Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

1990

• The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs appointed a task force to assess the 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 positions: a Women's Studies part-time or full-time director and a 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" was held in memory of Appalachian alumna and staff person Jeni Gray, who was sexually assaulted and murdered in 1989.

1991

• In January, a new logo and slogan were established. The logo was the symbol for "woman" metamorphosing into a key, and was developed by Roger Austin, a graphic design student at Appalachian. The slogan, "Education in a New Key," was developed by Dr. Maggie McFadden.
• In February, Friends of Women's Studies began as a community-based organization. It hosted a fundraiser at the Jones House that raised $1,540.77 and established an Appalachain State University foundation fund.
• In March, Margot Adler delivered a lecture titled "Drawing Down the Moon: Women and Spirituality--Demystifying Ritual"
• In April, Dr. Elwanda Ingram of Winston Salem State University, delivered a lecture on Black women writers. Dr. Maggie McFadden organized and chaired a symposium on "Feminist Jurisprudence," which was sponsored by the Appalachain Humanities Program.
• In August, a BA major in Women's Studies was initiated through IDS.
• In August, The Office of Women's Concerns was developed to address campus-wide issues; it received more financial support from the University and gained greater visibility on campus.
• In August, Claudia Koonz delivered a lecture on "Feminism, Fascism, and Fundamentalism: Women on the New Right."
• Dr. Maggie McFadden stepped down as coordinator; Dr. Cheryl Claassen (Anthropology) became acting coordinator. 
• Dr. Maggie McFadden became the Fulbright Professor of Women's Studies and History at the Institute of Women's Studies of Abo Akademi University in Abo, Finland.

1992

• In March, Dr. Melissa Barth (English) was named acting Women's Studies Director.
• In March, Susan L. Cutter was the keynote speaker during Women's Week, where she lectured on "Environmental Terrorism: A Feminist Perspective"
• In December, Women's Studies Canada's first annual National Day of Remembrance and Action of Violence Against Women. This holiday remembers the 14 women who were murdererd by a violent misogynist at the École Polytechnique Montréal in 1989 and raises awareness about gender-based violence.
• 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.
• Dr. Melissa Barth was appointed as the coordinator of the Office of Women's Concerns.
• On August 28, Women's Studies sponsored a lecture by Mary Anne Maier, author of The Leap Years: Women Reflect on Change, Loss, and Love.

1993

• On February 7, Dr. Elizabeth Muhlenfeld spoke on Mary Chestnut's Civil War diaries.
• On March 1-2 Solveig Bergman, the Nordic Coordinator of Women's Studies in Finland, visited and spoke about "Women-Friendly Scandinavian States: Paradoxes and Challenges."
• SEWSA was hosted by Vanderbilt University (April 15-18).

1994

• On February 28, Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X, delivered a lecture.
• On March 18, Arati Sontakay gave a reading of an Indian feminist play.
• On March 19, Women's Studies sponsored a Women's Leadership Conference.
• On March 21, Ann Timmons performed "Off the Wall: Charlotte Perkins Gilman."
• On March 22, Women's Studies sponsored "Sisters of the South: A Southern Musical Roots Tour"
• The Take Back the Night Rally took place on March 29.
• On March 30, curator and editor Mary Lynn Bryan spoke about her work on the Jane Addams Papers in a lecture titled "Why Jane Addams? Editing Women's Papers."
• On April 13, Hosoya Mitsuko presented on "Japanese Women Today."
• In September, Women's Studies organized a seminar titled "Gender-Balancing the Curriculum."
• The Walk for Awareness was organized by Women Against Violence on September 6.
• On September 22, Dr. Sue Rosser spoke on "Female-Friendly Science."
• Dr. Jean O'Barr, the Director of Women's Studies at Duke University, visited campus from October 6-8.
• On December 6, Women's Studies supported Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action of Violence Against Women.

