Center for Women’s & Gender Studies

CMHC will be holding a weekly Body image workshop from April 5th through the 26th. This workshop is appropriate for anyone with mild or moderate body concerns that are impeding their daily lives. The weekly sessions are structured and work to create a discrepancy between what the students believe and what their actions support. The hope is that by creating space for students to question societal norms of beauty, size, and health they are better able to accept themselves and live more body confident lives.
If you have any students you feel would be appropriate please feel free to have them contact us and give them a flyer.
The group will be Tuesdays from 2-3 and will occur again this summer for 4 weeks.

Research has shown that this is one of the best classes for improving body image, and is has also been shown to lower likelihood of obesity and eating problems.

To sign-up contact Sara Weber at saraweber@mail.utexas.edu

The INSPIRE (Formerly TULIP) program is a leadership development program for undergraduate women created specifically to empower young women to re-envision and enact what leadership means in a global society. We envision that the women who go through this program will create a world that opens up opportunities to generate change in women’s lives in the workplace, in higher education, and in every aspect of their lives. Through our program, young women are exposed to conferences, leadership training, community building activities and much more. Applications are now available! 2011-2012 sophomores from any major are eligible to apply.

V-Day The University of Texas at Austin 2011Presents a Benefit Production of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

Marh 30, 31, April 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM, Student Activity Center Auditorium

On March 30, 31, April 1, 2011, at 7:00 PM, V Day The University of Texas at Austin will present three night only benefit reading of Eve Ensler’s award wining play The Vagina Monologues at the Student Activity Center Auditorium.
Last year, over 5400 V-Day benefits were held around the world raising funds and awareness towards ending violence against women. These highly successful events raised over $4 million through performance of Eve Ensler’s award-winning play, The Vagina Monologues, readings from V-Day’s A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer and Any One Of Us: Words From Prison and screenings of V-Day’s documentary Until The Violence Stops. The University of Texas at Austin has joined this global movement as part of the V Day 2011The University of Texas at Austin Campaign.

What is a V-Day Campaign?
A V-Day Campaign is a catalyst for mobilizing women and men to heighten awareness about violence against women and girls. By creating this global community, V-Day strives to empower women to find their collective voices and demand an end to the violence that affects one in three women in the U.S and around the world.
You can catch UT’s a benefit production of The Vagina Monologues at the Student Activity Center Auditorium on Marh 30, 31, April 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM. This benefit production is sponsored by the Women’s Resources Agency of the Student Government. See you there!
For more information on V-Day you can click here.

Welcome back from Spring Break! The Queer Performance Reading Group will meet at Sao Paolo this Friday, March 25, at 3:30 pm to discuss Tavia Nyong’o's The Amalgamation Waltz: Race, Performance, and the Ruses of Memory. This book won
the Erroll Hill award from American Society for Theatre Research for the best book in African American performance studies. As always, you are welcome to join in the discussion even if you have not read every word of the book. Hope to see you Friday!

Best wishes,
Robin Bernstein

PS: Our schedule for the rest of the semester is:

Friday, March 25: Tavia Nyong’o, The Amalgamation Waltz: Race, Performance, and the Ruses of Memory

Monday, April 4: Judith Halberstam, In a Queer Time and Place: Transgender Bodies, Subcultural Lives

Friday, April 15: Lawrence LaFountain-Stokes, Queer Ricans: Cultures and Sexualities in the Diaspora

Monday, April 25: Scott Herring, Another Country: Queer Anti-Urbanism

All meetings are at 3:30 pm at Sao Paolo on San Jacinto Street.

We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I would like to urge you to not become frustrated with the process, and to keep in mind what brought you to the table to begin with. We are fighting for access to quality education for all, and a part of this struggle is bound to be intrinsically personal and emotional. I urge you to remain mindful of these values in the coming months as we move forward in organizing against disproportionate cuts to our centers and towards a more democratic university!

We have many plans for the coming months and hope you will be a part of changing the priorities of our university. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, March 22nd at 7:00p.m. in WEL 2.304. Below you can find out what we have been up to and read about future plans.

