UWomen Listserv

This newsletter is a way to share information about issues, events, and activities on women's issues at UConn, locally, and internationally. Visit our new location on the 4th floor of the Student Union!

To unsubscribe or change email address: DO NOT HIT REPLY. Please send an email to tess.bird@uconn.edu, specifying the email address for which the change in subject will occur. To submit a posting: please send a brief informative email regarding your submissions to Tess Bird, tess.bird@uconn.edu. Please send you submissions no later than Sunday to be included in the next week's listserv.

UWOMEN-L includes information and links to departments, offices, and other units of the University, as well as those of off-campus entities. Information in this bulletin is made available for informational and educational purposes only. To the extent that space is available, the Women’s Center welcomes student organizations, groups, community groups and organizations to submit entries for purposes consistent with our mission. The Women’s Center reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of the items to be included in our weekly message.

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Upcoming Women’s Center Events

Robert Jensen: Getting Off – Pornography and the End of Masculinity

Monday, April 7, 7:00 p.m. – Student Union Theater

Journalist, activist and author Robert Jensen will discuss his most recent book, Getting Off – “Expertly combining the ‘the personal’ with ‘the political,’ Robert Jensen exposes the pervasive misogyny of today’s pornography and forces us to face the ugliness of American masculinity.” Sonali Kolhatkar, host of Uprising. “Jensen’s brutally honest assessment of the increasingly pornographic world has never been more difficult to face, or more necessary. This book is essential reading for all of us who want to be part of the struggle for revolutionary social change.” – Gail Dines. Jensen is also author of The Heart of Whiteness: Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege.

9^thWomen’s Leadership Roundtable – Standing Up and Standing Out

Wednesday April 9, 7:00pm - 9:30 pm, UConn Stamford Campus, Auditorium

Join the UCAA Women's Leadership Council for a networking event and a screening of Running in High Heels. While Hillary runs, Paris Hilton burns, out comes a film that explains what’s really going on: Running in High Heels! Wrapped around a story of one young woman’s comically inept run for State Senate in New York, Running in High Heels explores the intertwining of sex, money and politics in the lives of everyday women and reveals the difference between what women say they want and what they act on. Interspersed with her story are interviews with notable women from the left and right of the American political spectrum as they try to explain how women are the majority of the population at 52% but are underrepresented in government and politics. When it comes to the conflict of femininity and ambition, find out how far women can go if they’re ‘Running in High Heels’.

The film will be followed by a panel of women who will offer their perspectives on women’s involvement in the political process and their personal experiences as women engaged in political and civic efforts in their communities. Moderated by Teresa Younger, Executive Director, Connecticut Permanent Commission on the Status of Women. $15 for UCAA members, $20 for nonmembers – still TBD

Graduate Women’s Group Event

Negotiation 101: Getting What You Need from Your Graduate School Experience

Thursday April 10, noon to 1:30 pm, Women’s Center Program Room

Many students enroll in a graduate program expecting to clarify research interests and define career goals, only to find themselves repeatedly steered off-course by trusted friends, teachers, and advisers. While compromise is part of the grad school game, bend too much and you may find your transcript filled with unfulfilling classes, and your CV packed with projects that fail to reflect your passions. This doesn’t have to be you! If you’re a female graduate student looking for strategies to get what you need from your graduate student experience, the Women’s Center can help. First, register to attend the March 26, 2008 $tart $mart Workshop on negotiating in the job market. Then join us on April 10th for a seminar on negotiation and upward management in grad school.

For information about the $tart $mart Workshop, contact Women’s Center Associate Director, Kathy Fischer.

For information about the Graduate Women’s Group workshop on negotiation in grad school contact Erin Sullivan at erin.e.sullivan@uconn.edu.

