CORVALLIS, Ore. - A symposium called "Woman Citizen: Past, Present, and Future" will bring scholars, elected officials, activists, and community organizers to Oregon State University Nov. 1-2 to explore women's roles as citizens and their political impact in local, state, and national arenas.

The symposium is part of OSU's commemoration of the centennial anniversary of woman suffrage in Oregon, 1912-2012. The free public event will be held in the Construction & Engineering Hall of OSU's LaSells Stewart Center.

"The symposium is intended to promote education and discussion among students, staff, faculty, and community members and to encourage civic and political engagement," said Marisa Chappell, associate professor of history at OSU and the organizer of the symposium.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 2. Highlights include a screening of the new documentary, "The Suffragists," followed by a discussion with the film's director at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 1; followed by a roundtable discussion on how women are changing communities at 2 p.m. (also Nov. 1).

Susan Scanlan, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organizations, will give a talk on "The Hand That Rocks the Ballot Box: Women Vote" at 9:15 a.m., Nov. 1. Stephanie Coontz, professor of history at The Evergreen State College and director of public education at the Council on Contemporary Families, will speak on "Is the Personal Still Political? Women's Private and Public Lives," at 12:30 p.m. the same day.

On Nov. 2, a roundtable on women in government will begin at 10 a.m. featuring former Gov. Barbara Roberts, Rep. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, Corvallis Mayor Julie Manning, Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, and Delores Pigsley, chairwoman of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. Roberts will also give a keynote address on "Celebrating Our History, Making New History," at noon.

Participants will be able to view the Century of Action exhibit, which chronicles the suffrage movement in Oregon. There will also be a poster session featuring research projects by OSU graduate students.

The Woman Citizen Symposium is supported by a number of sponsors. For more details on the event, go to http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/womancitizen/

Source: 

Marisa Chappell, 541-737-1266

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