Thank you for all of your hard work so far & we hope to see you soon,

The Students Speak

What we have been up to:

February 17th, Abriendo Brecha Activism and Scholarship Conference at UT – This conference was sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE), Center for Asian American Studies (CAAS), Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS), Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (CWGS), Department of Anthropology, Department of History, John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies (CAAAS), School of Social Work, South Asia Institute (SAI), Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS), most of which are slated for devastating budget cuts this coming semester. TSS member, Carina Souflée presented on the, “Save Ethnic Studies & Students Organizing Against Budget Cuts” panel moderated by Dr. Edmund T. Gordon. We hope to soon post footage of this panel on our website. [thestudentsspeak.com]

March 2nd, National Day of Action, March & Rally – I encourage you to watch President Powers’s presentation and the student testimony presented here: [http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/commit/c540/c540.htm] You will need RealPlayer to watch the video, and you can download this player easily (and for free) at [http://www.real.com/realplayer/search]. Then click “March 2nd” on the Senate Committee on Finance page. First, you will see Powers speak and then beginning at 00:49:00 you can watch student testimony. Additionally, another TSS member spoke at the House Committee meeting on Higher Education: [http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/committee-broadcasts/committee-archives/player/?session=82&committee=290&ram=11030214290] beginning at 03:43:00.

March 11th, TSS on KOOP Radio’s “People United” w/ Alan Campbell – Carina Souflée and Caitlin Eaves joined ¡ella pelea! member Courtney M. to discuss budget cuts to UT ethnic, identity, and gender studies centers. Check the archive for the full hour discussion: [http://www.koop.org/?page=schedule&section=peopleunited]

March 12th, Save Texas Schools Rally – The Students Speak joined forces with Save Texas Schools last Saturday, marching from the tower to join the rally at the Capitol where over 12,000 teachers, students, legislators, and community members gathered from all over the state to demand no funding cuts to Texas schools. Check out photos and video here: [http://savetxschools.org/2011/03/rally-storybook/]

March 15th, Planning Meeting Synopsis –

Future meetings
*Tuesday, March 22nd @ 7p.m. -WEL 2.304
*Tuesday, April 5th @ 7p.m. – Room TBA
Future Plans (ideas)
Plan a social/meet and greet, at a community center or cafe’ (based on Gentle Thursdays)
Media projects
Testimonials & video from Senate Finance Hearing
West Mall Demo and Tabling
South Mall activities – to be expanded upon in March 22nd meeting.

Future TSS events/meetings and other ways to fight budget cuts:

Now & Anytime, CTBAK Survey- The Liberal Arts College Tuition and Budget Advisory Committee (CTBAC) has distributed a survey to “get student opinion” and after reading their most recent list of recommendations to Dean Diehl, it is clear they need far more input from students to make any further recommendations (only 222 have taken it so far). You can find that recommendation here: [http://utsenate.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/CoLA-CTBAC-Recommendations1.pdf] PLEASE SPEND FIVE MINUTES OF YOUR TIME to take the survey and let them know how important quality education is to you and how the centers are an integral part in that story. —-> https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEtqLWtiem1wS1dwU2dnYTNyVk1qT3c6MQ

March 22nd, Invest in Texas Lobby Day – 11:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. – Meet at noon in SAC 2.302 to march to Capitol for a press conference. The entire Legislative Day 2011 will last from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will include a briefing and meetings with lawmakers. If you would like to participate in the entire Legislative Day 2011 please register by completing the following form:
[https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dG13aFQ3b2RsS01xcUVITnd0YkVhNWc6MQ] and completing legislative lobby training. For additional info: [http://utsenate.org/investintexas/]

April 1st – 3rd and 8th – Conference Panel Discussions

Feeding the Hunger: Budget Cuts, Sweet Potato Curry and Feminist Action at UT-Austin…………………..April 1st-2nd (time/date/room TBA) keep updated at http://feministactionproject.blogspot.com/

Through creative performance and critical self-reflection, this panel explores recent organizing efforts on behalf of three feminist organizers from the Students Speak (TSS), a student and community-centered organization at UT-Austin. Currently slated for disproportionate budget reductions, ethnic, gender and identity centers at UT-Austin brace for unprecedented financial attacks. This panel gives commentary on these attacks, providing critical perspective to administrative mandates, including details on the Academic Planning and Advisory Committee’s (APAC) proposal to reduce funding for ethnic, gender and identity centers at the university, and student and community responses against these actions. Using sweet potato curry as a metaphor, panelists describe the ongoing process of feminist organizing and the difficult work of tethering seemingly disjointed perspectives, experiences and ideologies to common points of unity against proposed budget cuts and the infrastructural power paradigms that sustain them.

