closed the letter by saying that "soldiers to the cause are needed." Poor poor unenlightened soul. Apparantly he doesn't know:
(1) They're college age. They can take care of themselves.
(2) Girls exist. Yes, they are real and in great numbers.
(3) Most of those women wouldn't want a man in the first place! Lavender Menace is a group for lesbians.
That just about cracked me up.
So for my Queer Studies class, I decided to look up some of the LGBT student groups of the 1970s. Since radicalism is somewhat fascinating to me (I might not identify as a radical feminist anymore, since I am now a material one, but I still find 'em cool), I decided to look up the really wildly extreme ones. So what did I find? Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis started as somewhat moderate but then began to get strong and powerful. But the one that really held my attention was the Lavender Menace. Named for a terribly derogatory term for lesbians (coined by Betty Friedan when she tried to limit NOW membership to hetero women), the Menace was a radical lesbian group. And they apparantly had a following on the U of I campus.
Now here is where the fun begins. So I found an article about the Lavender Menace in the Courier newspaper of Urbana, and it dealt with a conference they held for feminists and lesbians at the U of I. I kept reading, I attended a women's conference soph year, was the entertainment at the LGBT conference last year (woohoo! go monologues!), and have presented papers at conferences before. Tres intersante, to be sure...
Then I saw it. The editorial.
Some guy (presumably a student wrote in), shocked to discover "two hundred unaccompanied, unchaperoned women on the U of I campus!" He was going on and on about how shocking it was to find so many women there! He closed the letter by saying that "soldiers to the cause are needed." Poor poor unenlightened soul. Apparantly he doesn't know:
(1) They're college age. They can take care of themselves.
(2) Girls exist. Yes, they are real and in great numbers.
(3) Most of those women wouldn't want a man in the first place! Lavender Menace is a group for lesbians.
That just about cracked me up.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Be still, my heart
What's this again? I didn't hear it right...could you repeat it?
In April, towards the end, there's gonna be...
ANOTHER Big Fat GWS Conference!
(Well, actually, it's not quite a big fat GWS conference because it is put on by the Ethnography of the University Initiative and not the GWS program. It's more like a big fat history conference, and my LGBT studies class is allowed to present as long as we have a ten-minute-or-less speech prepared.)
Needless to say, I'm already petitioning to present there! We don't need to submit our proposals until March, so I have time to prepare. I just really want to present something I've created again.
You know, sometimes I wonder why I'm not interested in teaching college as a profession. Then I can talk all I please, and get paid for it!
In April, towards the end, there's gonna be...
ANOTHER Big Fat GWS Conference!
(Well, actually, it's not quite a big fat GWS conference because it is put on by the Ethnography of the University Initiative and not the GWS program. It's more like a big fat history conference, and my LGBT studies class is allowed to present as long as we have a ten-minute-or-less speech prepared.)
Needless to say, I'm already petitioning to present there! We don't need to submit our proposals until March, so I have time to prepare. I just really want to present something I've created again.
You know, sometimes I wonder why I'm not interested in teaching college as a profession. Then I can talk all I please, and get paid for it!
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Big Fat GWS Recap!
My Big Fat GWS Conference is over.
All I can say is that all the prepping and hours I spent slaving away on it were SO worth it! THIS is the story I'm putting on my grad school apps! I totally rawked it, and I think I could do it again, if needed. Hell, when I'm getting my MA and defending my thesis or defending my Ph.D. dissertation, I'll look back to this time for inspiration.
Cris gave the introduction to the program, with one of her trademark acerbic speeches, but I could tell she was really proud of all of us. (Not quite up to the standard of her cyanide-laced roast of one of the other professors at the GWS Banquet, but that's a story for another time.) I gave my speech about the history of crisis intervention first, because I was listed as first on the program. I didn't get nervous once! I mean, sure, there were lots of professors and folks from different departments, as well as the students. And Ross and Jacque came too! Ross knows everyone, and everyone knows him. Jacque is the associate head of the department, as well as being an advisor extraordinaire. But I just was pretty normal. I think my introduction was the best. Not meaning to brag, but shouting "WE HAVE THE POWER, WE HAVE THE RIGHT, THE STREETS ARE OURS, TAKE BACK THE NIGHT!" really grabs people's attention! (Don't worry, it wasn't out-of-control shouting, just "making a point" shouting.) At least somewhat more so than "My paper is about..." The questions were insightful but sooo provocative. One professor who was a historian and another who was a sociologist had some really thought provoking questions. I think I answered them well, but I could feel my brain rushing to think on its feet. The biggest surprise were the domestic advocates. They played off of my stories, and they helped make my discussion session last as long as my presentation itself! But wow, I had no idea that the domestics were such a separate group. While I'd worked with them (I work with rape victims, so I usually don't run in their circles), I had no idea how much more different their job was. Another paper could be written about them, because they are a VERY different species altogether. Maybe they aren't even in the same species as my guys. Who knows? I was so glad I got to incite so much dialogue, because the questions came fast and furious and it showed they were interested. I think I learned just as much from their questions as I did from my research.
