Women Studies

Annual Reports 1997 - 2001

Submitted by
Sandra Donaldson, Former Director of Women Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202

CONTENTS

I. Preliminaries

II. Annual Report 1997-1998, includes information on the Women Scholars Endowment

III. Annual Report 1998-1999

Attachment - Description of Major in Interdisciplinary Studies: Women Studies

IV. Annual Report 1999-2000, includes program's statement on the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname

II. Attachments
Course Description, Human Sexualities in the Social World

V. Annual Report 2000-2001, includes Student Learning Objectives

I. Attachments
I. Strategic Plan for UND's Women Studies Program

Proposal for Panel at National Women's Studies Association
Convention

Preliminaries

As elsewhere in the University, people in the Women Studies program began the 1997-98 academic year cautiously but hopefully, wondering what would be the short and long term effects of the flood, fire, and evacuation of the city of Grand Forks and the closing of the University before the spring 1997 semester officially ended. The physical campus was significantly altered, although the Women Studies program's offices were not directly affected. The president and other officers of the university had worked hard during the summer to reestablish a normalcy in these changed circumstances. New and old students, faculty, and staff began the new business of the university with a noticeable seriousness and also with a warmth that acknowledged the strength and wisdom with which we had faced -- and might yet face -- difficulty.

This report is being written four years later, in summer 2001, because it is hard to write a history while you're making it, to speak somewhat grandly. That is, although there is data to report about the year, it has taken some while to set that in perspective. Our annual reports have consistently opened with data on good enrollments in the program's courses and always include descriptions of our other activities and accomplishments. But about this year there were questions. Is the program still strong and attractive to students? Are faculty and staff still an active and creative force across campus?

As I leave the director's position, I feel that we have continued to accomplish a lot that is important and exciting, and that the flood and evacuation were only an interruption, not a change event. And I leave the program in the capable hands of Professor Wendy Hume of the Criminal Justice department, who has been a long-time member of the Executive Committee and whose teaching in the program has been significant. Too, the Executive Committee embodies both experience and freshness. Plans are for some changes and also for the continuation of what we do best -- work with the Women's Center on Women's History Month and with the Theatre Department on the Theatrical Event, sponsor the annual essay contest, and offer thoughtful and stimulating courses and other activities across campus.

My main concern is that paperwork and other administrative demands not overwhelm the new director and her committees. The position involves continuing to teach and do research and service in one's home department, with only a course each semester released and with no secretarial support. Dealing with accounting procedures was one of the most frustrating parts of the position; haggling with Twamley about getting someone paid for their work or some small expense reimbursed or covered didn't seem like a good use of my time.

What was a good use of the director's time was, believe it or not, attending meetings. The College Council especially is an important place for not only chairs to get together but also directors of academic programs, and I'm happy to see that membership was expanded in this direction. It means that the home department has two representatives on the Council, of course, but that is surely one of the inducements to a department to release the director from a course each semester. Meeting with the Women Studies Executive Committee each month was also important and rewarding, again because we come from many departments and because we share a common vision for change that is not always articulated elsewhere.

So, all things considered, we're probably stronger than ever, and I know we're looking forward to the new century.

Sandra Donaldson

19 July 2001

Women Studies Annual Report
Academic year 1997 - 1998

The Data

Dr. Sandra Donaldson (English) continued as director in 1997-98, with one-course released time from the English department each semester. The Executive Committee included Glinda Crawford (Sociology), Mary Cutler (Theatre Arts), Kathy Dixon (English), Barbara Handy-Marchello (History), Kathy King (English), Rebecca Moore (Philosophy and Religious Studies), Donna Oltmanns (Women's Center), Natalia Orlova (visiting scholar from Russia, Communication), Sharon Rezac Andersen (International Centre), Kathleen Tiemann (Sociology), and Asako Yoshida (Chester Fritz Library). Leslie Hammer was again the Director's Assistant.

Between semesters, offices of the program were moved to O'Kelly Hall, room 133A, in the same area as Integrated Studies and Peace Studies. We share a lounge area with Peace Studies, where there is also one desk for the faculty teaching the A&S courses (Intro and Theory).

Program Courses (A&S) Women Studies course enrollments were very reassuring this academic year. In fall semester 1997, A&S 225, Introduction to the Study of Women, taught by Dr. Kathleen Dixon and Kathy Coudle King, enrolled a third-week total of 44 students. The two sections offered in spring 1998, taught by Dr. Anne Kelsch and Kathy Coudle King, had a total enrollment of 64 students. Feminist Theory (A&S 480), taught by Dr. Traci Kelly, enrolled 8 students in spring 1998. Senior Study (A&S 498) had no enrollments in 1997-98, although 6 students graduated with a minor in Women Studies (Senior Study is no longer required).

Cross-listed Courses The following courses, cross-listed in both Women Studies and at least one other department, were listed in the Time Schedule of Classes for the year. They may be used by students to fulfill Women Studies undergraduate minor requirements, graduate Women Studies cognate requirements, departmental requirements, General Education requirements, or for elective credit:

Criminal Justice 393, Victimology, Hume (F97)
Criminal Justice 393, Women, Crime & Criminal Justice, Hume
(S98)
Education Foundations 507, Gender & Education, Laycock (F97)
English 332, English Drama, O'Donnell (F97)
English 357, Women Writers & Readers, Meek/Donaldson
(F97/S98)
English 417, Rhetoric in Popular Culture, Dixon (F97/S98)
History 332/333, Women in American History to/from 1865,
Marchello (F97/S98)
Religious Studies 116, Women & Religion, Moore (S98)
Sociology 309, Ecofeminism, Crawford (F97)
Sociology 309, Knowing Nature, Crawford (S98)
Sociology 309, Living Lightly, Crawford (F97/S98)
Sociology 335, The Family, Ender (F97/S98)
Sociology 340, Gender & Sex Roles, Tiemann (F97/S98)
Theatre 501, Restoration & Neoclassical Drama, Cutler (F97)
Theatre 250, Great Plays, Cutler (S98)

Curriculum

Program Approvals The University Senate approved the new course Women and Religion, Rel St 116, which will be included as an approved course for the minor.