Am I A Dirty Word? Feminist Art Show

Ongoing, SU Art Gallery

Beth Barbeau, curator, describes the show this way, “Feminism has become a dirty word in the minds of many contemporary Americans, including many educated, liberal, progressive women and men. I do not believe the claims from popular culture that feminism is dead or has out-grown its usefulness. I know that I am not the only person out there who still claims the word ’feminist’ as their own and finds power and inspiration for their work through this identity. For myself, and the other women struggling through this, I needed a context of other artists who come to their work from a similar place. This show has grown out of my desire to gather these artists together and give them a space to show how feminism has informed and inspired their artwork. The work shown is the result of critical engagement of feminism. I wanted to give young women the opportunity to show how they take feminism into their work and deal with issues such as sexuality, body image, gender and identity. Each participant has self-identified as a feminist and chosen a piece of work they consider to be informed by their feminism. By putting our work out there, we are engaging in a tradition of feminist artists/activists sharing themselves and their stories in an effort to initiate a conversation about issues we consider very important and very personal. We hope you enjoy the show!”

For information, Beth Barbeau: elizabeth.barbeau@uconn.edu

Ongoing Groups

Between Women: A discussion group for women who love women… or think they might.

Every Wednesday, 8 pm, at the Women’s Center.

First meeting – 1/30

Come and discuss fun topics, movies and more with women who share your feelings and experiences.

Topics for the semester: TBD

Stronger: A support and discussion group for UConn Women

Thursdays, 4:30 pm – 6 pm, Women’s Center Lounge

Beginning February 9

“I’ve lost myself.”

“What is a healthy relationship?”

“How do I ‘get strong’ after an abusive relationship?”

“How do I heal from sexual assault or abuse?”

For more information and to register, contact Betsy Cracco at 486-4738 or elizabeth.cracco@uconn.edu.

The South Asian Tree (TSAT)

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. Do you identify with one of the countries listed above either through self or family? If so, come join in on dialogues of balancing South Asian heritage with North American ideologies and the implications it has on day to day experiences including life at UConn. For more information contact Bidya Ranjeet at 6-5460.

UConn Men’s Project

The newly established Men’s Project will consist of a ten-week training beginning on Tuesday February 5^th at 7pm at the Women’s Center. Meetings will be held weekly and will focus on topics relating to gender socialization, masculinities, privilege and gender violence prevention. Our goal is to train men who will then positively influence their peers by challenging other men to examine their own socialization, and to prevent things like sexual assault and domestic violence. If you are interested or know of men who may be, please forward potential candidates’ names and all known contact information, to Betsy (VAWPP Coordinator) at 860-486-4738 or at Elizabeth.Cracco@uconn.edu or Ryan (Men’s Project Facilitator) at ryan.barone@uconn.edu.

On-campus Events

The Out with Hate

Coffee Haus

Join UConn Triota for our first ever Coffee House

Wednesday April 9^th, 7 to 9 pm, Student Union Lobby

With performances by local UConn talent:

Poetry

Guitar/Piano/Vocals

Dance

Singing

And much more!

Refreshments will be provided.

Third Annual 2008 John and Valerie Rowe Lecture: The Answer to Cancer

April 8, 2008, 7:00 pm, Student Union Theatre

Join us for the Third Annual 2008 John and Valerie Rowe Lecture: "The Answer to Cancer..." presented by Dr. Carolyn Runowicz, Director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Carolyn D. Runowicz, M.D. is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in women's health, specifically gynecologic cancer. Her research career has been highlighted by developing innovative clinical trials in gynecologic oncology, with more than 200 publications. She is currently the Cancer Center Director at the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, holds the Northeast Utilities Chair in Experimental Oncology and is Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT.

This program is made possible by the generous endowment from the Rowe Family Foundation as part of the John and Valerie Rowe Health Professions Scholars Program.

Off-campus Events

9th Annual White Privilege Conference (WPC9)

April 2-5, 2008

This powerful conference, addressing critical issues of white privilege, diversity, multicultural education, and leadership

will be held at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel, Springfield, Massachusetts, April 2-5, 2008.

Please plan to support and participate in this dynamic gathering of social change educators.

Registration begins January 22, 2008. For more information go to http://www.uccs.edu/wpc

1^st Annual Conference on Personal Financial Management for the 21st Century Working Women

Saturday, April 12, The Bruyette Athenaeum, Saint Joseph College.

This is an all day, five part (50 minute sessions) program geared specifically toward to helping women achieve their financial goals.