The Students Speak: Responses to Liberal Arts Centers Budget Cuts and Reflections on Feminist Organizing……………………………. April 8th, 10:30 a.m. – Lone Star Room, 3.208

In the fall of 2010, UT‟s Academic Planning Advisory Committee (APAC) provided recommendations for cuts to centers in the College of Liberal Arts, including but not limited to: the Center for African and African-American Studies, the Center for Women‟s and Gender Studies, the Center for Mexican American Studies, and the Center for European Studies. Through critical self-reflection, this panel explores recent organizing efforts on behalf of three feminist organizers from The Students Speak (TSS), a student and community-centered organization at UT-Austin working against the administration‟s proposed budget cuts on campus and legislative cuts in the greater Texas community. This panel provides commentary on the disproportionate budget reductions and unprecedented financial adversity faced by ethnic, gender and identity centers at UT-Austin, and describes the ongoing process of tethering differences for organizational unity both on- and off- campus.

UT’s Counseling and Mental Health Center offers two all-female groups for survivors of interpersonal violence. More information about each group is outlined below and attached. Call 512-471-3515 to talk with someone further about whether either group might be a good fit for you.

Interpersonal Violence Survivors Group is a group that through weekly open discussions provides a safe space to focus on how violence and trauma influences day-to-day life and relationships, your strengths and creativity, and further growth and healing. Tuesdays 2:30 to 4:00

Reclaiming Our Voices is a weekly, structured support and therapy group that utilizes education, creative expression, playful movement, and ritual to help members move forward in their individual growth and transformation. Wednesdays 2:30 to 4:00

Rally Against Budget Cuts
Save Public Education
March 2nd – 11:00a.m.
Meet at S.A.C. outside near MLK statue, then march

http://thestudentsspeak.com/

Let’s make it a day the administration and Texas will never forget. United we stand!

The College Women’s Political Caucus at UT is a new student organization and the first student chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing political awareness and the number of pro-choice women in office. They are planning on hosting an event on March 8th for International Women’s Day. This event will take place in the West Mall, during the most trafficked times. Each organization that participates would set up an exhibit, table, or interactive display that would highlight an issue faced by women in the United States or abroad. Every organization can tailor their topic to the mission of their group. Not only is this a great way for us to bring awareness to women’s rights issues, it is also an excellent opportunity to let more people know about our organizations and how they can participate.

Volunteers to help facilitate the event. Please contact Kate Ergenbright at kcergenbright@aol.com for more information.

TexasStandOut student video on competitive benefits, check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/user/TexasStandOut

Hello friends and campus leaders,

As a queer member of the UT community and member of The Students Speak, I wanted to personally reach out to the LGBT/Queer/Ally community regarding the upcoming “Rally Against the Budget Cuts” (March 2nd) becasue the proposed budget cuts to UT centers include devastating cuts to the Center for Women and Gender Studies. CWGS supports our campus queer community in invaluable ways by promoting and funding research initiatives, conferences, lectures, workshops, and participating in community outreach. Over the past few years the faculty, staff, and lecturers associated with CWGS have profoundly impacted the quality of my education and my life as a queer woman on campus. For this reason I am hoping that you all will spread the word and come out to the rally to support CWGS, other UT centers facing cuts, and Texas public education in general.

Here is a link to the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194089623943937

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns; I hope to see you all March 2nd.

Sincerely,

Caitlin Eaves

Hello WGS Community!

This year’s Explore UT is on March 5, 2011 and we need your help in representing the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies! For those of you who might not be familiar with this activity-filled day, here is the informational website: http://www.utexas.edu/events/exploreut/welcome.html

We will be hosting two events and are in need of volunteers to help set up, organize, run, and close-up throughout the day’s festivities. Check out the events that we will be hosting:

1.) Fun and Games with Feminism
11:00-3:40; South Mall
Try your luck at our trivia game by answering questions about important American women and win prizes. Challenge gender stereotypes by drawing yourself without using stereotypical features. Create your own buttons with your favorite feminist hero and more.