Interdisciplinary Bachelors Degree The Task Force on the BA in Interdisciplinary Studies continued its work, with the Women Studies program as a prominent part of the proposals. The group is composed of representatives from Integrated Studies, Humanities, Peace Studies, Women Studies, the Honors Program, Arts & Sciences, and others.

Graduate Cognate We prepared a flyer articulating the ways a student can create a cognate in Women Studies at the graduate level.

Gay and Lesbian Studies Discussion began about offering a gay and lesbian studies course, initiated by a letter in the Dakota Student about homophobia on campus.

Students/Faculty

We honored five students at the annual Honors Day in the spring: Barbie Rerick (Criminal Justice), Tina Grumbo (English), Susan Klein, Kara Luger (Communication), and Mary Wiper (English and Honors). Also, the program was represented at "Involvement Day," a Student Government event held at the beginning of the year to inform students of campus opportunities.

Dr. Lana Rakow (Communication) was honored at the National Communication Association convention as this year's "Spotlight Scholar" in the Feminist and Women Studies division. Dr. Mary Cutler (Theatre Arts) attended the National Women Studies Association convention in Oswego, New York, as our representative; the program from the convention is on file in the Women Studies office.

Activities

Salon This year, Becky Moore coordinated Salon with the Writers Conference in March: we read Paulette Jiles's North Spirit and met with her at the Women's Center.

Essay Contest Again this year, the Women Studies essay contest attracted many fine pieces of writing from across campus. The winners for 1997 were Darin Kerr, graduate division, for "'Like a Virgin': Desire and Dominance in Aphra Behn's The Rover" (Theatre Arts, Mary Cutler); undergraduate, Mary Kovarik for "The Color Purple: A Portrait of Abuse" (Honors English, Tami Carmichael). Honorable Mentions were awarded to Marie Pearson for "Rites of Depression" (Introduction to the Study of Women, Kathleen King) and T.S. Worden for "Feminism and Social Order" (Introduction to the Study of Women, Kathleen Dixon). Winners received their awards at the International Women's Day luncheon at the International Centre on March 6. Judges were Jan Zahrly (Management) and Sharon Rezac Andersen (International Centre).

Participation in Other Events Women Studies Faculty were active in the annual Theatrical Event arranged and directed by Mary Cutler, "Kiss Me Kate," in October. Thematic panels followed performances, with Kathleen Dixon (English) and Kathy Coudle King (Women Studies and English) participating in the one on women's issues.

Women Studies faculty also organized and presented papers and performances during Women's History Month in March. In the History department, Anne Kelsch created a website for the event. Donna Oltmanns and Kay Mendick from the Women's Center coordinated the other activities for the month. Leslie Hammer and others put together displays in the Union, the library, and the halls of Merrifield and O'Kelly.

Women Studies students and faculty spoke at and marched in the Take Back the Night March in October, an annual event sponsored by the Women's Center and coordinated with the statewide Clothesline Project. Women Studies faculty also led a discussion after the presentation of "Belle of Amherst" by Frances Ford, visiting professor in Theatre Arts.

Asako Yoshida coordinated purchase of books in Women Studies from a $2000 allocation through the library's Books Open Doors program. Oh, and Anne Kelsch had a baby girl, Sarah Anne Kindree, in August.

Women Scholars Endowment

It took a little longer for the Women Scholars Endowment to get back on its feet. The Steering Committee was planning to meet on April 18th, but, as Gretchen Beito said, "I'll be there, although I'm coming from Thief River Falls, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to get over the river." She couldn't, and no one else could either.

We later produced a newsletter, an excerpt from which follows:

Assessing the effects of the flood gave me the opportunity to think through what it means to set up an Endowment, what the Women Studies program is for, and how important feminism is in my life. Many people have been involved in both the thinking through and the making it a reality: Steering Committee members, UND Foundation people, Women Studies faculty, and UND alums. The time and talent these people contributed have convinced me that feminism is important in many people's lives, that we share a strong commitment. And so I acknowledge these good people for their contributions:

Endowment Steering and Planning committees Toby Baker, Gretchen Beito, Janet Daley, Judy DeMers, Patrice Elliott, Gail Stewart Hand, Barbara Handy-Marchello, Heidi Heitkamp, Roxanne Jensen, Kitty Maidenberg, Denise Markovich, Rebecca Moore, Cindy Phillips, Naomi Thorson, Vera L.Y. Uyehara, Terry Wald, Nelrene Yellow Bird.

UND Foundation Blanche Abdallah, Kirsten Carolin, Deanna Carlson Larter, Janna Mostad, Denise Sevigny.

Women Studies Program Execom Members and Program Affiliates Victoria Beard, Glinda Crawford, Mary Cutler, Kathy Dixon, Lillian Elsinga, John Ettling, Julie Evans, Joanne Gabrynowicz, Leslie Hammer, Elizabeth Hampsten, Barbara Handy-Marchello, Wendy Hume, Kathy Coudle King, Mary Laycock, Kay Mendick, Sherry O'Donnell, Donna Oltmanns, Lana Rakow, Sharon Rezac-Andersen, David Rowley, Kathy Tiemann, Lonny Winrich, Mary Wiper, Asako Yoshida, Jan Zahrly.

