GWSS Community Blog

Greetings,

I'm currently working on a screenplay about gay, bisexual, queer, and
transgender men's experiences as bottoms. I was hoping you could
circulate the press release among
interested students with information about the project and how to
submit. That would be wonderful! Thanks!

Trevor Hoppe
Co-Organizer
"The Bottom Monologues"

WHO: All gay, bisexual, queer, and transgender men
WHAT: A screenplay about bottoms is being developed and needs men's
narratives
WHEN: Deadline is March 31, 2008
WHERE: Submit your stories online at bottommonologues.wordpress.com

PRESS RELEASE

Bottom Monologues Organizers Seek Men's Narratives
Play will reflect diversity of gay, bi, trans, and queer men's lived
experiences as bottoms

December 8, 2008: The organizers of The Bottom Monologues invite
gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer men to log-on to http://
bottommonologues.wordpress.com, where they can submit their stories
to be used in the production of a groundbreaking play about – you
guessed it -- bottoms. In the spirit of Eve Ensler's The Vagina
Monologues, The Bottom Monologues will feature provocative and
challenging stories from GBTQ men about sex, desire, identity, and
the politics of men proudly proclaiming their desire to get fucked.

To bring the play to life, The Bottom Monologues is asking GBQT men
from around the world to log-on to and submit their thoughts through
an anonymous online questionnaire. "We're hoping to get stories from
men who identity as top, bottom, versatile – or not at all. Any queer
man who has something to say about bottoms is welcome and wanted,"
says one of the project's organizers, Trevor Hoppe. Questions range
from the basic ("So… what's a bottom?") to the more complex ("Are
tops, bottoms, and versatile guys all that different?"). Guys who log-
on can choose to respond to the questions as-is, or step outside the
box and develop their own prompts.

The Bottom Monologues began at the recent 2008 Gay Men's Health
Summit in Seattle, where the project's three organizers – Alex
Garner, Trevor Hoppe, and Erik Libey – met for the first time. In
Seattle, Garner organized a reading of the late Eric Rofes'
screenplay, Test / Positive / Now, a beautiful collection of stories
from gay men who have recently tested HIV-positive. The next day,
Hoppe presented his research findings on bottom identity in a session
title, "What Makes a Bottom?" During the Q&A, Garner commented that
bringing the narratives described in Hoppe's research to the stage
would be a much needed public proclamation of bottom desire – a topic
typically seen as taboo even for many GBTQ men. With some
encouragement from Libey after the summit wrapped, the project was born.

Once the stories are collected, the organizers will sift through the
submissions to look for common themes, major differences, and
particularly exciting stories. "We're basically going to take a few
hundred submissions and distill them into a handful of composite
characters," Hoppe says. "In this way, guys who log on and submit
their story will have a direct hand in the stories well tell on
stage." The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2009. Those
interested can log on to the project website at http://
bottommonologues.wordpress.com for more information about the project
and to submit their story.

Organizer bios can be found at:
http://bottommonologues.wordpress.com/about-the-organizers/

Posted by Rae at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday, December 8th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
in the Feminist Media Center (FMC), 468 Ford Hall
Facilitator: Rachel Raimist - raim0007@umn.edu

Workshop Description:

In this GWSS Tech Talk / Feminist Media Center (FMC) workshop, I will share some theories and practices of feminist teaching, learning, research, and creativity using technology. I will use examples from GWSS courses: Gender, Power and Everyday Life: An Intro to GWSS, Feminist Thought and Theory, Feminist Film Studies, Digital Storytelling In and With Communities of Color, to show how technology can help support and deepen feminist pedagogical practices.

In this session, I will:

+ Demonstrate multiple uses of course blogs // Blogs can be used to create community, continue/deepen course discussions, post creative work (images, sound, video), extend reading responses, track news items, post event info, and easily share content to all members of the classroom community for large and small course enrollments [ see my personal blog on how and why i use blogs for teaching and learning ]

+ Briefly demonstrate key uses of WebVista (formerly WebCT) // WebVista is a course website that can be used as a reading repository for enrolled students, place of accessible web links, announcements, computer-graded quiz tools, message boards, chat rooms, calendar tool, gradebook, and other helpful features. I will forward you the UMN DMC for extended training on WebVista (their workshops are free, many are available online, and they are great!)