Experts from various financial institutions will share the expertise on various topics.

There is a nominal fee of $15 for non Saint Joseph College students.

We will be providing breakfast and lunch for attendees at no additional cost.

MEDIA MADNESS: THE IMPACT OF SEX, VIOLENCE AND COMMERCIAL CULTURE ON ADULTS, CHILDREN AND SOCIETY

A Summer Institute for Educators, Students, Human Service Professionals, Activists and Parents July 8-11, 2008, Wheelock College, Boston.

For the 14th consecutive year, Wheelock College is offering a very popular summer institute on the role that the media (television, magazines, advertising, pornography, video games and music videos) plays in shaping our gender identity, our intimate relationships, our children’s lives, and ultimately our culture. The institute is taught by Dr Gail Dines, author of Pornography: The Production and Consumption of Inequality, and Dr. Diane Levin, author of the forthcoming book, So Sexy So Soon.

Participants in both tracks will learn:

• How media violence affects behavior and contributes to violence in society

• How media images perpetuate and legitimize sexism, racism, consumerism and economic inequality

• How political and economic forces shape the media

• How media affects children’s ideas about sexual behavior and relationships with others

• How to critically deconstruct media images and develop media literacy skills

• How to become active in advocacy, community building and grass roots organizing

As a way to accommodate the needs of the participants, this year two days of the institute will be split into the following tracks:

1. Fighting the porn culture: how to think about and organize against the increasing pornification of our society. Led by Dr. Gail Dines.

2. Combating the hazards of media culture with children, families and the community. Led by Dr. Diane Levin.

Credit Hours

The institute is available as a 3 credit graduate course or a non-credit course. Scholarships are available.

For more information, please contact Gail Dines at gdines@wheelock.edu.

Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN)

Women & International Policy Seminar

May 19-23, 2008 in Washington, DC

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

- Want to know how to tackle tough human rights questions?

- Wonder how they can advocate for international issues?

- Are interested in learning from experts about how international policy is shaped and implemented?

The Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) invites women college students to discover the wide variety of public leadership and career opportunities for women in the field of international relations with PLEN’s 14th Annual Women & International Policy Seminar.

Participants will discuss policy issues such as human rights, international development, security and trade with women leaders in government and non-governmental agencies who are making and influencing policies that affect the global community. The seminar experience is complemented by field visits to federal agencies, non-governmental agencies and Capitol Hill.

Recent seminar speakers include representatives of:

- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

- The U.S. Department of State

- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

- Amnesty International

- Human Rights Watch

- Center for Strategic and International Studies

- International Center for Research on Women

- Sierra Club

- International Monetary Fund (IMF)

For additional information and to register online please visit the PLEN website at http://www.plen.org/programs/international.html or contact the PLEN staff at 202-872-1585 or plen@plen.org. The PLEN staff is always happy to answer questions from students, faculties or other interested parties.

Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN) Women and Public Policy Internship Semester in Washington, D.C.

Summer Session: May 27-Aug 1, 2008

The blustery winter weather may say winter has just begun, but PLEN is already accepting applications for the 2008 Women & Public Policy Summer Internship Semester! We invite college women to come live and work in Washington and experience the excitement of national politics firsthand.

PLEN’s internship program is unique because PLEN offers small, women-centered programs that focus on connecting students with talented and successful women leaders here in Washington. PLEN offers support and encouragement to students throughout their time in Washington, acting as an advocate and resource for PLEN interns.

We give each participant individualized attention from the very start, carefully placing her in a challenging internship that matches her skills and interests. Throughout their semester in Washington, PLEN interns meet in weekly seminar sessions where they examine the internship experience, build professional skills, and meet prominent women leaders eager to share their experiences, advice, as well as ongoing support and mentorship. After students leave, we help them maintain contact with other PLEN alumnae – an invaluable resource for those who continue into careers in the public sector.

2007 internship placements included:

* Amnesty International

* Capitol Hill offices including Congresswomen Louise Slaughter and Anna Eshoo

* The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Minority Health

* Global Trade Watch

* National Network to End Domestic Violence

* Planned Parenthood Federation of America International

* Environmental Literacy Council

* ICMA Retirement Corporation’s Public Affairs Department

* And many more!