Women Studies Annual Report
Academic Year 1998 - 1999

The Data

Dr. Sandra Donaldson (English) was re-elected in 1998-99 to a three-year term as director of the program, with one-course released time from the English department fall and spring semesters. The Executive Committee included Mary Cutler (Theatre Arts), Barbara Handy-Marchello (History), Wendy Hume (Criminal Justice), Kathy King (English), Donna Oltmanns (Women's Center), Lana Rakow (Communication), and Kathleen Tiemann (Sociology). Mary Wiper (English, Honors, Women Studies) served as Assistant to the Director.

The program office is housed O'Kelly Hall, room 133A, in the same area as Integrated Studies and Peace Studies. We share a lounge with Peace Studies, where there is a desk for the faculty teaching the Arts and Sciences courses. The program's website is at www.und.nodak.edu/dept/women/ws.htm

Program Courses (A&S) Women Studies course enrollment continued its strong recovery again this academic year. In the fall of 1998 two sections of A&S 225, Introduction to the Study of Women, taught by Kathy Coudle King and Erin Ceynar, enrolled a total of 65 students. The sections offered in spring 1999 had a total third-week enrollment of 64 students. Feminist Theory (A&S 480), taught by Dr. Traci Kelly, enrolled 9 students in spring 1999. Senior Study (A&S 498) had an enrollment of 2 students in fall, spring, and summer sessions. Four students graduated with minors in Women Studies.

Criminal Justice 331, Victimology, Hume (F98)
English 357, Women Writers & Readers, Meek/O'Donnell
(F98/S99)
English 416, The Brontes & Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
Donaldson (F98)
Honors 392, Women and Work, Kelsch (S99)
Indian Studies 346, Contemporary Indian Women, Hans (F98)
Sociology 309, Ecofeminism, Crawford (F98)
Sociology 309, Knowing Nature, Crawford (S99)
Sociology 309, Living Lightly, Crawford (F98/S99)
Sociology 340, Gender & Sex Roles, Tiemann (F98)

Evaluation and Assessment

Materials for evaluation of the program, as directed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, had been collected by Mary Laycock during her term as program director, but the college's review committee never met. We believed that the report had been accepted as submitted but were asked to provide updated information, and the question seems to still be open.

The new VPAA is encouraging departments and programs to consider assessment in a different light, exploring ways to assess how well students are meeting the program's academic objectives. Efforts at assessment must be substantial and ongoing; departments may choose their methods but need to have a clear rationale. The method should be simple enough that it can be routinely implemented. Execom minutes are a record of the on-going assessment process, which includes discussions and decisions made at faculty meetings, such as those about the criteria cited above.

Curriculum

Interdisciplinary Bachelors Degree Planning continued, and the proposal was approved by the Arts & Sciences Curriculum Committee and the University Curriculum Committee. It was accepted by the University Senate. The planning committee applied for restoration and reallocation funding for personnel positions, but those funds never materialized apparently. See attached announcement for the major Interdisciplinary Studies: Women Studies.

Gay and Lesbian Studies Course Discussion and planning continued for a LGBT course to be offered in fall 1999 as Arts & Sciences 250. It will be titled "Human Sexualities and the Social World" and will be taught by four faculty members and coordinated by the WS program director. Funding is being sought from various sources, including Continuing Education, the Honors Program, Office of Instructional Development, and Arts and Sciences.

Students/Faculty

Execom member Barbara Handy-Marchello received one of the President's Advisory Council on Women (PAC-W) awards at the annual spring tea. Erin Ceynar, graduate student in Sociology, WS faculty member, and former undergrad WS minor, presented a paper at the National Women's Studies Association Conference in Albuquerque in June. The program from the 1999 conference is on file in the WS office.

Activities

Essay Contest The Women Studies essay contest again this year demonstrated the fine work being done in Women Studies across campus. The winners for 1998 were Chris Stoner for "Reflections on the Life and Work of Sylvia Plath" (Religious Studies, Rebecca Moore), undergraduate, and, in the graduate division, Aimee Funasaki for "Butterfly Come" (Counseling, Denise Twohey). Maxine Henry's "Where Ecofeminism Has Taken Me" (Sociology, Glinda Crawford) earned honorable mention in the undergraduate division, as did SuEllen Shaw in the graduate division for "Cora E. Smith, M. Beatrice Johnstone, Ella L. Fulton: Their Contributions to UND and to North Dakota" (English, Sandra Donaldson). Maureen Salzer (English) and Denise Markovich (Finance) were this year's judges.

Participation in Other Events The Executive Committee took an active role in objecting to the major cuts being made to the Women's Center budget, including elimination of the assistant's position, now held by a 25-year employee. Members of the President's Advisory Council on Women were active in that arena as well.

"Women's History: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" was the theme of the annual Women's History Month celebration. Activities coordinated by Barbara Handy-Marchello, Anne Kelsch, Donna Oltmanns, and Kay Mendick included quilt storytelling, staged readings by Kathy King's students of "WomanSpeak" by Gloria Goldsmith, a presentation by Dee Watson (HPER) of the history of women in sports, the proclamation by Grand Forks Mayor Patricia A. Owens of March as Women's History Month, presentation by Kathleen Brokke on prairie botanist Fannie Mahood Heath, and a performance by the Sweet Adelines, all on March 1.

The month's events included the annual International Women's Day Luncheon, a presentation by History students Sally McBeth and Esther Horne on the life of a Shoshone teacher, a forum on women in aviation at the Air Force Base coordinated by Susan Johnson, a presentation in the History department on Elizabeth Barrett Browning by Sandra Donaldson, and Helen Hamilton Day (Law Women's Caucus) presentations by Adrienne Davis, Clay Jenkinson, and ND Supreme Court Justice Mary Mering. Anne Kelsch coordinated the website for the event: www.und.edu/instruct/akelsch/whmweb.htm

Women's History Month activities culminated in a moving concert by Judy Lunseth, marking the departure of Donna Oltmanns from her position with the Women's Center. The month's activities were stunning, despite the budget cuts which resulted from the governor's 95% budget reduction exercise, which affected only non-line items, making women's positions and activities particularly vulnerable.