+ Illustrate UMN supported multimedia tools // Moodle, Breeze, Wikis, Jabber, and other digital media tools offered through MyU Portal

+ Share UMN tech resources // free and low cost classes, free online tutorials, and new state of the art classrooms available for course use

+ Get you posting to the GWSS community blog - GWSS Tech Talk: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/gwss/blog/
You can advertise courses, events, share calls for papers, funding opportunities, and other information of interest to our community [ and everyone will learn how to post to this blog during this session]

!!! Seating is limited. RSVP is encouraged! Please RSVP to raim0007@umn.edu if you are planning to attend this session.

Best,
Rachel

Posted by Rae at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department at Macalester College
is hiring a full-time, tenure-track advanced Assistant Professor or
Associate Professor in the field of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender/Queer Studies. Strong preference will be given to a candidate
with interdisciplinary work based in the social sciences. The successful
candidate will be a recognized scholar who has teaching and research
expertise in studies of gender/sexuality as these are contextualized in more
than one of the following ethnic American contexts (Native-American Indian,
Latino/Latina, Chicano/Chicana, African-American, Asian-American, and
Anglo/European-American). In addition to this U.S.-based cross-cultural
expertise, an ability to create comparative studies (U.S. with other
national feminisms and sexualities) is desirable. The candidate will be
expected to teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in
Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a distinct basis in the history
of feminist/queer theories. More information about the department is
available on our website (www.macalester.edu/wgs).

Screening of applications will begin on *October 15, 2008*, and may be sent
to the Chair of the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department,
Macalester College, 1600 Grand Avenue, St Paul, MN 55105. To apply, please
send a letter of application, a statement of teaching and research interests
and philosophy in relation to a liberal arts college*,* CV, three letters of
recommendation, reprints/pre-prints, and teaching evaluations (if
available).

Continue reading "Job Opening: Macalester WGSS" »

Posted by Rae at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lafayette College seeks an Associate Professor or
Professor with significant teaching, research,
and administrative experience in Women's and
Gender Studies, to teach in and direct an
expanding WGS program. We are particularly
interested in those with scholarly expertise and
accomplishment in one or more of the following:

· global gender studies or transnational feminisms
· gender and science
· gender and media studies
· the intersections of race, class, and gender/sexual orientation

The person hired must be willing to take a
leadership role in designing and implementing a
major in Women's and Gender Studies (we currently
have a minor). Teaching responsibilities,
primarily in WGS, are expected to include one
course per year in another program or department
corresponding to the candidate's background and
interests. The position will be available
starting fall semester 2009.

Located about 70 miles from New York City and 60
miles from Philadelphia, Lafayette is a private
undergraduate college with an enrollment of 2400.
Lafayette is an equal opportunity employer.
Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Send letter and c.v. to Professor Deborah Byrd,
Coordinator of Women's and Gender Studies, Pardee
Hall, Lafayette College, Easton, PA 18042.

Posted by Rae at 9:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department at Macalester College is hiring a full-time faculty member in the field of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender/Queer Studies for the academic year 2008-2009. Courses begin August 27, 2008.

Strong preference will be given to a candidate with interdisciplinary work based in the social sciences. The successful candidate will have teaching and research expertise in studies of gender/sexuality as these are contextualized in more than one of the following ethnic American contexts (Native-American Indian, Latino/Latina, Chicano/Chicana, African-American, Asian-American, and Anglo/European-American). In addition to this U.S.-based cross-cultural expertise, an ability to create comparative studies (U.S. with other national feminisms and sexualities) is desirable. The candidate will be expected to teach introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses with a distinct basis in the history of feminist/queer theories. Three courses need to be staffed as set: Trans/InterSex (introductory level), Feminist/Queer Theories/Methodologies (intermediate) and Global AIDS (advanced). The selected candidate will have the opportunity to create two other courses, based on their expertise. More information about the department is available on our website (www.macalester.edu/wgs).

