1970's
                   1980's                   1990's                   2000's

   

1990

  • The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs appointed a Task Force to assess needs of women at the university and to examine Women's Studies at similar schools with state funding.
       

  • The Task Force felt Women's Studies needed sufficient financial support and two aide positions: a Women's Studies part-time or full-time director and staff coordinator.
       

  • The Task Force organized open forum nights to voice the importance of Women's Studies at Appalachian.
       

  • Women's Studies courses began to be taught regularly in many departments. The first "Annual Walk for Awareness" for Jeni Gray Women's Studies finds a new home on the ground floor of East Hall.
       

  • Friends of Women's Studies began; hosted a first annual fund-raiser at Jones House in February
       

  • Set up fund in Appalachian State University Foundation.
       

  • Maggie McFadden stepped down as coordinator-Cheryl Claassen became acting coordinator.
       

  • January
       

  • New logo and slogan were established-the biological symbol of the female metamorphosing into a key, was developed by Roger Austin, graphic design student at Appalachian State University. The slogan, "Education in a New Key," was developed by Maggie McFadden.
       

  • February
       

  • Friends of Women's Studies began-community-based organization, hosted a fundraiser at Jones House in February raised $1,540.77. Set up fund in ASU foundation.
       

  • April
       

  • "Feminist Jurisprudence"-symposium and panel sponsored by Appalachian Humanities Program, organized and chaired by Dr. Maggie McFadden.
       

  • August
       

  • Women's Studies major through IDS department was initiated.
       

  • The Office of Women's Concerns became oriented towards campus-wide concerns, received more financial support from the University, and gained greater visibility on campus.
       

  • Speakers/Visitors:
    * Margot Adler lectured on "Women and Spirituality: Demystifying Ritual." (March)
    * Claudia Koonz, Lectured on "Feminism, Fascism, and Fundamentalism: Women on the new Right."

1991

  • Melissa Barth was named acting Women's Studies Director.

1992

  • Susan L. Cutter-Keynote speaker during Women's Week, "Environmental Terrorism: A Feminist Perspective." (3/23)

1992-93

  • Harvey Durham, Bill Ward, Don Sink, and Kay Smith restructured, repositioned and renamed the Office of Women's Studies as the Office of Women's Concerns.

1993

  • Melissa Barth was appointed as Coordinator of the Office of Women's Concerns, this title was handed to director in 1994.

1993-1994

  • Speakers/Visitors:
    * Mary Anne Maier (8/28)

1994-1995

  • Sisters of the South: A Southern Musical Roots Tour (3/22)
       
  • Take Back the Night Rally (3/29)
       
  • Speakers/Visitors:
    * Betty Shabazz (2/28)
    * Arati Sontakay, reading of Indian feminist play. (3/18)
    * "Off the Wall: Charlotte Perkins Gilman," Ann Timmons, performance (3/21)
    * Hosoya Mitsuko: Japanese Women Today. (4/13)

1995-1996

  • Speakers/Visitors:
    * bell hooks (10/9)
    * Author Dori Sander (3/30)
    * Anita Hill (9/12)
    * Clare Prusa (Catherine Smith Gallery) (9/22)
    * Lucy Lippard (Catherine Smith Gallery) (3/14)
    * Author Rosellen Brown (3/13)

1995

  • Fall
  • Campus Women's Collective (CWC) began as a student support network working to improve the situation of women and raise campus awareness of women's issues.
       

  • August 26: 75th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage
       

  • December 6: Candlelight Rally in Memory of the Montreal Massacre

1996

  • The first Women's Realities - A series of Five Documentary Films in Celebration of Women's History Month took place in the Spring.
       

  • 20th Anniversary of Women's Studies at Appalachian.
       

  • Reorganization of the Office of Women's Concerns and the establishment of the Equity Office. The Office of Women's Studies becomes a separate, university-wide academic program.

1997

  • NWSA Journal moves to ASU for a six-year term (1997-2003), edited by Professor Maggie McFadden with associate editors Marilyn Smith and Pat Beaver. Later Kim Hall and Kathryn Kilpatrick became associate editors.
       

  • Lee Williams organizes a planning committee of students, faculty, and staff for a Women's Center on campus.
       

  • Sandie Gravett becomes Director of Women's Studies.
       

  • Women's Studies established a Web page.

1997-98

  • Gravett, Specht grant $2000 for Centennial Celebration
       

  • Centennial Celebration Project - Women at Appalachian: A Look Into the Past, A Step Into the Future.
       

  • Women's Leadership Conference
       

  • Walk for Awareness
       

  • Take Back the Night
       

  • Speakers/Visitors:
    * Julia Alvarez-Fiction, poetry reading, book signing.
    * Felicity Hill-Women's International League of Peace and Freedom "Feminism and Activism"
    * Dr. Rosemarie Tong (Davidson College)-"Feminist Approaches to Bioethics."
    * Karmen Jalencic, Bowery Productions-On the making of the film Calling the Ghosts: A Story about Rape, War, and Women.
    * Helen Thomas-URI Reporter-Coverage of the White House for UPI-correspondent since the Kennedy administration.
    * Jackson Katz-nationally known activist and writer on issues of masculinity, media, sport, and men's violence against women.

1998

  • The Women's Center opens at the Student Union
       

  • In April, the Women's Studies Program sponsored Moonbelly. The performance piece involved sponsoring a guest artist to come in and work with 10 of our women students for one week culminating in two performances. Approximately $265 was raised for the Women's Studies Development account and the performance received excellent reviews on both evenings.

1998-99

  • Drs. Sandie Gravett and Neva Specht co-wrote a Centennial grant and received $2,000.
       

  • Dr. Specht taught a Public History Course on the 4000 level to create the exhibit and symposium, Roots of the Past, Seeds of the Future. The symposium was held on April 30 and May 1.
       

  • Speakers/Visitors: 
    * Louise Bernikow-author, activist "The Shoulders We Stand On: Women as the Agents of Change.
    * Nikky Finney-poet and Kyle Thompson-poet. (9/24)
    * Carolyn Beard Whitlow-author of Wild Meat. (12/3)
    * Carolyn Merchant, "Women, Nature, and the Reinvention of Eden." (3/15)
    * Eleanora Tate-Children's novelist. (10/1)
    * Judy Bacca, "World Without Walls." (10/8)

1999

  • Speakers/Visitors:
    * Lee Smith-creative writing professor at North Carolina State University-author of Oral History, Saving Grace, Fair and Tender Ladies, The Devil's Dream, and News of the Spirit. (9/16)
    * Elena Featherston-"Towards a Multicultural Society." (9/22)
    * Sue Ellen Bridgers-award winning author of adolescent fiction in rural North Carolina (9/23)
    * Carolyn Chute-author of The Beans of Egypt, Maine and Letourneau's Used Auto Parts, and Merry Men. (11/10)

1999

  • In May, Dr. Sandie Gravett and her student assistant, Angela Parker, developed and printed a new Women's Studies Program brochure.
       

   
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