1995

• The 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.
• In March, Women's Studies hosted a panel titled "What Can You Do with a Women's Studies Degree?" Speakers included WS graduates working in hospital administration, high school history teaching, counseling, and ministry.
• On March 22, Dr. Lorraine Getz of UNC - Charlotte delivered a lecture on Women in Philosophy.
• On August 26, Women's Studies commemorated the 75th anniversary of women's suffrage.
• On September 12, Women's Studies discussed the Anita Hill sexual harassment case.
• On September 22, Women's Studies sponsored an event at the Catherine Smith Gallery with Clare Prusa.
• On October 8, bell hooks delivered a lecture.
• On December 6, Women's Studies supported Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action of Violence Against Women by holding a candlelight vigil and rally in memory of the women murdered during the Montréal massacre.

1996

• Women's Studies organized a documentary film series titled "Women's Realities" for Women's History Month and to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Women's Studies at Appalachian. 
• The Office of Women's Concerns was reorganized and the Office of Equity was established. Women's Studies became a separate, university-wide academic program.
• From February 2-4, Women's Studies sponsored a trip to the Washington, DC Appalachian House so that students could attend the Feminist Majority Expo.
• On March 12, Women's Studies sponsored "An Evening of Music by Women Composers."
• The SEWSA conference was hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University from March 12-14.
• On March 13, Women's Studies sponsored a talk by author Rosellen Brown.
• On March 14, Lucy Lippard delivered a lecture at the Catherine Smith Gallery.
• On March 19, Dr. Sandy Eagle delivered a talk titled "Historical Contributions of Women in Chemistry."
• On March 28, Dr. Nupur Chauduri lectured on "Women and Early Indian Nationalism."
• On March 30, Women's Studies hosted a reading by author Dori Sander. 
• On December 12, Women's Studies hosted a fundraiser for a winter solstice celebration.
• In December, Women's Studies sponsored a screening of the film Antonia's Line, wherein a Dutch matron establishes and, for several generations, oversees a close-knit, matriarchal community where feminism and liberalism thrive.

1997

• The NWSA Journal began a six-year term (1997-2003) housed at Appalachian State. It was edited by Dr. Maggie McFadden with Dr. Marilyn Smith and Dr. Pat Beaver serving as associate editors. Later in the term, Dr. Kim Hall and Dr. Kathryn Kirkpatrick became the associate editors.
• Lee Williams organized a planning committee of students, faculty, and staff to found a Women's Center on campus.
• Dr. Sandie Gravett (Philosophy & Religion) became Director of Women's Studies in 1997.
• Women's Studies established its first website.
• Women's Studies participated in the centennial celebration project titled "Women at Appalachian: A Look Into the Past, A Step Into the Future."
• Women's Studies continued to support the Women's Leadership Conference, the Walk for Awareness, and Take Back the Night.
• Women's Studies screened the film Out in Suburbia.
• Women's Studies hosted author Julia Alvarez for a reading and book signing.
• Felicity Hill of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom delivered a lecture on "Feminism and Activism."
• Karmen Jalencic of Bowery Productions delivered a talk titled "On the making of the film Calling the Ghosts: A Story about Rape, War, and Women."
• Women's Studies hosted a visit by Helen Thomas, UPI Reporter and White House correspondent since the Kennedy administration.
• On March 18, Women's Studies hosted Dr. Carol Stack, Director of Women's Studies at UC Berkeley.
• On March 20, Women's Studies sponsored the 2nd annual symposium on women's history, with the theme "Women Across Cultures." They keynote speaker was historian Dr. Margaret Ripley Wolfe of East Tennessee State University, who delivered a lecture titled "'If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy': Ambivalent Lives, Women's History, and the Patriarchal South." Panel topics included "Interpreting Aphra Behn" (featuring Rosanna Hopper, Courtney Lutz, LaMonda Horton, and Amy Walter), "Discovering Women's Voice" (featuring Candace Brennan, with a talk titled "'Mourning Everlastingly': Florence Nightingale and Christina Rossetti"; and Bryan Rothwell, with a talk titled "Reclaiming Voice: The Color Purple and Their Eyes Were Watching God"), "Women Breaking New Ground" (featuring Lisa McGurk, with a talk titled "Women at Appalachian State University, 1939-1949"; Alexandra Atkins, with a talk titled "Motherhood in a Feminist Era"; and Jennifer Sloan, with a talk titled "The Mother of Modern Chemistry: Marie Anne Pierette Paulze Lavoisier"), and "Interpreting Southern Women" (featuring Elizabeth Hardy, with a talk titled "Southern Women Readers During the War Between the States"; and Georgia Rhoades, with a talk titled "Mermaids and Slaveowners: A Family History").
• On March 25-26, Women's Studies sponsored a play by Georgia Rhoades titled Pope Joan: The Hiss of the Snake, which tells the story of the first and only woman pope. Set in 855, the play tells of Joan's education disguised as a male, her rise to power in the Vatican, and her love affair and exposure by a jealous clergy.
• Women's Studies sponsored a visit by Jackson Katz, activist and writer on issues of masculinity, media, sport, and violence against women.
• In September, Women's Studies hosted a lecture by Dr. Rosemarie Tong (Davidson College) on "Feminist Approaches to Biomedical Ethics."
• From November 14-16, the editorial board of the NWSA Journal met at Appalachian to make policy and publicity decisions.