The other presenters were top-notch. I was so proud of my classmates. Emily presented on natural disasters and the "gendering" of charity, and although I'd worked with her before, I was still really struck by her speech. Stephanie discussed the concept of white trash and brought up the context of TV shows. It was kind of shocking to see her because she had a faux hawk earlier in the year, but she had cut it all off for the conference! (Not something I could do. Then again, I don't have a faux hawk to do it with.) Jeff and Eric talked about prejudices and how they played out, which was pretty effectively researched. Desiree's speech totally deconstructed online gaming and World Of Warcraft. All of them really did a good job, and I know I learned a lot from my brilliant classmates!
We recapped the conference over student movies and an Indian dinner from Bombay Grill. The other students stuck around as well. We were all relieved to have it done! Cris (yes, she's letting us call her by her first name) was telling us about what the professors told her. Apparantly all the professors were really complimentary because they all liked the presentation. Then she went into the specifics, and she brought up what they liked about each of students' presentations. When it came time for me, she said, "And Alex, they all liked how you could hold your own with them and not back down from answering hard questions." Well! I am totally flattered by this, but then again, when do I back down from something? ;) Hard to believe it's all over, but it was TOTALLY worth every minute!
All I can say is that all the prepping and hours I spent slaving away on it were SO worth it! THIS is the story I'm putting on my grad school apps! I totally rawked it, and I think I could do it again, if needed. Hell, when I'm getting my MA and defending my thesis or defending my Ph.D. dissertation, I'll look back to this time for inspiration.
Cris gave the introduction to the program, with one of her trademark acerbic speeches, but I could tell she was really proud of all of us. (Not quite up to the standard of her cyanide-laced roast of one of the other professors at the GWS Banquet, but that's a story for another time.) I gave my speech about the history of crisis intervention first, because I was listed as first on the program. I didn't get nervous once! I mean, sure, there were lots of professors and folks from different departments, as well as the students. And Ross and Jacque came too! Ross knows everyone, and everyone knows him. Jacque is the associate head of the department, as well as being an advisor extraordinaire. But I just was pretty normal. I think my introduction was the best. Not meaning to brag, but shouting "WE HAVE THE POWER, WE HAVE THE RIGHT, THE STREETS ARE OURS, TAKE BACK THE NIGHT!" really grabs people's attention! (Don't worry, it wasn't out-of-control shouting, just "making a point" shouting.) At least somewhat more so than "My paper is about..." The questions were insightful but sooo provocative. One professor who was a historian and another who was a sociologist had some really thought provoking questions. I think I answered them well, but I could feel my brain rushing to think on its feet. The biggest surprise were the domestic advocates. They played off of my stories, and they helped make my discussion session last as long as my presentation itself! But wow, I had no idea that the domestics were such a separate group. While I'd worked with them (I work with rape victims, so I usually don't run in their circles), I had no idea how much more different their job was. Another paper could be written about them, because they are a VERY different species altogether. Maybe they aren't even in the same species as my guys. Who knows? I was so glad I got to incite so much dialogue, because the questions came fast and furious and it showed they were interested. I think I learned just as much from their questions as I did from my research.
The other presenters were top-notch. I was so proud of my classmates. Emily presented on natural disasters and the "gendering" of charity, and although I'd worked with her before, I was still really struck by her speech. Stephanie discussed the concept of white trash and brought up the context of TV shows. It was kind of shocking to see her because she had a faux hawk earlier in the year, but she had cut it all off for the conference! (Not something I could do. Then again, I don't have a faux hawk to do it with.) Jeff and Eric talked about prejudices and how they played out, which was pretty effectively researched. Desiree's speech totally deconstructed online gaming and World Of Warcraft. All of them really did a good job, and I know I learned a lot from my brilliant classmates!
We recapped the conference over student movies and an Indian dinner from Bombay Grill. The other students stuck around as well. We were all relieved to have it done! Cris (yes, she's letting us call her by her first name) was telling us about what the professors told her. Apparantly all the professors were really complimentary because they all liked the presentation. Then she went into the specifics, and she brought up what they liked about each of students' presentations. When it came time for me, she said, "And Alex, they all liked how you could hold your own with them and not back down from answering hard questions." Well! I am totally flattered by this, but then again, when do I back down from something? ;) Hard to believe it's all over, but it was TOTALLY worth every minute!
Conference time!
December applications are in ahead of time, presentation is cut to size, and it's dawning on...
My Big Fat GWS Conference!
This conference is going to be amazing!! I'll tell you more later once it's done and I can recap it. The other topics include childbirth, white trash, natural disasters, anarchy, going to jail, online gaming, heteronormativity, and racialized theme parties. Mine is about the history of advocacy and social services. But man oh man--this is my first time presenting! I have acted and facilitated groups, but nothing of this magnitude. This is going to be GREAT!
My Big Fat GWS Conference!