Women Studies Faculty participated in the annual Theatrical Event coordinated by Mary Cutler, this year's play being "Dancing at Lughnasa." Dr. Stacia Bensyl of Missouri Western State University was the visiting scholar; presentations and panels accompanied performances, with Barbara Handy-Marchello moderating one and Anne Kelsch participating.

Kathy King organized staged readings of plays by women for the International Center for Women Playwrights through the Women's Center. Women Studies students and faculty spoke at and marched in the Take Back the Night March sponsored by the Women's Center, fall semester. Women Studies co-sponsored a special presentation by Native American activist, Winona LaDuke, during Time-Out Week, which precedes the annual Pow-wow in spring. Her presentation was titled "Environmentalism: Native and American on the Cusp of the Millennium."

Women Scholars Endowment

A member of the Women Studies Faculty designated by the WS Executive Committee will oversee the Endowment's funds in order to tie the Endowment more clearly to the academic program.

A newsletter, intended to be published semi-annually, is being composed with assistance from the UND Foundation.

Purpose: An endowment to support women's scholarship at UND is established in the UND Foundation; it is separate from the Women Studies Fund which maintains the essay contest and various co-sponsorships. Its goal is to better recognize and support women scholars at all levels -- from major speakers with national reputations to students working on first degrees. To that end we propose to raise a significant sum of money to offer scholarships for students in Women Studies. We also intend to provide grants for faculty doing research on women and to bring a nationally-recognized woman scholar to speak on campus or a woman scholar to be in residence for a month or a semester.

At last! Now you can

MAJOR in WOMEN STUDIES

It's now possible to design a major in Women Studies through the Interdisciplinary Studies Program. Your degree will be Interdisciplinary Studies: Women Studies.

Some History: The Women Studies Program at UND was established in 1982, and a minor was approved by the Board of Higher Education in 1984. The Interdisciplinary Studies Program was approved in 1998.

Requirements for the Major:
I. General Education Requirements (see catalog)

II. Interdisciplinary Studies Program Requirements: A minimum of 36 credits, including
IdSt 280, Learning Across Disciplines (3 cr.)
IdSt 491, Capstone Interdisciplinary Seminar (1-3 cr., not repeatable)
IdSt 498, Senior Project (3cr., repeatable to 6 cr.)

In addition, students prepare a program of study listing the courses to be used to complete major requirements and must be approved by an IdSt advisor and the IdSt Executive Committee.

III. Women Studies Courses
Arts & Sciences 225: Introduction to the Study of Women (3 cr.)
Arts & Sciences 480: Feminist Theory (3 cr.)
English 357: Women Writers and Readers (3 cr., repeatable when topics vary)
History 332: Women in American History to 1865 (3 cr.)
History 333: Women in American History from 1865 (3 cr.)
Religious Studies 116: Women and Religion (3 cr.)
Sociology 340: Sociology of Gender and Sex Roles (3 cr.)

In addition, these courses are commonly included in students' programs: A&S 492: Senior Study (1-4 cr.), IS 346: Contemporary Indian Women (3 cr.), Comm 310: Media & Diversity (3 cr.), Soc 335: The Family (3 cr.), as well as other courses in various departments cross-listed each semester in the Time Schedule of Classes.

* * * * * * *
To set up a program, stop by the Women Studies Office in O'Kelly 133 or phone 777-4115.

Women Studies Annual Report
Academic Year 1999 - 2000

The Data

Dr. Sandra Donaldson (English) continued as director in 1999-2000, with one-course released time from the English department each semester. The Executive Committee included Glinda Crawford (Sociology), Mary Cutler (Theatre Arts), Barbara Handy-Marchello (History), Wendelin Hume (Criminal Justice), Kathy King (English), Kay Mendick (Women's Center), Lana Rakow (Communication), and Kathleen Tiemann (Sociology). Jill Eide served as Assistant to the Director.

The program's office is in O'Kelly Hall, room 133A, in the same area as Integrated Studies and Peace Studies. We share a lounge area with Peace Studies in room 133, where there is also one desk for the faculty teaching the A&S courses. The program's website is at www.und.nodak.edu/ dept/women/ws.htm

Program Courses (A&S) Women Studies course enrollment continued to grow this academic year. In the fall of 1999, two sections of A&S 225, Introduction to the Study of Women, taught by Kathleen Brokke and Kathy King, enrolled a total of 68 students. The two sections offered in spring 2000 had a total enrollment of 69 students. Third-week enrollment in Feminist Theory (A&S 480), taught by Dr. Traci Kelly, was 13 students in spring 2000. Senior Study (A&S 498/492*) enrolled 4 students in fall, spring, and summer sessions. A new course, A&S 250, Human Sexualities in the Social World, was offered in the fall semester. Five students graduated with minors in Women Studies. (*course number changed in spring 2000 due to Common Course Numbering across the NDU System)