Continue reading "WGS Macalester LGBTQ job" »

Posted by Rae at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Applied Research Center would like to invite you and organization to apply to the Applied Research Center's Racial Justice Leadership Institute (RJLI) on July 10-11, 2008 in Oakland, California.

The RJLI is a seminar for social justice activists who wish to sharpen their skills and strategies to address structural racism and advance racial equity. The Institute participants include social change and labor organizers, activists, and advocates, committed to racial justice. It engages people in critical analysis of current race issues and opportunities to promote equitable public policies. Unlike "diversity trainings" that focus on interpersonal relations and cultural understanding, the Institute emphasizes institutional inequality- how it disadvantages, disenfranchises and divides many communities and how this inequality can be effectively challenged and changed. Institute topics include racial awareness and analysis, policy development, and applying a racial justice lens to shape the media.

Continue reading "Applications for the Racial Justice Leadership Institute Now Available" »

Posted by Rae at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HECUA seeks a part-time creative, innovative, detail-oriented *Teaching Assistant* in the *Metro Urban Studies Term (MUST)* in Minneapolis/St.
Paul. The Teaching Assistant will coordinate program logistics, attend most seminars, lead selected class sessions, recruit students at member
campuses, serve as the administrative assistant to the Program Director, and share in fostering a learning environment that is holistic,
interdisciplinary and academically rigorous. The ideal candidate will use this opportunity to gain valuable experience in higher education
teaching and program administration within an organization dedicated to experiential and community-based learning. The position reports to the
MUST Program Director.
*
About the Metro Urban Studies Term:
*The Metro Urban Studies Term is a semester-long study opportunity for college students that takes an interdisciplinary approach to probing
issues of poverty, inequality and social change. The combination of seminars, group field experiences and individual internship placements
allows students to meaningfully integrate theory and practice. Students meet two full days a week for Reading, Field and Internship Seminars.
Three days a week, each student also participates in a social change internship appropriately related to program themes. Highly motivated
students from many colleges join the Metro Urban Studies Term each semester for a rich, holistic experience that actively engages them in
exploring issues of poverty, inequality and social change and equips them with skills for political engagement. The Metro Urban Studies Term
was founded in 1971 and is offered both fall and spring semesters.
*
Terms:
*This is a year-round part-time position, constituting 27 hours per week. Position is annually renewable based on performance. Competitive
benefits include health and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, paid time off, and a 403(b) retirement plan. Compensation
based on experience and education; $1,404 - $1,665 per month (total salary of $16,850 - $19,985 for the 27 hours/week, 12-month position).
*
Applications must be received on or before June 19th 2008.* Please view full posting at* *_http://www.hecua.org/jobs.php_
<_http://www.hecua.org/jobs.php_> for more information, including qualifications and application information.

Emily Jane Seru
Manager of Internships & Community Partnerships
Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA)
2233 University Avenue West, Suite 210
St. Paul, MN 55114

Direct: 651/287-3313
Main: 651/646-8831
Fax: 651/659-9421
http://www.hecua.org

Posted by Rae at 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

calling all youth ...
Young Writers!
Network :: Socialize :: Write :: Perform :: Workshop
Don't Miss the Summer Kickoff—This Wednesday!

Young Writers Summer Kickoff
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
6-8PM at Intermedia Art
2822 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis
Ages 19 and under
$2 suggested donation for pizza!
This monthly gathering is the spot for creative young voices! A place for young writers (ages 19 and under) to meet other youth writers, workshop their writing, work with local artists, participate in public literary readings and have fun! Grab your notebook and head over to Intermedia Arts this Wednesday to find out what Young Writers! is all about.

You won’t want to miss this.