This conference is going to be amazing!! I'll tell you more later once it's done and I can recap it. The other topics include childbirth, white trash, natural disasters, anarchy, going to jail, online gaming, heteronormativity, and racialized theme parties. Mine is about the history of advocacy and social services. But man oh man--this is my first time presenting! I have acted and facilitated groups, but nothing of this magnitude. This is going to be GREAT!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Everybody loves a happy ending
This last semester is gonna end with a bang...
I'm speaking on a panel about student activism in front of the current events classes.
Fem Maj has done three major events for the semester.
My Big Fat Undergrad Conference is in about two weeks, and the faculty and staff will hear me present my paper about the history of advocacy! (And several of my friends are coming.) Then the department and our guests will go out to dinner together.
Vagina Monologue auditions are next week. (I'm aiming to do "My Short Skirt"!)
This is the perfect ending to a whirlwind semester!
I'm speaking on a panel about student activism in front of the current events classes.
Fem Maj has done three major events for the semester.
My Big Fat Undergrad Conference is in about two weeks, and the faculty and staff will hear me present my paper about the history of advocacy! (And several of my friends are coming.) Then the department and our guests will go out to dinner together.
Vagina Monologue auditions are next week. (I'm aiming to do "My Short Skirt"!)
This is the perfect ending to a whirlwind semester!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Under the summer rain, I burned away
Well, this is funny to have two summer-song titles for blog titles! Only AFI rocks a bazillion times harder than Seals and Crofts (then again, that's not very hard to do). It did rain a bit today, but that is not the subject of my post.
Yesterday was the LAS career night. I was kind of disappointed with it, because there was not much of a diverse group of people to talk to. I am talking about diversity in majors. Most of the people there were alumni who had become bankers or doctors, with LAS majors in Economics or Finance or any kind of Biology. When you're majoring in English with a double-minor in History and Gender/Women's Studies, there really weren't many people there to talk to or relate to. There were absolutely no GWSers, and the history folk I saw all had "law" added to their field. But I met a few cool people including some folks who work at RCS. So it wasn't a total waste. I didn't press and starch up my power clothes for nothing.
Then the meeting for one of my clubs. I'm an "officer at large" at one of them, so I have to go to the planning committee meetings. I love the planning committee for the most part because it's a great look at what goes on behind the scenes. And being on the planning commitee means that you are qualified to go to the county events as well. So I head up to the meeting (which is just one floor up from the career fair) with a fabulous array of ideas for the club. But what a shock! Only a third of the officers are there, and the meeting was lackluster. The girl who's the president looked like she needed a nap and she acted like she was about to doze off any second. I laid out my fabulous ideas, but people had next to no response to them other than "Whatever you want, Alex." I asked them if they could help me/if they had questions/comments/whatever, but alas, no response. Everyone was painfully silent.
The meeting was over. I gathered up my stuff, much discouraged, and began to head out. But who should I hear but Abby the social director? "Hey, Alex, wait up. I've got something to ask you!"
Aha! Someone cared! I was all ready to hear her questions and enlighten her with my fabulous ideas. All was not lost! Then she continued--
"I've been wondering this for a while, but I usually haven't gotten around to asking..."
"What's that, Abby?"
"Where do you get your clothes? I just love the little outfits you always wear."
Sigh.
Yesterday was the LAS career night. I was kind of disappointed with it, because there was not much of a diverse group of people to talk to. I am talking about diversity in majors. Most of the people there were alumni who had become bankers or doctors, with LAS majors in Economics or Finance or any kind of Biology. When you're majoring in English with a double-minor in History and Gender/Women's Studies, there really weren't many people there to talk to or relate to. There were absolutely no GWSers, and the history folk I saw all had "law" added to their field. But I met a few cool people including some folks who work at RCS. So it wasn't a total waste. I didn't press and starch up my power clothes for nothing.
Then the meeting for one of my clubs. I'm an "officer at large" at one of them, so I have to go to the planning committee meetings. I love the planning committee for the most part because it's a great look at what goes on behind the scenes. And being on the planning commitee means that you are qualified to go to the county events as well. So I head up to the meeting (which is just one floor up from the career fair) with a fabulous array of ideas for the club. But what a shock! Only a third of the officers are there, and the meeting was lackluster. The girl who's the president looked like she needed a nap and she acted like she was about to doze off any second. I laid out my fabulous ideas, but people had next to no response to them other than "Whatever you want, Alex." I asked them if they could help me/if they had questions/comments/whatever, but alas, no response. Everyone was painfully silent.
The meeting was over. I gathered up my stuff, much discouraged, and began to head out. But who should I hear but Abby the social director? "Hey, Alex, wait up. I've got something to ask you!"
Aha! Someone cared! I was all ready to hear her questions and enlighten her with my fabulous ideas. All was not lost! Then she continued--
"I've been wondering this for a while, but I usually haven't gotten around to asking..."
"What's that, Abby?"
"Where do you get your clothes? I just love the little outfits you always wear."
Sigh.
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