Cross-listed Courses The following courses, cross-listed in both Women Studies and at least one other department, were listed in the Time Schedules of Classes for the year. They may be used by students to fulfill Women Studies undergraduate minor requirements, requirements for a major in Interdisciplinary Studies, graduate Women Studies cognate requirements, departmental requirements, General Education requirements, or for elective credit:
A&S 250, Human Sexualities & the Social World (F99)
Communication 530, Gender, Culture & Communication,
Rakow (S00)
English 330, Virginia Woolf & Margaret Atwood,
Donaldson (S00)
English 357, Women Writers and Readers, Donaldson/
Rankin (F99/S00)
English 401, Women in the Middle Ages, Coleman (F99)
History 300, Victorian Women, Kelsch (F99)
History 332/333, Women in American History to/from
1865, Handy-Marchello (F99/S00)
History 300, Women's Autobiography as History, Handy-
Marchello (S00)
History 593, Women in History, Handy-Marchello (F99)
Religious Studies 116, Women & Religion, Miller (F99)
Sociology 309, Ecofeminism, Crawford (F99)
Sociology 309, Knowing Nature, Crawford (S00)
Sociology 309, Living Lightly, Crawford (F99/S00)
Sociology 340, Gender & Sex Roles, Tiemann (F99)
Theatre 415, Feminist Performance, Cutler (S00)

Program Planning and Assessment

One goal of participating in the National Telecon- ference on Women in Higher Education (see below, "Partici-
pation in Other Events") was to begin discussion of a strategic plan for the program, to be included in the overall university strategic plan proposed by the new president and the provost. See the appendix to the Annual Report for 2000-01 for a copy of the final strategic plan.

Discussion and planning regarding the assessment of program objectives also continued. See the Annual Report for 2000-01 for the agreed-upon Student Learning Objectives.

Curriculum

Gay and Lesbian Studies In fall 1999, Women Studies sponsored Arts & Sciences 250, "Human Sexualities and the Social World," taught by four faculty members and coordinated by the WS program director. Faculty are Mary Cutler, Lucy Ganje (Communication), Kathy Tiemann, and David Whitcomb (Counseling). Funding was provided by Continuing Education, the Honors Program, and the Office of Instructional Development.

"Fighting Sioux" Nickname Members of the Executive Committee unanimously supported efforts to change the nickname of the University's sports teams. Women Studies is the first academic unit to do so officially. Following is the statement approved by the Execom and distributed:

Native American women and children seem to be taking a large amount of the anger being expressed against the proposal that UND change its nickname and logo. Too, women have been among the strongest and most courageous voices in speaking up to defend themselves against the harassment and to assert clearly and persuasively reasons for making the change.

The Executive Committee of the UND Women Studies Program supports and joins our sisters and brothers in the fight against the disrespect shown by the use of the image of a people as a fund?raising and group?cohesion tool by the University. We are especially concerned about the campus climate that has been created by this controversy and urge all members of the university community to be especially watchful about the potential for violence, both verbal and physical. (15 December 1999)

Women in Higher Education Teleconference and Caucuses Together with the President's Advisory Council on Women (PAC-W), the School of Medicine, and the College of Arts & Sciences, we provided downlink and local site coordination for a national teleconference in conjunction with Women's History Month. The Association of American Colleges and Universities and the University of Minnesota presented a three-day interactive teleconference from March 27 to 29, 2000, "Women's Lives, Women's Voices, Women's Visions." UND grad Judith Sturnick (English '61) was one of the featured speakers. Nearly a hundred students, faculty, staff, and administrators attended the three days of events on campus, which included two telecasts and three caucus sessions. Caucus leaders were Kathleen Brokke (Women Studies), Patricia Orozco-Rangel (Languages), Mary Pringle (Energy & Environmental Research Center), and Lana Rakow (Communication). Sandra Donaldson (English) of Women Studies and Vikki McCleary (Physiology) of PAC-W co-chaired the events.

In addition, a group of students, faculty, and staff attended the conference in Minneapolis: Kay Mendick, Kathy King, Rochelle Bollman, and Barbie Rerick. The last week in March was designated as one of President Kupchella's Inaugural Year Events, a Week of Women. The week culminated with the annual PAC-W Tea, with Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards speaking about third wave feminism. Funding was provided by the College of Arts and Sciences, the President's office, and the School of Medicine. (See also Women's History Month, under "Activities" below.)

Students/Faculty

T-shirts marking the 15th anniversary of the minor ("1984-1999: Fifteen years of a major minor") were produced. Lana Rakow suggested that members of the Execom each sponsor a shirt for students in the minor, a mentoring project.

History students Tanis Lovercheck-Saunders (doctoral program) and Jodi Nelson (alum) presented lectures during Women's History month. (See also Women's History Month under "Activities" below.)

Sandra Donaldson won the Outstanding Faculty Development and Service award at Founders Day in February for her work for the Women Studies Program. She also attended the National Women's Studies Association Conference at Simmons College in Boston in June, participating in a panel titled "Still Struggling to Survive: Women's Studies at Resource-Poor Institutions." The program from the 2000 conference is on file in the WS office.

Besides taking in active part in the preparation of departmental strategic plans, members of the WS faculty were well represented on university-wide strategic planning committees.

Activities

Essay Contest The Women Studies essay contest again this year demonstrated the fine work being done in Women Studies across campus. The winners for 1999 were Tanis Lovercheck-Saunders, a graduate student in History, for "La Pucelle -- Joan of Arc" (English, Joyce Coleman), and Lisa M. Peterson, honorable mention for "The Effect of Domestic Abuse on the Workplace" (Management, Jan Zahrly). The undergraduate winner was Tricia Tuchscherer (English and Women Studies) for her essay "Heloise, 1101-1164" (English, Joyce Coleman); honorable mention was awarded to Mandy Brandt for "Difficult Women" (English, Sandra Donaldson). Wendy Hume (Criminal Justice) judged this year's essays.

Participation in Other Events Women Studies Faculty participated in the annual Theatrical Event coordinated by Mary Cutler. "A Little Night Music," presented in February, was this year's play; Dr. Rosemarie K. Bank was the visiting scholar. Presentations and panels accompanied performances, with Anne Kelsch moderating the panel on women's issues.

