University of Southern Maine

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USM Women's History Month Celebration Held on March 11

February 28, 2005

Women's History Month 2005 is a special one at the University of Southern Maine. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the University's Women's Studies Program--the first women's studies major in Maine.

A 25th anniversary celebration will take place beginning with a panel discussion, "Activism and the Future of Feminism in the Academy," at 6 p.m., Friday, March 11, in the Portland Museum Art. Panelists include Nancy Gish, USM professor of English and USM Women's Studies founding director and faculty; Diana Long, USM professor of history and former director of USM Women's Studies; Deepika Marya, assistant professor of English and USM Women's Studies faculty; Sonia Acevedo, president of the USM Gender Studies Student Organization; Steffan Morin, USM student and Women's Studies major; and Nancy Foss, USM Women's Studies alumna and reproductive rights activist.

The festivities continue that evening at 8 p.m. with a "Gender Funk" reception featuring food and music in Space Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland. Both events are free and open to the public. There will be a cash bar at the reception. Reservations are suggested for the panel discussion at the museum and can be made by calling 780-4289.

USM's Women's Studies Program is unique in that all of the directors of the interdisciplinary program are still teaching at the University and are all members of the Women's Studies Council. Current Director Susan Feiner, also an economics professor, explains that women's studies departments are as critical today as when first developed despite an explosion of feminist scholarship. "The traditional canon," says Feiner, "continues to ignore the work of women and people of colorÑas demonstrated by the recent comments about women made by Harvard University President Lawrence H. Summers." Wendy Chapkis, a former director continues, "The social battles fought in the 70s have returned with a vengeance ... reproductive rights, disenfranchised minorities, and lack of economic progress for women, all tell us that women's studies is a needed, important field of study."

For more information about the event, please call 780-4289.

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