Concerns:
2002 Issue
Newsletter of the Midwest Women's Caucus for
the Modern Languages
Midwest
Concerns: Midwest Women’s Caucus for the Modern Languages
Autumn, 2002
Co - chairs: Carol Lee Saffioti - Hughes, Ph.D.
English Department, UW - Parkside
Kenosha, WI 53141 - 2000
Janet Labrie, Ph.D.
English and Women’s Studies
UW - Waukesha, WI 53188
jlabrie@uwc.edu
Treasurer: Frances
M. Kavenik, Ph.D.
English Department, UW - Parkside
Kenosha, WI 53141 - 2000
kavenik@uwp.edu
Distinguished
Paper Award:
We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2001 Distinguished Paper
award: Catherine M. Bryan (UW - Oshkosh), for her paper entitled, “Pariah
as Paradigm: The Political and Literacy Works of Magda Portal.”
It was presented at the panel entitled, “Recovering Lost Voices
- Women of the Avant - Garde.” Congratulations to her for her fine
work!
The Midwest Women’s Caucus of the Modern Languages continues to
support outstanding scholarship with the presentation of the Distinguished
Paper Award with its monetary recognition of $100, funded each year through
membership dues. Each year we invite the presenters at the MMLA conference
to submit their finished papers for consideration.
Nominations for the award may also be made by the chair of this session
at which the candidate presents her/his work, and may be done after the
conference by contacting either of the co - chairs. Papers need not be
written by Caucus members to be considered, but must be clearly grounded
in feminist principles of research, pedagogy, or other work in support
of women’s issues, needs, and concerns in the profession. Anyone
who presents a paper or discussion on such topics at the 2002 MMLA Conference
is eligible for this year’s award.
Papers may be submitted after the November conference, no later than December
1 to co - chair Carol Lee Saffioti - hughes (safiioti@uwp.edu). Please
query first, regarding electronic submission of papers.
...News from the American Association of University Women:
AAUW Seeking Panelists for International Fellowships
The AAUW Educational Foundation is the largest and most notable private
source of funding exclusively for graduate women and their research in
the world. The organization supports aspiring scholars, teachers and activists,
women at critical stages of their careers and those pursuing professions
where women are under - represented. The eligibility criteria, applications
for fellowships and grants, and criteria for AAUW’s prestigious
national awards may all be downloaded from their award - winning web site:
http:/www.aauw.org. If you are not familiar with this organization, now
is the time!
Also of note is their call for panelists to review applications for their
International Fellowships, American Fellowships, Community Action Grants
and Career Development Grants, Selected Professions Fellowships, Eleanor
Roosevelt Teacher Fellowships, all of which require panels of judges from
a wide spectrum of women in professions, including, but not limited to
academia.
Applications for 2003 appointments to these review boards must be postmarked
by January 15, 2003. The criteria for submission are also detailed at
the web site, under the section, “Fellowships, Grants, Awards.”
Vitae postmarked after that date will be held for future appointments.
This organization has had significant impact on national legislation including
Title IX, and has task forces that regularly provide briefs and testimony
in support of equity for women at the local, national, and international
level. It is regrettable that so few women in academia are aware of the
range of research and activist causes this organization supports, including
the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund which provides individual case support for
women fighting sex discrimination in the courts; they also make several
awards supporting those who have advocated for change on behalf of women
and girls.
If there is any organization which deserves your support, it is this one.
If you do not have time to serve your local chapter, your dues can got
to support these initiatives without you ever attending a meeting.
From
the Editor...
No doubt, you have noticed changes in the publication of Midwest Concerns,
as with this issue I begin my stint as editor. With this issue we are
also returning to an internet presence, and I would like to direct you
to our new web address: http://www.uwp.edu/~saffioti/concerns/index.htm/.
If you have difficulty getting there, please let me know, or try clicking
fro my homepage: http://www.uwp.edu/academic/english/saffioti-hughes/homepage/.
You will find our past 2001 newsletter there, which contains an older
edition of our directory, and interest list, and eventually an update
of this one.
As we see more and more financial contingencies the profession is indeed
happening close to home, and that is what has always made the Midwest
Women’s Caucus so wonderful. In addition to funding our Distinguished
Paper Award, the membership funds help us to promote the work of those
engaged in Women’s Studies and related research, teaching, and service
through this newsletter, through our Caucus sessions and guest speakers
at the MMLA Conference, as well as through other networking in support
of women in the profession. We also support the work of our members through
updates of research and creative activity.
It with great pleasure that I can announce that our guest speaker this
year is co - sponsored by the Midwest Women’s Caucus of the Modern
Languages, and the MMLA itself. Heid Erdich, distinguished writer and
faculty member at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a member
of the Ojibwe nation and the prolific Erdich family. She is a story -
teller and poet who will speak of her recent work in collecting indigenous
stories, and share with us her special vision of the world around her.
A more complete listing of sessions is briefly listed on our back page.
In many native circles, the concept of preparing for the “Seventh
Generation” means that elders were keeping faith, for the young
of today to keep traditions alive. We can apply this concept to our mission
by continuing to include and encourage those just entering the profession
o flatters as women, and by keeping this organization vibrant and responsive.
Our sessions this year reflect that vibrancy and diversity.
We look forward to renewing good friendships, making new ones, and meeting
our newest members of the profession at the conference, and hope to find
you at our sessions as well as our general Caucus meetings.
Best to you, and blessed be, from
Carol Lee Saffioti - Hughes
UW - Parkside