We were also consulted about the production of "How I Learned to Drive," a Pulitzer prize-winning play by Paula Vogel about incest, which was the Theatre Arts department's entry in the 2000 American College Theatre Regional Festival. Sandra Donaldson, Kay Mendick, and Anne Kelsch led discussions after the performances in November.

"Turning the Women's Century," the annual Women's History Month celebration in March, was coordinated by Kay Mendick (Women's Center), together with Anne Kelsch and Barbara Handy-Marchello (History), as well as law students Katherine Becker and Karen Eri. Matilda Joslyn Gage (great grandmother of Senator Jocelyn Burdick) was portrayed by Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner, the featured speaker. A portrait of Helen Hamilton, the first woman to graduate from the UND School of Law ('05), was dedicated at the Law School. Hamilton was the only woman in her senior class and was also the class president; she practiced law in Grand Forks for 43 years. Featured speakers on Helen Hamilton Day (March 7th) were retired ND Supreme Court Justice Beryl Levine, Justice Carol Ronning-Kapsner, and Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp. (For other events, see above under "Students/Faculty" and "Curriculum.") The website for these events is www.und.edu/ instruct/akelsch/whmweb.htm

Sandra Donaldson co-chaired the Task Force on the Future of the Women's Center with Katherine Becker, law student. The group of students, faculty, and staff met over the summer of 2000 and produced a report recommending reinstatement of funding, realignment of focus, and expansion of services and activities of the Women's Center.

Kathleen Brokke and Glinda Crawford, together with Student Government vice-president Kristy Berger, spearheaded efforts to establish a native prairie plot in front of the International Centre and Lotus Meditation Center.

Women Scholars Endowment

Newsletter The first two issues of the Endowment newsletter, to be published semi-annually, were distributed, the first in October and the second in April. It was produced with assistance from the UND Foundation's Janna Mostad.

A&S 250: Human Sexualities & the Social World
Fall 1999 - 3 credits

Human Sexualities and the Social World is an interdisciplinary course designed to introduce students to historical and theoretical research primarily in the field of Gay and Lesbian Studies. This semester the course will be taught by professors in Theatre Arts (Cutler), Sociology (Tiemann), Counseling (Whitcomb), and Communication (Ganje), in conjunction with the Women Studies Program.

Some likely areas of inquiry include the essentialism vs. constructionism debate, theories about intersections of identities, the writing of our lives, and representations of sexuality. We will consider such topics as images of sexualities in popular culture; Freud's psychodynamic theory; bisexuality; the history of the study of gay men and lesbians by the medical, psychology, and sexology professions; intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sex, and sexual orientation; homophobia and hate crimes; and gender and sexual orientation performativity.

Required texts include an anthology of readings, a course packet, and several area-specific books. Class activities include lectures, film/video screenings, and discussions. There will also be community components. A paper or similar project will be required for each of the four segments of the course; the instructor of the segment will determine the project, advise students about completing it, and evaluate it.

We expect the following student outcomes:
To develop an awareness of sexuality as a component of culture
To understand types of representations of sexual difference
To be able to articulate the commonalities among various liberation movements

For more information, please contact the Women Studies Office, 777-4115.

Women Studies Annual Report
Academic Year 2000 - 2001

The Data

Dr. Sandra Donaldson (English) continued as director in 2000-2001, with one-course released time from the English department each semester; Dr. Wendelin Hume (Criminal Justice) served as Associate Director. The Executive Committee included Gayle Baldwin (Religious Studies), Kathleen Brokke (History), Glinda Crawford (Sociology), Mary Cutler (Theatre Arts), Kathy King (English), Kay Mendick (Women's Center), Lana Rakow (Communication), Kathy Tiemann (Sociology). James Hume served as Assistant to the Director.

The program's office is in O'Kelly Hall, room 133A, in the same area as Integrated Studies, Peace Studies, and Interdisciplinary Studies. We share a lounge area with Peace Studies in room 133, where there is also one desk for the faculty teaching the A&S courses. The program's website is at www.und.nodak.edu/dept/women/ws.htm Our email address is womenstudies@und.nodak.edu The program was represented at "Major Exploration Day" in the fall.

Program Courses (A&S) Women Studies course enrollment continued strong this academic year, according to third-week enrollment figures. In the fall of 2000 two sections of A&S 225, Introduction to the Study of Women, taught by Kathleen Brokke and Kathy Coudle King, enrolled a total of 58 students. The sections offered in the spring of 2001 had a total enrollment of 76 students. And, for the first time, a section was offered in summer, taught jointly by Kathleen Brokke and Kathy King; it enrolled 10 students. Feminist Theory (A&S 480), taught by Dr. Lana Rakow, enrolled 7 students in spring 2001. Senior Study: Women Studies (A&S 492) had an enrollment of 3 students in fall, spring, and summer sessions. Students graduated with minors in Women Studies. Rochelle Bollman is the first student to pursue a major in Women Studies through the Interdisciplinary Studies program.

Criminal Justice 393, Women, Crime & Criminal Justice,
Hume (S01)
English 357, Women Writers & Readers, Donaldson /
O'Donnell (F00/S01)
Religious Studies 116, Women & Religion, Baldwin (S01)
Sociology 309, Knowing Nature, Crawford (S01)
Sociology 309, Living Lightly, Crawford (S01)
Sociology 340, Gender & Sex Roles, Tiemann (S01)

Program Planning and Assessment

Much of our time this year was spent developing a strategic plan for the program, to be included in the overall university strategic plan. In addition, we continued our work on revising our approach to assessing the program's academic objectives and student learning outcomes.

Strategic Planning: See attached final version of the program's plan; see also minutes from 28 September 2000 for results of brainstorming in the categories of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, priorities. In addition, it should be noted that we frequently offer courses in the evening and are doing a number of outreach activities, goals of the university-wide strategic plan.