1998

• In 1998, the Women's Center opened in the Student Union.
• On March 21, Women's Studies hosted the Women's Leadership Conference on "The '90s and Beyond." There, Dr. Maggie McFadden presented on "The Woman Question in Western Thought," which featured the stories of foremothers whose work could propel women and feminist thought into the next millenium. 
• Dr. Margaret Polson of the Women Artist's Network appeared at an event titled "Why Network?" This included a panel with Anne Burgess, Orna Bentor, Karen Swing, and Barbara Timberman.
• Dr. Stella Anderson presented on "The Balancing Act" in a learning session on balancing work and career with personal and family life.
• Dr. Thalia Coleman presented on "Rocking the Cradle and Ruling the Race," an overview of women's influence on American society.
• Dr. Eva Hyatt spoke on "Dispelling the Myth of the Ideal Woman," which focused on the media literacy skills needed to question images of "ideal" women.
• In April, the Women's Studies Program sponsored "Moonbelly," a performance piece that involved sponsoring a guest artist to work with 10 women students for one week, culminating in two performances. The event raised approximately $265 was raised for the Women's Studies development account and the performance received excellent reviews.

1999

• Dr. Sandie Gravett and Dr. Neva Specht cowrote a Centennial grant and received $2,000.
• Louise Bernikow, author and activist, spoke on "The Shoulders We Stand On: Women as the Agents of Change."
• On March 15, Carolyn Merchant delivered a lecture titled "Women, Nature, and the Reinvention of Eden."
• From April 30-May 1 Dr. Specht's 4000-level public history course hosted the exhibit and symposium titled "Roots of the Past, Seeds of the Future."
• On September 24, poets Nikky Finney and Kyle Thompson read from their work.
• On October 1, Eleanora Tate, children's novelist, spoke.
• On October 8, Judy Bacca delivered a talk titled "World Without Walls."
• On December 3, Women's Studies sponsored an event with Carolyn Beard Whitlow, author of Wild Meat.
• In May 1999, Dr. Sandie Gravett and her student assistant, Angela Parker, developed and printed a new brochure for the program in Women's Studies.
• On September 16, 1999, Women's Studies hosted Lee Smith, a creative writing professor at North Carolina State University and author of Oral History, Saving Grace, Fair and Tender Ladies, The Devil's Dream, and News of the Spirit.
• On September 22, Elena Featherston delivered a talk titled "Towards a Multicultural Society."
• On September 23, Women's Studies hosted Sue Ellen Bridgers, award-winning author of adolescent fiction in rural North Carolina.
• On November 10, Women's Stuides supported the visit of Carolyn Chute, author of The Beans of Egypt, Maine, Letourneau's Used Auto Parts, and Merry Men.