From left: Andrea Densham (VP of Public Health and Government Affairs at Prevent Blindess America and Adjunct Faculty at RU), Cat Jefcoat (Director of Lesbian Community Care Center at Howard Brown Health Center), Moises Villada (Coordinator of UIC's Center for Gender and Sexuality), and Andrew Fernandez (Director of Youth Services at the Department of Family and Support Services).

From left: Andrea Densham, Cat Jefcoat, Moises Villada, and Andrew Fernandez

Past Events

still black: a portrait of black transmen

November 12th, 2008 3:30 PM
This film protrayed the stories of six black transmen, and does the work of showing trans narratives that differ from the majority of white trans narratives that are available in text and on film. The film offers viewers a complex and multi-faceted image of race, sexuality and trans identity. Kortney Ryan Ziegler (Director) and Awilda Rodriguez Lora (Producer) created an important and crucial film that is much needed in the queer community.

The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships

October 10th, 2008 3:30 PM AUD 244
On October 10, RU Feminists United, in partnership with the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, hosted a screening of the film "The Price of Pleasure." The documentary film explores the complex politics of mainstream American pornography, featuring interviews with pornography producers, consumers, scholars, defenders, and critics. The screening was followed by a discussion session with the film's director, Chyng Sun, facilitated by Marjorie
Jolles, Assistant Professor of Women's & Gender Studies. The discussion was spirited, as students raised important questions regarding representation, sexual violence, fantasy, reality, and the gendered division of labor in the sex industry.

Professional Development Seminar on Applying to Interdisciplinary PhD Programs

October 9th, 2008 3:30 PM AUD 314
This workshop featured a panel discussion with WGS faculty members Ann Brigham, Ellen O’Brien, and Marjorie Jolles who discussed the process of selecting and applying to interdisciplinary PhD programs, such as American Studies, Cultural Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Topics addressed included the differences between interdisciplinary programs,
how to choose an appropriate program for you, and best practices for applying to these programs. The panel was attended by students in WGS-related fields.

Margaret Garner in Context

October 7th, 2008 3 PM AUD 244

In October, the WGS program, in conjunction with the Chicago Foundation for Women, presented a panel discussion entitled Margaret Garner in Context where Roosevelt faculty members Bethany Barratt and Sandra Frink and community experts discussed Margaret Garner’s case in regards to contemporary human rights issues. Ranging from violence to education and human rights, the panelists shed light on the story of Margaret Garner and emphasized its relevance in today’s discourses.

Decibelle Women’s Music and Culture Festival Workshop: Confronting Gender Based Violence

September 25th, 2008 4:30PM AUD 320

The 6th annual Decibelle Music and Culture Festival presented by Estrojam partnered with Roosevelt to host one of its workshops during the festival. Focusing on violence against women and the queer community, representatives from two nonprofit organizations, FAIR-Fund and Chicago’s Young Women’s Empowerment Project, and Roosevelt faculty member Kate Webster discussed how their organizations work to create social change for victims of violence and some ways that individuals could support non-violent problem solving strategies in their communities.

WGS MA Graduate Presentation and Reception

May 14th, 2008 AUD 244
To celebrate the success of graduating WGS MA students, we hosted a forum on May 14th where students gave presentations and answered questions on their thesis or project. Graduating WGS MA students are Yolanda Branham, Dana Clark, Nesha Eaton, Beth Gillis, Shannon Hackett, Laura Kehoe, Becky Klugiewicz, and Jackie Wood.

Queer and Feminist Literature Reading

April 28th, 2008 4:30 PM Herman Crown Center
The WGS program teamed with RU’s Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and RU Proud to present a the 2nd Annual Queer and Feminist Literature Reading on April 28th. Several students, faculty, and alumni from RU read original works and works by their favorite poets. Readers included Regina Buccola, Carrie Brecke, Griffin Ross, Carlos Rios, Danny Dicrispino, Missy Meegan, and Joeseph Schupach.

                    Carrie Brecke, WGS      Danny diCrispino, Creative Writing

                      Missy Meegan, WGS             Gina Buccola, WGS

An Inconvenient Truth: Deconstructing the Hype and Building a Case for Action

March 27th, 2008 3:30 PM AUD 528

This event was comprised of a film screening of An Inconvenient Truth followed by a panel discussion, facilitated by WGS MA student Brittany Boswell, on what is and is not addressed in the film and who is most affected by environmental degradation. A panel of RU faculty, including Carrie Brecke (English & Women’s and Gender Studies), Vicky McKinley (Biology), and Kim Ruffin (English) shared their knowledge and perspectives on the film. This event was developed in the WGS 404 Ecofeminism course in the Fall 2007 semester. Delicious tea was provided by ArgoTea.

Women, Activism, and the Urban Environment

March 12th, 2008 4 PM AUD 320
As part of the WGS program’s focus on the environment this year, this panel discussion featured women activists in Chicago working for environmental justice and to build a more sustainable environment. Guests included Ladonna Redmond, founder and CEO of the Institute for Community Resource Development, and Cheryl Johnson, from People for Community Recovery, and they discussed how they became environmental justice advocates and their experiences as women in the field.

From left: LaDonna Redmond (Institute for Community Resource Development), Cheryl Johnson (People for Community Recovery), and Carrie Brecke (Instructor of WGS).

College of Arts and Sciences | Women's and Gender Studies