Bringing Women's Studies to Puget Sound

This image of the Associated Women Students appears in the 1968-69 volume of Tamanawas, the yearbook for the University of Puget Sound, which was published annually from 1920 to 2016. In general, Tamanawas documented student life, academics, athletics, and other activities on campus throughout the academic year. Think about how the Associated Women Students group compares to other organizations featured in the yearbook. When examining this image, also note the description of the group and their agenda.

This selection of articles on women’s liberation was published in the December 3, 1971 special issue of The Trail, the student newspaper of the University of Puget Sound. Note the range of topics discussed and how they reflect the agenda of the national women’s movement, as well as the competing perspectives on feminism from a variety of students at Puget Sound. Ask how this special issue reflects the social and/or political climate at the university and students’ interest in women’s issues.

Appearing in the November 5, 1971 issue of The Trail, the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound, this article describes the first Women’s Studies course to be offered at the university and its pathway towards development. When examining the article, note the various groups on campus who supported the development of a Women’s Studies course, their disciplinary affiliations, learning outcomes described, as well as difficulties or challenges encountered. How do supporters plan to generate more enthusiasm for women’s studies?

The December 7, 1973 issue of The Trail, the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound, features two articles which question Women’s Studies as a field or detail the lack of support for the program. When analyzing the article on page 1, note the objections made by faculty to the Women’s Studies curriculum and their reasons for rejecting the course proposal, in addition to evidence provided by those who favored the course’s approval. In the article on page 2, the author provides further insight into the objections raised by faculty regarding the Women’s Studies program and argues in favor of Women’s Studies based on personal experience with the curriculum at the university. Notice, in particular, the gaps that the author identifies within the current History curriculum.

This letter to the editor was published in the December 14, 1973 issue of The Trail, in direct response to the Women’s Studies articles of the previous issue, specifically, “Senate suppresses feminism” by Karen Rudolph (p. 2). The Trail is the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. Pay attention to the language and tone of this letter, as well as references to current events and the national climate related to feminism and women’s liberation. What does this letter indicate about how different groups on campus perceived the Women’s Studies program? Contrast this author’s perspective with the previous article by Rudolph.

Prepared by faculty in the Women’s Studies program and submitted to the Priorities Committee of the University in December 1973, this document outlines the goals and objectives of the Women’s Studies program at Puget Sound, in addition to specific goals for the academic year and a request for resources to support the program. Within, the authors argue in favor of re-imagining the university’s curriculum to better recognize women’s contributions to American history and culture and discuss the value of Women’s Studies for female students. When working with this document, note the gaps and problems identified within the university’s curriculum, as well as proposed solutions. Identify what resources were available to the Women’s Studies program in 1973 and what the authors are requesting to sustain and grow the program.

This item is a letter from Mary Rothschild, Coordinator of the Women’s Studies Program at the University of Puget Sound, to Delia Burke at Cleveland State University, dated November 11, 1974. Rothschild is responding to Burke’s letter of August 26, 1974, which is also included. When reading this letter, note how Rothschild describes the early days of the Women’s Studies program and the overall climate of the university with regard to Women’s Studies. Which groups are identified as stakeholders invested in the program’s success? Identify the problems and constraints Rothschild discusses and consider how this set of letters reflects growing interest in Women’s Studies nationwide.

Appearing in the December 13, 1974 issue of The Trail, this article discusses the development and impact of Women’s Studies on students at the university, in addition to difficulties sustaining the program, and various efforts to support its survival. The Trail is the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. When working with this document, note, in particular, how the program influenced student-driven activities on campus and in the community. How does the author argue for the value of Women’s Studies?

Published in the September 19, 1975 issue of The Trail, this article describes a conflict between members of the Feminist Student Union and the student government of the University of Puget Sound over budgeting and resource allocations for student clubs and organizations. The Trail is the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. When working with this document, consider what the article indicates about how different groups on campus perceived the Feminist Student Union and the Women’s Studies program.

This article, published in the October 19, 1979 issue of The Trail, describes ongoing challenges to the survival of the Women’s Studies program in the 1970s. The Trail is the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound. When working with this document, identify the challenges facing the program and pay attention to the reasons provided by the university administration for the elimination of the Women’s Studies coordinator position.

This image of the Feminist Student’s Union appears in the 1975-76 volume of Tamanawas, the yearbook for the University of Puget Sound, which was published annually from 1920 to 2016. In general, Tamanawas documented student life, academics, athletics, and other activities on campus throughout the academic year. When examining this image, think about how the Feminist Student’s Union group compares to other organizations featured in the yearbook.

This item contains an agenda and minutes from a meeting of the Women’s Studies Advisory Council (WSAC), dated February 14, 1975. Topics discussed include a report on course offerings and enrollment, staffing, and efforts supporting the creation of a Women’s Studies minor. Consider WSAC’s role in advocating for the program, as well as how student interest in Women’s Studies is reflected in this document.

This flyer provides information about course offerings in Women’s Studies for the academic year 1974-75. When examining this document, note the topics represented in each course and their disciplinary focus, in addition to how Women’s Studies courses fulfill curriculum requirements at the university.

The first article, “Goals of FSU Examined,” appeared in the April 28, 1983 issue of The Trail, the student newspaper at the University of Puget Sound, and describes the activities and goals of the Feminist Student Union. When reading the article, pay attention to FSU’s stated objectives, the types of programming they offered, and consider how these activities might connect to the curriculum offered through the Women’s Studies program. When examining the second article, “Women’s Studies Program Successful,” note the benefits of Women’s Studies and its extracurricular programming cited by the author and compare the tone of this piece to previous articles from The Trail in this source set.

This document is a curriculum proposal form for Women Studies 494: Feminist Research Seminar, submitted in the spring of 1984. Course proposals and accompanying documentation are submitted to the Curriculum Committee at the university for each new course considered and changes to existing courses. This proposal includes a course description and bibliography. When examining this item, consider the purpose and proposed learning objectives of the Feminist Research Seminar and how it fits within the university’s curriculum.

This item is a planning questionnaire form prepared by the Women’s Studies Advisory Council (WSAC) and filled out by respondent Stefanie Novacek, dated October 7, 1987. When examining this document, reflect on how the Women’s Studies Program is being shaped and how Novacek’s response suggests future directions for the program.