2.) What is Women’s and Gender Studies? : Questions and Answers with Graduate Students
3:40-4:40; South Mall
Prospective students interested in women’s and gender topics are invited to join us for this special Q&A session with current WGS graduate students. Ask questions about their research, the UT program, or get some advice about graduate school.

The volunteer schedule is as follows:
(2-3 volunteers needed for each shift)

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM —- Shift 1: Set up and Games
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM —- Shift 2: Games
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM —- Shift 3: Games, Questions and Answers

Due to the fact that each shift is only 2 hours long, please feel free to volunteer to cover more than one, or even the entire day!

Please respond with your availability as soon as possible – it’s going to be a fun day!

Cheers,
Ashton and Virginia
Please reply to: ashtonharding@mail.utexas.edu

Dear CoLA Graduate Students:

Associate Dean Esther Raizen and members of a special committee on graduate student affairs invite you to attend an open forum on February 18, at 3:30 pm in the third floor conference room at Gebauer.

The College of Liberal Arts is exploring ways to expand our graduate students’ prospects for successful post-graduation careers in training-related positions inside and outside of academe. Much of this effort takes place at the departmental level, but we feel that the College can play a significant role in enhancing our graduating students’ profiles.

We are interested in hearing your ideas about what we can do here, at every stage of your training, that would help you present the strongest possible profile as you prepare for job searches and for the early years of your career.

Mark your calendars!!

Gender and Sexuality: Serving Women and LGBTQA Communities
Spring 2011 Calendar
(check www.utgsc.com for updates)

February
• Monday, February 7
o Launch of Gender Exploration Discussion Group, Gender and Sexuality Center, 5:30 pm (runs for eight weeks)
• Thursday, February 17
o Living With Pride Series: Religion and Sexuality, Gender and Sexuality Center, 6-7:30 pm
• Thursday, February 24
o GSC Speaker Series: Dr. Lissa Rankin, author of “What’s Up Down There? Questions You’d Only Ask Your Gynecologist If She Was Your Best Friend,” Glenn Maloney Room in the Student Services Building, 7 pm

March
• Wednesday, March 2
o GSC Speaker Series: Silvia Henriquez, Legislative Assembly Room in the Student Activity Center, 2 pm
• Wednesday, March 23
o Women’s Programming Alliance presents: Make a YAY Scale, Gender and Sexuality Center, 7 pm
• Wednesday, March 30
o Living With Pride Series: Masculinity and Gay Men, Gender and Sexuality Center, 6 pm
• Wednesday, March 30 – Friday, April 1
o Vagina Monologues, produced by the Women’s Resource Agency, Recreational Sports Center, 8 pm

April
• Fri, April 1 and Sat, April 2
o Feminist Action Project conference, School of Social Work, more info at: http://feministactionproject.blogspot.com/
• Open performance by Peers for Pride, location and time TBA
• April 11-15 – Pride Week
o Wednesday, April 13
• Open Ally Training, location TBA, Noon – 2 pm

May
• Wed, May 18
o Lavender Graduation, Student Activity Center Ballroom, 5 pm (To register: www.utgsc.com)

Competitive Benefits Rally!
Monday, February 14, 2011
12-1:30pm
West Mall

What better way to show your love for equality than on Valentine’s Day? Join PEFSA and student allies for a rally on the West Mall, followed by a march to UT Human Resources to symbolically enroll our partners for insurance benefits. We hope you will join us in showing the campus that equal benefits for all UT families is the best policy. We will have speakers, t-shirts, and signs on the West Mall at noon. If you would like to submit insurance paperwork for your partner, please contact Lindsey Schell (schell@mail.utexas.edu) by Feb. 1. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ALL!

We have a date for Lavender Graduation 2011 — May 18, 2011. Deadline to register for ceremony is May 2, 2011. Graduates interested in participating can register at www.utgsc.com. Thank you and see you at the ceremony!

Lavender Graduation is a ceremony honoring the achievements of graduating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally students at the University of Texas at Austin.