Fall 2008

 

Voices

 

 

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Women’s Caucus

News from Your Chair

Vicky Newsom, California State University Los Angeles

Last year at NCA many of us attended and participated in a panel on the Herstory of NCA. Those of us who were not around for the beginning of the "official" herstory and the "birth" of the Women's Caucus (WC) were drawn into the stories of the early days promoting women's voices and values in what is often a patriarchal and sometimes oppressive academic organization. In a year that has been filled with controversies--both within and outside the structures of NCA itself, the Women's Caucus and the Feminist and Women's Studies Division (FWSD) have once again been called upon to provide a space for advocacy for women's and other marginalized voices.

 

It is important to reflect on the necessity of such a platform, while remembering that the very nature of the controversial decisions and opportunities promoted by both WC and FWSD cannot reflect the minds, values, or needs of all of our members. All of our voices matter—and when one side of an argument or a group of voices is being silenced or marginalized by policies or organizational procedures, providing the space for the alternative voices should be our priority.

 

Thus, once again, reflecting the traditions of WC and FWSD set for us by such early NCA women's leaders as Bonnie Ritter, Marlene Fine, Anita Taylor, this year's Francine Merritt Award recipient, Mel Cummings, we are among those who are this year doing things UNconventionally.

So please join us on Saturday at a combined FWSD and WC business meeting at Salvatore's Cucina Italiana Restaurant on 700 Front St. Then, after our combined meeting stay with us at Salvatore's for Awards Reception, which this year is for both the Francine Merritt Award and our new award, the Bonnie Ritter Book Award. The Business meeting runs 3:30-5 with the reception following from 5-6:30. As always, the women of NCA need your participation and leadership in both of these units.

 

As mentioned above, the Women's Caucus was founded as a space for women's advocacy and alternative voices in NCA, and we continue that mission with our panels focused on the role of women in academe, and the relationship between that role and our need to impact society in positive ways. The Feminist and Women's Studies Division continues to be our sister unit, providing space for arguments and reflection on feminist and other theories of oppression, showcasing the remarkable scholarship of our NCA women. Both of these units allow a multiplicity of alternative voices, and reflect the overall ideals upheld by NCA's critically reflective units.

As one of our ways of promoting our combined Voices, we are selling Purple Protest T-Shirts that proudly state "Support Love, Support Labor." And remember, if you are among those whose voice is not clearly reflected in that message, remember that All Purple is Welcome for our purple day. Purple day is Saturday at the convention, both in the conventional setting of the hotel and in the UNconventional setting at Salvatore's.

 

Please also note the other ways to get involved in advocacy for women's and human rights provided by NCA and the WC/FWSD's many sister organizations including ORWAC-WSCA, OSCLG, ICA's FSD, and AEJ's CSW.

And of course, send in your nominations for the 2009 Francine Merritt Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Lives of Women in Communication and the 2009 Bonnie Ritter Book Award. These awards both reflect the spirit of sisterhood and drive for advocacy of the WC and the FWSD. You can read more about these awards and this year's recipients in each issue of Voices.

 

So, on behalf of all of the officers of your Women's Caucus and our graduate student representatives—welcome to the 2008 UNconventional convention. We look forward to seeing you at the combined business meeting at Salvatore's and in the general convention—wearing purple, of course!

 

Last Updated 24 October 2008

 

 

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