Peace Studies Conference Fall 2004

"The Peaceful Sex? Women and Peace in the 21st Century."

The Seventeenth Annual Peace Studies Conference

September 20, 2004
1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Alumnae Hall, Haehn Campus Center, CSB

1:00 p.m.  Welcome
Dr. Rita Knuesel, CSB/SJU Associate Provost
Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Chair, CSB/SJU Peace Studies Department

1:05 p.m. "Veterans Speaking Out: Where Are the Women?" presented by Chante Wolf. Chante is a member of Women Against Military Madness (www.worldwidewamm.org) who served in the U.S. Air Force for 12 years and is a Persian Gulf War I veteran.  She left the military under an early out program and is an active member of Veterans For Peace, Minneapolis. The Peace Studies Department would like to thank Women Against Military Madness for their assistance in arranging this presentation.

2:40 p.m. Concurrent Workshops

 "The Multicultural History of Women and Music: Finding Our Own Voice – All of Us” presented by Judy Gorman. (McConnell's, Haehn Campus Center).  Sharing the little known, primary role that women the world over have played in the creation of music from pre-biblical to contemporary times, females have historically endured the burden of a peculiar dichotomy as "Eve" or "Mary" in popular music. "Eve" is interesting, powerful, and sexual but characterized as evil and predatory. "Mary" is seen as sweet and nurturing, but passive and boring. To reclaim the lost and hidden history of women's music of every culture enriches all of us and helps each of us to find our own voice in every sense of the word. In music, as in all fields, sexism is toxic to men as well as women. Sexism, racism, and all forms of oppression reinforce each other and use overlapping stereotypes. Any success in confronting one kind of oppression can help overcome others. Ms. Gorman is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who performs throughout the USA and Europe.  She often sings and speaks at events committed to peace, social justice, and the environment.

 “Women in the Military: Is it Equality or Assimilation?” presented by Chante Wolf. (Haehn Campus Center, Room 25). Looking at the job opportunities for women in the military. Is the military really a job opportunity or assimilation to growing violence, through coercion, intimidation, physical and mental violence, misogyny, homophobia and racism as the core to military discipline? What makes a woman proud to be: an F-16 fighter jock known as "killer chick"; photographed with a smile and thumbs up with an Iraqi POW corpse; a medical corp person who knowingly with held information about prison abuse; or a combat veteran? 

"Beijing + 10: Celebrating the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women" (Haehn Campus Center Room 24) An interactive workshop by Ms Shreen Saroor, a feminist peace activist from Sri Lanka.  This workshop will cover the significance of the Beijing conference of 1995, the importance of U.S. participation in such international conferences, the impact of the Beijing platform on a small country like Sri Lanka, post Beijing developments and planning for the 10th anniversary celebration. Co-Sponsored by Gender and Women's Studies.

4:00 p.m. Video and Discussion, “Peace Train to Beijing: The Fourth World Conference on Women.”  (Alumnae Hall, Haehn Campus Center).  Part of the Gender and Women’s Studies Film Series. A revealing study of solidarity in motion, "Peace Train to Beijing" tells the story of 230 women and 10 men from 42 countries who cross two continents to reach the Fourth UN Conference on Women (August-September 1995). During the three-week trek from Helsinki, Finland, participants meet with women's groups and political leaders, and put theory into practice as they create a "metaphorical community" on the train.

5:30 p.m. Dinner Break

7:30 p.m. Welcome (Alumnae Hall, HCC)
Sherry Smolik Day, Women's Lives Series Committee.

7:35 p.m. KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Medea Benjamin, “Women in Peace” Alumnae Hall, HCC.  Medea Benjamin is Founding Director of Global Exchange. For over twenty years, Medea has supported human rights and social justice struggles around the world.  She is also the co-founder of Code Pink: Women for Peace, a women's group that has been organizing against the occupation of Iraq and pushing for a reorientation of budget priorities in the U.S. to focus on heath care, education and housing, not war.  Sponsored by: CSB Companions on a Journey, Women’s Lives Series, and SJU University Chair in Critical Thinking. 

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

9:40 a.m. A Conversation with Medea Benjamin, TRC Boardroom, Main Building, CSB.  Hosted by Christine Munger, CSB's Companions on a Journey/Theological Exploration of Vocation program.  Your chance to meet our keynote speaker, hear her story, reflect on your own life choices, and ask her questions.  

7:30 p.m.  International Day of Peace/Homecoming Concert, O'Connell's, HCC.  Concert with feminist/social-justice activist singer/songwriter Judy Gorman to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace, bring a close to the Peace Studies Conference, and celebrate Homecoming week.  Special opening act Valandra, CSB/SJU social work professor.  Sponsored by: Student Coalition for Global Solidarity's Campus Feminists and Students for Peace, and the Women's Lives Series.  Contact: Kirsten Flaten, klflaten@csbsju.edu.

All sessions are free and open to the public.

The Peace Studies Department at Saint John's University and College of Saint Benedict is grateful to Lorraine and Robert Breitenbucher for their financial assistance in presenting this conference; Gender and Women’s Studies Film Series for the video sponsorship; and CSB Companions on a Journey, Women’s Lives Series, and SJU University Chair in Critical Thinking for the sponsorship of the keynote speaker Medea Benjamin; and all those who assisted in the preparation and coordination of this conference.

Peace Studies Conference Coordinator: Kelly Kraemer (kkraemer@csbsju.edu; 320-363-5715).