An application form can be downloaded from PLEN's website here http://www.plen.org/internships/InternReg.pdf. Please encourage your students to apply early to ensure a placement in their field of interest. The application deadline for the summer semester is February 18, 2008.

As always, if you or your students have any questions about the Internship Semester please do not hesitate to contact the PLEN office by phone at (202) 872-1585 or by email at plen@plen.org. The PLEN staff is always happy to answer questions about our programs.

Announcements

Uconn Writing Center Accepting Applications for Undergraduate Writing Associates

Applications due Thursday April 3^rd, 2 pm

Students from all majors, especially the sciences, are invited to apply. The best applicants will be

strong writers who have excellent communication skills in one-on-one situations. The position

involves tutoring student writers at all levels and from a variety of disciplines; tutors will also be

involved in ongoing training and skill-building, and have the opportunity to initiate and lead projects

around teaching, writing, and community outreach. The skills and experience this position offers are

valued by graduate schools and future employers.

Writing Associates ordinarily commit to working 8-10 scheduled hours a week during the academic year.

Pay is $10/hr.

To apply, please submit:

1. Coversheet (available on our website, at www.writingcenter.uconn.edu)

2. Letter of Application

Your letter should include information about why you want the position, any relevant

experience, and your own strengths and weaknesses as a writer.

3. Informal transcript

4. Resume

5. A 5-7 page academic writing sample, along with a brief paragraph explaining why you chose the

sample.

Application materials should be delivered to CLAS 159 (open Mon-Thurs., 9am to 4pm; Fri. from 10am to 2pm) or mailed to:

Kathleen Tonry, English Dept.

215 Glenbrook Road, Unit 4025

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT 06268

Timeline:

Applications due April 3rd, by 2pm

Selected interviews: April 8th – 11th

Notification on or before April 15th

Questions?

Kathleen Tonry, Associate Director; Kathleen.Tonry@uconn.edu; 486-9104.

Apply to be a Community Outreach student leader today!

The application deadline is FRIDAY March 28^th.

If you’re into service, volunteerism, advocacy, and social change, check us out!

The application period for the 2008-09 Community Outreach student leadership positions is now open. All programs are student run and provide an excellent opportunity to serve and connect with the surrounding community, develop leadership and management skills, and enhance your personal and academic endeavors. Are you ready?

There are over 40 leadership positions of different commitment levels in the following programming areas:

Alternative Breaks Service Trips
Health & Human Services
Mentoring/Tutoring
After School Programs
Advocacy
Special Events
Public Relations

For applications and position descriptions please visit: www.volunteer.uconn.edu

Be a Feminist Leader!

Join UConn Iota Iota Iota, Where Every Woman’s Step Counts!

Mondays at 8 pm in the Women’s Center Program Room

Iota Iota Iota (Alpha Rho chapter), Triota for short, is a national Women’s Studies Honors Society

designed to encourage and support scholarship and excellence in Women’s Studies.

Triota meets weekly to discuss women’s issues on campus, nationally, and globally.

To be a part of Triota you need to have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and 6 or more credits in Women’s Studies.

Contact tess.bird@uconn.edu for more information

or check out our Facebook group, UConn Triota.

Join the Abolition Movement with UConn Love146

Mondays, 7PM - 8PM, Arjona 115

CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING

The trafficking and rape of children for profit is one of the darkest stories on the planet. This physical, mental and emotional trauma leaves children broken and scarred for life. Interventions for these children are critical to their survival. This is why Love146 exists.

Women's Issues and Programs at UConn – March 18 to April 4, 2008 AND BEYOND!

Women's Center, University of Connecticut 2110 Hillside Road, Unit 3118. Storrs, CT. 06269-3118 Tel: (860) 486-4738 Fax: (860)486-1104 Email: womensctr@uconn.edu / www.womenscenter.uconn.edu

Summer Institute: MEDIA MADNESS: The Impact of Sex, Violence, and Commercial Culture on Adults, Children, and Society

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