Assessment: These goals are intended for the syllabus for the Intro and Feminist Theory courses as well for all cross listed courses (adapted as needed). Too they will be part of the brochure that we're planning for the Program.

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES

A clear understanding of key concepts in Women Studies (including but not limited to gender, social construction, privilege, ideology, difference, subjectivity, essentialism, otherness), and an ability to analyze how these concepts have been used by a variety of feminist scholars.
A sensitivity to the ways in which race, gender, sexuality, class, and other aspects of identity intersect in shaping experience and theory making.
An appreciation of the ways different disciplines contribute to the understanding of women, as well as of the ways in which Women Studies challenges the boundaries and concepts of traditional disciplines.
An ability to analyze one's own experience as a gendered individual, demonstrating awareness of the contexts and processes by which gender influences the development of identity.
An ability to develop and trust one's own interpretive, analytical, and creative voice, and to express oneself.
An ability to demonstrate the connections between Women Studies scholarship, activism, and social change.
An ability to access and evaluate sources of information.

Students/Faculty

Because the national convention was held in Minneapolis this year, Wendy Hume, Barbara Handy-Marchello, Kathy Coudle King, Kathleen Brokke, James Hume (student), and Danielle Koss (high school student) all attended the National Women's Studies Association Conference in June. Faculty presented a panel titled "Country Talk: Rural Research and Pedagogies" (see attached proposal to the NWSA). The program from the conference is on file in the WS office; a fuller report will be included in next year's director's report by Professor Hume.

Kathy King's Wannabe, a novel, is now out, and Kathy is doing readings. She is also co-chair of the President's Advisory Council on Women (PAC-W). Two members of the WS faculty are on the search committee for the new A&S dean, Sandy Donaldson and Barb Handy-Marchello. Donaldson also presented testimony at the state legislature on the likely effects on Women Studies of a proposed anti-affirmative action bill (HB1435), which did not pass.

Activities

Essay Contest The Women Studies essay contest again this year demonstrated the fine work being done in Women Studies across campus. The undergraduate winner for 2000 was Chris Stoner for "Furies: A Modern Mythology of Anger" (Feminist Theory, Traci Kelly). Rochelle Bollman (WS Senior Study, Donaldson), Sue Sholes (English, Libby Rankin), and Melissa Thompson (English, Jim McKenzie) won honorable mention in the undergraduate division. The winner in the graduate division was Christine Grossman for "In the Absence of Women: Male-Male (Dis)Connections in Strangers on a Train and The Zoo Story" (English, Susan Koprince and Michael Anderegg). Honorable mention in the graduate division went to Jean Chen (Education Foundations, Mary Laycock). Judges for this year's contest were Lana Rakow (graduate) and Kathy King (undergraduate).

Participation in Other Events

Women Studies Faculty participated in the annual Theatrical Event; Claudia Allen's "Hannah Free" was this fall's play. Post-show discussions were coordinated by Mary Cutler, with the playwright herself as the visiting scholar. A panel on "'Special Rights' for Gay and Lesbian People?" was chaired by Sandra Donaldson and included Gayle Baldwin. "Quilters," a spring production, was coordinated with Women's History Month and involved a number of the WS faculty as well, among them Barb Handy-Marchello (chair) and Glinda Crawford (Sociology), in post-show discussions.

"Celebrating Women of Courage and Vision" was the focus of this year's Women's History Month, coordinated by Kay Mendick, director of the Women's Center, and Anne Kelsch and Barbara Handy-Marchello (History). Events included readings of Gloria Goldsmith's "WomanSpeak" by students in Kathy King's Intro class, a "Remember the Women" display in the Union, a humorous presentation by guest Jane Curry titled "Nice Girls Don't Sweat," a reception for Writers Conference participant Joy Williams, a presentation by Barb Handy-Marchello on women in American life from 1942 to 1955, and other storytelling and oral history opportunities.

Women Studies students and faculty spoke at and marched in the Take Back the Night March sponsored by the Women's Center in fall semester. Kay Mendick is developing a course in Impact self defense; and in April she brought in Chuck Derry of the Gender Violence Institute to speak during Crime Victims Awareness Week.

The prairie gardeners struck again: Kathleen Brokke and Glinda Crawford are coordinators of the second plot of prairie, this one surrounding the "Soaring Eagle" sculpture behind the library.

Women Scholars Endowment

Newsletter published semi-annually, is being composed with assistance from the UND Foundation.

WOMEN STUDIES STRATEGIC PLAN
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks
October 2000

MISSION
Women Studies at the University of North Dakota is interdisciplinary, providing
? A more complete understanding of women's history and contemporary culture and the psychological and physical effects of gender bias
? Knowledge and training in women's issues for future employment in women?centered programs as well as other career areas
? Background for graduate work in Women Studies and other disciplines

GOALS
? To encourage the investigation of women's lives as one aspect of human experience in hitherto relatively unexplored areas of study
? To augment students' academic programs by offering them a Women Studies focus
? To coordinate courses and other academic activities that wholly or in significant part address issues relating to women
? To offer students additional opportunities for professional and educational enrichment

ENVIRONMENT

PRIORITY ACTION AREAS
1. Curriculum (Teaching and Learning)
GOAL 1-1 Enhance student participation and learning in the WS program.
Action 1-1-1: Respond to the high demand for Introduction to the Study of Women by doubling the number of sections offered. (05/02)
Action 1-1-2: Expand the number of offerings in other departments. (05/02)
Action 1-1-3: Develop a proposal for the formation of a graduate program in WS. (05/02)