For details, call or email: (612) 871-4444 or info@intermediaarts.org

Posted by Rae at 1:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From 2008 to 2010 the SEPHIS programme will run a research project on "Sexualities and Modernities" sponsored by the FORD Foundation. The objective of this programme is to allow researchers to gain a deeper historical and comparative understanding of the complex interplay between cultural contexts and the politics of sex- and gender-based claims of identity. Dissemination to advocacy groups and into the public sphere is an essential part of this endeavor.

SEPHIS is making one fellowship available to candidates at the post-doctoral, PhD and MA level to research any area to do with the history of sexualities in North Africa, the Middle East and Central
Asia. Funding of up to $15 000 is available to the successful applicant who will have 18 months (until December 2009) to complete a substantial written research report as well as an academic article of around 10 000 words. The latter will be published as part of a collection of articles. In addition, the applicant will be expected to contribute to public activities outside the academic sphere. Contributions should be received by December 2009. The successful candidate will also be required to attend a week-long training workshop in September 2008, to be held at a venue in the South.

Continue reading "Fellowship available for research into the History of Sexualities and" »

Posted by Rae at 6:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In this Labor Education Service class taught by Deborah Rosenstein, LES staff, and Ricardo Levins-Morales, artist, learn how to use the rich cultural heritage of working people to strengthen organizing, community and political campaigns. This class will cover many aspects of creative organizing, but will have a special focus on visual arts, including cartoons and humor to break down fear and communicate your message.

This non-credit class is one session, Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Humphrey Center on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus. Cost is $50. To register, call 612-624-5020.

Posted by Rae at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Empowering Women through Literacy: Views from Experience
Edited by Mev Miller, Ed.D. and Kathleen King, Ed.D.

We invite practitioners working in adult basic/literacy education -- classroom teachers, educators, tutors, adimistrators, and researchers -- to make a proposal for what you’d like to contribute to a book of writings and artwork by adult basic education teachers/educators addressing women’s literacy issues.

Topics Explored: Barriers and Challenges to Discussing Women's Issues in Literacy Classes or Addressing Them in Programs;Experiences Empowering Women in Literacy; Contextual Approaches for Empowering Women in Literacy

Deadline for Proposals: May 30, 2008

For more details, please visit: http://www.litwomen.org/educators/newbook.html

Posted by Rae at 7:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Extended Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Help create a new generation of writers. Become a Wings mentor today.

Attention Writers!! Wings is a program designed for avid young writers desiring more support and guidance than is provided in the traditional school setting, or even in the average creative writing class. Wings pairs you with a young writer (ages 9-19) for a mentorship that will run from May through August 2008

As a Wings mentor, you are expected to help young writers explore their worlds, imaginations, and writing skills through guided reading, writing, and conversation. Reading suggestions and writing exercises will be provided, but the best mentors teach what they know and love. Mentors are encouraged to bring their own writing and the writing of authors that they admire to the table. Mentors are paid a stipend of $300.

Download pdf with more info HERE

Posted by Rae at 7:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Women’s Student Activist Collective Is Looking for part time staff member 10-20 hours a week!

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Women’s Student Activist Collective (WSAC) is looking for a part time staff member to work as a part time administrator and group facilitator.
The WSAC ‘s mission is to empower women and transgendered people on campus to effect positive change in society. Our group is run in a non-hierarchal manner and we make decisions together as a collective by consensus. WSAC have temporary “chairs� where responsibilities rotate between collective members, and in that way we still have a structure to work within.

The WSAC is looking for a person who’s passionate about the diversity of women’s issues as well as interrelated issues concerning social justice like race, class, GLBTA issues, the environment, reproductive rights, human rights and religion. As a staff member you mainly have an administrative responsibility where your workday will entail activities such as: keeping the WSAC office open during your office hours, sending out announcements on our list-serve, replying and following up requests through e-mails and/or phone calls, paying bills, preparing our annual Student Fee’s Proposal to obtain our annual funding etc.

