Thirty years ago, USC was among the first universities in the country—and the first in the South—to offer a women's studies course. That course, offered in 1974, was “Women and the Law.”
“USC was at the forefront of a very important social and academic movement,” said Sally Boyd, Women’s Studies affiliate faculty and assistant vice provost for continuing education academic credit. “I’ve been at USC for 30 years, and I’ve seen the Women’s Studies program take shape. I saw people willing to work hard and to sacrifice for something they believed in.”
Today, Women’s Studies at USC promotes understanding of women’s experiences through a complete program of teaching, research, and service. More than 40 courses are offered, taught by nine core faculty members and more than 70 affiliate faculty. The program sponsors an annual conference, as well as several lecture and research series.
This month, supporters of the program will commemorate the achievement, and launch a promising future of growth, with a daylong celebration Sept. 30. “Looking Back, Stepping Forward: Women’s Studies at 30” will include panel discussions, a luncheon, keynote speakers, and special presentations.
Events for the celebration include four panel discussions in Lumpkin Auditorium: “S.C. Women Making a Difference: Improving the Status of Women In and Through the Law,” “Innovative Teaching: A Women’s Studies Legacy and Platform,” “Women’s Studies: Where Do We Go From Here?”, and “S.C. Women Writing Our Way.”
A luncheon begins at noon in the Capstone Campus Room. Presentations will include the showing of a video history and recitation of a poem written for the occasion. Keynote speaker will be Sheryl Burt Ruzek, professor of public health and women’s studies, Temple University.
An evening presentation begins at 6 p.m. at the Law Center Auditorium. Keynote speaker Wilma Mankiller, former chief of the Cherokee Nation, who will speak on, “Contemporary Women’s Issues: Back to the Future.”
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| Lynn Weber |
"Women's Studies at USC has been fueled by the passion, determination, and hard work that faculty, students, and community members have put into seeing that women's voices are heard in the academy and that women's, men's, and children's lives are improved through research and education about women and gender,” said Lynn Weber, Women’s Studies director. “Women's studies faculty are some of the top scholars and teachers, and women's studies students are some of the brightest and most engaged students on the campus."
A complete schedule of anniversary events can be found at the Women’s Studies Web site at cla.sc.edu/WOST/.
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