2. Research and Creative Activity
GOAL 2-1 Creatively develop an intellectual community focused on the contributions of women and reconceptualize research to view women as subjects rather than objects of research.
Action 2-1-1: Offer a conference annually in our region that can involve community and campus members. (05/03)
Action 2-1-2: Increase opportunities for students to present papers at campus conferences. (10/01)
Action 2-1-3: Invite student to create visibility projects which could be shared in other classes. (12/01)
Action 2-1-4: Develop a concept paper addressing the formation of a Center of Excellence and possible funding opportunities.
Action 2-1-5: Improve funding available to support increased research endeavors and faculty development. (05/02).
Action 2-1-6: Encourage alternative forms of disseminating and gathering information/policies/et.al. such as dramatizing. (05/01)

GOAL 2-2 Explore opportunities for collaboration with other NDUS and Minnesota Women Studies programs.
Action 2-2-1: Begin discussions with WS faculty at other institutions to create opportunities and enhance awareness. (10.02)

GOAL 2-3 Ensure adequate access to professional journals to support faculty and student research efforts.
Action 2-3-1: Inventory current Chester Fritz, Women's Center, and Departmental libraries to list current journal and book holdings relevant to WS and evaluate their adequacy. (12/01)
Action 2-3-2: Define unmet needs and acquire necessary resources to secure additional holdings as necessary. (05/02)

3. Service
GOAL 3-1 Improve awareness of the many service activities performed by WS faculty and affiliates.
Action 3-1-1: Improve campus awareness of the innovative educational events made available though the efforts of WS faculty and affiliates.
Action 3-1-2: De-emphasize economic development as a community benefit derived from the University and emphasize rather mentoring and nurturing to develop human potential. (05/01)

4.Campus Climate
GOAL 4-1 Improve campus climate for female students, faculty, and staff.
Action 4-1-1: Encourage the careful consideration of qualified women for administrative positions (12/00)
Action 4-1-2: Support faculty and affiliates efforts toward tenure and promotion.
Action 4-1-3: Recognize the multiplicity of women's experiences as a richness to be valued and encourage women to explore and express their ethnic/racial identities. (12/00)

5. Recruitment and retention
GOAL 5-1 Approach student advisement in a holistic manner.
Action 5-1-1: Offer a leadership luncheon, which will support the development of student/professional women mentoring relationships (11/02)
Action 5-1-2: Secure funding to support outreach activities. (12/01)
Action 5-1-3: Enhance awareness among faculty members of the different learning styles of many female students. (01/02)
Action 5-1-4: Support proposals to bring elementary and secondary students onto campus to work with women in various fields (model NDSU's Expanding Your Horizons program) (12/02)

6. Use of information Technology
GOAL 6-1 Improve the availability of technology for WS facility and students.
Action 6-1-1: Develop a proposal to obtain funding from the student technology fee fund. (10/1)
Action 6-1-2: Create fuller opportunities for faculty, staff and students to use technology to work at home if they wish. (05/02)
Action 6-1-3: Develop and maintain a WS web site to improve accessibility to information about the program, serve as a recruitment tool, and enhance public relations. (12/00)

7. Support and Organization
GOAL 7-1 Enhance the financial support and stability of the WS program.
Action 7-1-1: Advocate for a regularized library allocation. (12/01)
Action 7-1-2: Recognize and reward the important contributions of the part-time instructors and those teaching an overload by improving salaries to a level commensurate with their experience. (01/02)

GOAL 7-2 Enhance knowledge and awareness of the WS program.
Action 7-2-1: Enhance possibility of securing funding for a full-time director preferably through creation of an endowed chair position or a regularized budget line position. (05/03)
Action 7-2-2: Attempt to secure funding to reinstate secretarial staff position. (05/02)

NWSA 2001 General Conference Proposal

CATEGORY Emerging Voices

TITLE Country Talk: Rural Research and Pedagogies, a Panel

DESCRIPTION
Geographic isolation provides its own challenges and opportunities for people doing Women Studies research and teaching. We are North Dakota's largest university, housing the law school and medical school, as well as traditional colleges and also the cutting-edge School of Aerospace Sciences. North Dakota's population, 630,000 people, means that the financial resource base is limited; the size of the University, around 11,000 students, however, means that students, faculty, and staff can know and learn from each other across status and disciplinary lines.

Women Studies research, then, is somewhat difficult in fields that depend on deep library holdings, on large populations to study, and on a culture that includes a variety of norms and ways. We do enjoy, however, a large and vital Air Force Base just west of town, a strong history of populist politics, and a tradition of tolerance if not acceptance of difference. An important characteristic of rural northern life in winter is that you never pass a stopped vehicle on a country road - if a vehicle has broken down in bad weather, you could easily be leaving that person to die. Of necessity, people work together, not only to survive harsh winters and to get work done that needs to be done but also to find satisfactions in life. UND's Women Studies faculty and students do research on women and work, on community reactions to disaster (in the unprecedented Red River Valley flood of 1997), on rural lesbians, on community-making in small towns.

Women Studies teaching and performing, too, are affected by these cultural and physical factors. In a community that prides itself on its low crime rate, the reality of rape and domestic violence may be questioned, and offering courses in self defense may seem unnecessary. In a seemingly homogeneous community that prides itself on being a "good place to raise kids" because of high test scores, attendance figures, and completion rates in the public schools, doing a mainstage production of a play about a lesbian couple requires sensitive but assertive promotion. In classrooms with students who are reticent about speaking before a large group, radical pedagogies may seem suspect but often are highly successful as students find a voice in an atmosphere that both challenges and affirms them.

These are examples of the activities of UND's Women Studies faculty, staff, and students that we would like to present to our colleagues at the NWSA national conference. Each panelist will present a brief statement about a particular teaching or research strategy and will provide materials about a specific project that has worked well. The goal of the panel is to reveal what these separate responses share, how we deal with resistance to the challenge of feminism.

Grand Forks, ND

Women studies

Grand Forks, ND