UMaine announces Women’s Studies talks

ORONO – Domestic violence awareness, women and immigration, women filmmakers and homophobia in public schools are among the topics scheduled for discussion during the University of Maine’s Women in the Curriculum and Women’s Studies Program brown bag lunch series this semester.

The series is designed to share the work being done on women’s issues in the community and to interest students in taking women’s studies courses, as well as to encourage faculty to teach such courses and to incorporate material on women into the rest of their curriculum.

The programs also showcase the women’s studies scholarship being done on campus by faculty members, students and staff, and demonstrate the breadth and depth of intellectual and cultural work done on women’s issues.

The lectures are free and held 12:15-1:30 p.m. in the Bangor Lounge, Memorial Union, on campus. Those attending are invited to bring a bag lunch.

The schedule is:

. “Ugly Ducklings: A Dramatic Response to Homophobia in Maine’s High Schools,” playwright Carolyn Gage and actor Chanel Romney, Wednesday, Oct. 5.

. “Franco-American Women’s Institute: 10-Year Anniversary, 1996-2006,” Rhea Cote Robbins, founder of FAWI; Annette Paradis King, author; Maureen Perry, academic reference librarian, University of Maine, Lewiston-Auburn; and Adele St. Pierre, doctoral candidate, University of Laval, Wednesday, Oct. 12.

. “Think About It: Together Spruce Run and Public Libraries Raise Awareness About Domestic Violence,” discussion and performance with Sue Hamlett, Spruce Run community education coordinator and others, Wednesday, Oct. 19. Part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

. “‘My Terrorist’ and ‘My Land Zion’: Making Controversial Films about My Experience,” Israeli filmmaker Yulie Cohen Gerstel and daughters Stav and Sahar Gerstel, Tuesday, Oct. 25. “My Terrorist” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, and “My Land Zion” on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 100 Donald P. Corbett Hall.

. “Women, Girls and Immigration: ‘Crossing the Boulevard,'” Judith Sloan, actress, oral historian and audio artist, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

. “Circling Katahdin: A Discussion of Poetry: Music Collaborations,” Kathleen Ellis, poet and lecturer in English, and Jan Gilbert, instructor in music, Macalester College, Wednesday, Nov. 9. Co-sponsored by the School of Performing Arts.

. “Differential Expressions: Creating Educational Movies about Famous Women Scientists,” Mary Tyler, professor of zoology, Tuesday, Nov. 15.

. “Being a Women’s Studies Major: What It Means to Me,” Sarah Courtney, graduate student in higher education, and women’s studies majors, Tuesday, Nov. 29.

. “Motherhood, Politics and the Environment,” Winona LaDuke, program director of Honor the Earth and enrolled member of the Mississippi Band of Anishinaabeg, Tuesday, Dec. 6. LaDuke also will give the Howard B. Schonberger Peace and Social Justice Memorial Lecture at 7:30 p.m., 100 D.P. Corbett Hall.

Related events:

. “Women’s Works,” Maine Women’s Studies Conference, University College of Bangor, Saturday, Nov. 5. Information: http://student140.ucb.sephone.us/index.html.

. 20th annual Maryann Hartman Awards to Maine Women of Achievement, Buchanan Alumni House, UMaine, 5 p.m. Nov. 9.

To obtain more information or to request accommodation, contact the UMaine WIC/WST Program, 5728 Fernald Hall, Room 101, University of Maine, Orono, 581-1228, or visit www.umaine.edu/wic.