Kady Bell
Staff Writer

In fall 2006 University of La Verne students will likely have the opportunity to major or minor in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies thanks to the efforts of the WGSS committee, which gained approval for the program from the full faculty on May 9.

Many universities established such programs long ago, and the committee, which was composed of 12 faculty members and administrators, has worked toward filling the hole in the University’s curriculum since 2003.

The new program is intended to address previously unexplored issues regarding gender and sexuality, to erase stereotypes and discrimination and to continually boost the importance of diversity and social activism.

“The WGSS program aims to explore the complexities of gender and sexuality as they intersect with race, ethnicity, age and ability,” said Lisa Porter, assistant professor of education and a program presenter.

“People recognize that a university cannot commit to issues surrounding diversity if gender and sexuality aren’t a part of that dialogue.”

Other program presenters included Zandra Wagoner, chair of the WGSS committee and general education program director, and Ann Hills, associate professor of Spanish, both of whom acted on the committee’s behalf along with Porter.

Wagoner, Porter and Hills were quick to point out that the program would not only benefit women.

“Although ‘women’ is included in the name to help historically situate the early works of female activists seeking equality, the program looks at issues surrounding gender on a broader level to include men and transgendered individuals,” Porter said. “Hopefully, this program will help to begin dismantling some of the existing biases and societal assumptions surrounding gender and sexuality.”

The approval process for the program was exhaustive, as the proposal went through a hierarchy of University officials: first, the Dean’s Council, second; the Undergraduate Academic Policies Committee; third, the Faculty Senate; and finally, the Faculty Assembly before it was overwhelmingly passed.

However, the program has yet to be fully approved, as grant money to finance its first three years must be received before its enactment.

Wagoner said the program would be evaluated following its three-year mark and figured into the ULV budget if proven to be a worthwhile addition to its curriculum.

Wagoner also said an ongoing multitude of team efforts among committee members had ultimately resulted in the program’s passage.

“Together, the committee has developed the focus of the program, created the curriculum, designed courses, conducted research and developed on-campus programming to encourage a campus climate that considers gender and sexuality vital and important; worthy of study, analysis and discussion,” Wagoner said.

Most committee members were collectively puzzled as to why a program meant to enrich diversity on campus had not yet been implemented and felt that working toward such a goal would be a valuable undertaking.

“I can’t explain its absence in the past, but I can certainly work toward its implementation in the future,” Hills said. “I know that there are many faculty dedicated to these issues who include such subjects in their current classes. However, I feel that there is a need for an institutional framework for such issues.”

“Our campus community has certainly included gender and sexuality in its commitment to diversity, but is just now formalizing this commitment to a program of study,” Wagoner added. “One way to explain the recent endeavor to create a WGSS program is that there is currently a critical mass of faculty who have expressed a desire for this program, providing the energy to make it a reality.”

Kirsten Ogden, a committee member and assistant professor of English, said the program would enrich diversity on-campus by expanding student perspectives regarding gender and sexuality related issues such as feminism.

“Society needs to unlearn the stereotypes associated with advocates of feminism,” Ogden said. “Both men and women are feminist advocates, not bra burners or man haters. I hope the program will help students broaden their definitions in order to see that sexist, racist and gender-based oppression hurts everyone and only works to distance us from one another.”

Mariela Manriquez, a freshman Spanish major, said the introduction of the program into the University’s curriculum was a step in the right direction.

“It’s also a good idea to keep in mind; to keep adding a variety of programs (to the University’s curriculum),” Manriquez said.

Porter also said the program would contribute to fully accomplishing the goal of diversity in the University’s mission statement.

“This program’s approval is truly a celebration and indicator that the ULV community is open to change and committed to honoring the many experiences and identities of its students,” Porter said.

Kady Bell can be reached at rzezna65@yahoo.com