You will sometimes also be part of planning events and projects and work as an advisor for the group. In short, you will work as the “hub� of the group.

A possible idea is to split the 20 hour a week position into two 10 hour a week positions, but this will be up to the applicants and the group to decide what would be most appropriate.

Compensation: $14/hour

WORK AND EDUCATION EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
At least 1 year of work experience and/or academic studies that relate to women’s issues

Please send any questions, your letter of interest as well as your resume to Mia Ljung at wsac@umn.edu before Friday April 18, 2008

We will schedule an informational meeting for applicants in the week of April 21- 25, so please let us know your preference on time and date that week.

Posted by Rae at 5:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is an exciting internship opportunity at the Weisman Art Museum for next academic year that may be of special interest to students in Women's Studies.

Students will be involved in a two-semester project that is focused on building their knowledge and skills of public engagement through art and museums. Their work will focus on the Weisman Art Museum's spring 2009 exhibition, "Changing Identity: Recent Works by Women Artists from Vietnam."

During fall and spring semesters, students will meet once a week (Thursdays, 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Weisman). Fall semester will involve learning about public engagement and art museums and about the spring exhibition. Students will help to plan programs, outreach, and publicity for that project, and perhaps an iPod tour of the exhibition. In spring semester, students will implement their plans and assess their success.

I teach the class with collaboration from other Weisman staff and other speakers.

This year, we named this special internship "SCOPE" for "student class on public engagement." We've done much good, spirited work this year with programs around the Paul Shambroom exhibition. I'm looking forward to working with a a new SCOPE group next year.

Students should register for Museum Studies 5020, section 2, for two credits. They will need my permission and a number from me to register. They may contact Colleen Sheehy at sheeh001@umn.edu with questions or to get a registration number.

Posted by Rae at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

experimental documentary about black trans men

still black is currently in production and plans to be released to the festival circuit in fall 2008. in the meantime, please browse the site and, if you can, donate to the project by clicking on the support tab located above. all donations received will be used only for the completion of the project and ALL contributors will be credited in the film.

visit stillblackfilm.org

Posted by Rae at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Artist-Designed Public Drinking Fountains
Public Art Project

The City of Minneapolis Art in Public Places Program and the Department of Public Works are pleased to invite artists to apply to design public drinking fountains to be installed at seven different locations in the City. The vision of this project is to celebrate the role water has played in Minneapolis history and to foster a commitment to honoring and protecting water as fundamental to all life.

Artists or artist teams from Minnesota may apply. Final designs, and possibly one or two fountains, will be unveiled as part of the City’s celebration of its 150th anniversary in July 2008.

Application deadline: Friday, February 22, 4:00 p.m

Request for Proposals

Contact:
Mary Altman
Public Arts Administrator
City of Minneapolis
612.673.3006
350 South Fifth Street, #210
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1385

Posted by Rae at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Digital Media Center (DMC) and Academic and Distributed Computing Services, Office of Information Technology (OIT), once again invite teaching assistants (TAs) to participate in the TA Web Certification Program. This program prepares TAs to assist faculty members with the planning, design, creation, and evaluation of course Web sites. It also provides them with the necessary skills to maintain these Web sites. There will be one non-credit session offered this spring on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. beginning February 6 and running through April 30, and one 2-credit version, NURS 5113, that is open to all graduate students and meets from 9:05 to 11:00 a.m. on Thursdays throughout the semester.

The TA Web Certification Program offers free Web design training and pedagogical instruction in a blended learning format that involves both face-to-face and online learning experiences. Taught by a group of professionals from OIT, the program includes seminars, hands-on software training, and online activities and assignments designed to teach TAs how to develop and support learning in pedagogically effective course Web sites.

As an additional benefit, when TAs complete the requirements and receive a certificate in the non-credit program, we will supply a free copy of Adobe® Dreamweaver® to the sponsoring faculty member.

For more details about the program, including a complete schedule and registration information, please see http://dmc.umn.edu/ta-web/.

Posted by Rae at 2:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)