March 27, 2017
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
March 27, 2017
In light of #LikeaGirlWeek, Rutgers Student Affairs will host a screening and discussion of the film “Miss Representation,” a documentary that analyzes issues of women’s representation in the media. The screening will be held today 7 p.m. in the Bunting-Cobb Lounge of the Woodbury Bunting-Cobb residence hall on
Douglass campus. On the Representation Project’s website, it summarizes the issues in the media that the film is attempting to address: “The media is selling the idea that girls’ and women’s value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality and not in their capacity as leaders. Boys learn that their success is tied to
dominance, power and aggression. We must value people as whole human beings, not gendered stereotypes.” Of course, this documentary, like most, has its own issues — a lack of representation of women with disabilities, for example, or the lack of diversity of women being interviewed. As many pointed out, like blogger
Natalie Hill, most of the women interviewed were wealthy white women with Ph.Ds, and the women of color who were interviewed only had brief appearances throughout. Issues aside, the film is a good place to start a conversation about the way that women are represented in the media and the stereotypes that are
Spend the night investing in your body with a POUND class, mindful mediation and self-defense class. Douglass Residential College along with the Cook/Douglass Recreation Center, Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD), Counseling, Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program (CAPS) and Victoria Secret’s Pink Reps have partnered to host an evening focused on physical health. The POUND class is a regularly offered session part of the Rutgers Recreation Fitness & Wellness Classes. This fullbody cardio session is meant to get your heart pumping, body sweating and muscles working. The workout is inspired by drumming and uses lightly weighted exercise drumsticks to get participants burning calories to a beat. Mindful Meditation will be a complimentary cool down prior to the workout. The class
perpetuated through the way that women are portrayed. It is important to remember that “Miss Representation” does not stray too far from some of those same stereotypes that they attempted to tackle. For a film that titles itself “Miss Representation,” it could certainly benefit from a little more representation.
focuses on breathing and the body. You’ll focus on your respiratory system, heart rate and inner-strength. Lastly, with prior registration, there will be a self-defense class taught by RUPD officers. This session will be guided instruction on how to react and protect yourself in a crisis situation. Hopefully, you’ll never have to use what you learn in this class but it’s never a bad idea to be prepared.
January 21, 2015 March 27, 2017
The label feminist is thrown around a lot, sometimes as a compliment and sometimes as an insult. “Be At the Table” is an event designed to get to the core of what it really means to be a feminist and what feminism is all about. Hosted in the new Global Village building on the Douglass campus,
As you get older there are fewer and fewer moments in life when you can pause to acknowledge the people around, whether it’s for their accomplishments, their influence or just for them being them. The
Make your voice heard and express yourself however you do best tonight. Bring your poetry, short stories, songs or comedy routines to Katzenbach Hall on Douglass campus. You don’t need any experience to share your story or a creative writing certificate to share your work. As a partici-
pant or an audience member prepare to snap, clap and laugh the night away with a positive group of women. Language is one of the most easily accessible tools for expression available to us. Kenneth Burke, an American literary theorist, said literature and stories are “equipment for
living,” but anyone that has tried writing or reciting poetry knows that it is easier said than done. Writing involves rewriting and editing and readings can include more stuttering or nerves than planned, which is why having the right space to start off in is so important. Believe In
a panel of professors, activists and, of course, feminists will talk about the ins-and-outs of feminism and what forms it can take on campus. The panel will consist of Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Keisha Dabrowski, Acting Director of Knowledge & Power and
the Barbara Voorhees Mentor Program Jeremy LaMaster, Director at the Center for Social Justice and LGBT Communities Zaneta Rago-Craft and Prevention Education Coordinator of the Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance Jean Semelfort. The panelists each work in different aspects
of the University and have a unique perspective on feminism and how it applies to their jobs and lives. All of the panelists and attendees will then be able to have a group discussion focused around feminism, who can be a feminist and how to “be at the table” as a feminist.
Phenomenal Women Brunch is an excuse to have that moment. The free brunch with guest speakers is open to all female-identifying people and their female-identifying guests, who they would like to celebrate.
Your Voice is offering to be that space for Like A Girl Week and with its partner Verbal Mayhem, can be a regular space for this freedom of expression. Whether you’re a longtime writer or new to the words game, delve into this creative space as either a listener or performer.
March 27, 2017
MICHELLE KLEJMONT
March 27, 2017
Round out your Women’s History Month with the Inside Beat Desk’s top picks of femme-identifying artists. Use this playlist before the end of the month to celebrate the work of these female singers and songwriters, and let it open the doors to more empowering women in the music industry. MICHELLE KLEJMONT
Letter from the Editor’s Desk: Women’s future in journalism Alexandra DeMatos
Since we were caucused in we have received praise for improving the paper, from our online presence to the general coverage Being a woman in the field of journalism of Rutgers news. In the New Jersey Press Ascan certainly be a challenging feat — women sociation’s 2017 College Newspaper Contest, journalists face countless bouts of sexism and we won a plethora of awards, including the misogyny, as made evident by a 2015 video of general excellence award. Every day we, as a board, work as hard as men attempting to read tweets directed at women sports journalists, including death threats, we can to ensure that the paper we will pubthreats of rape and insults that were so cruel lish the next day is as accurate and appealing to students as possible. that the men struggled to read them aloud. Being at Rutgers University, a school that A 2015 study by the Women’s Media Cenprides itself on being diter also showed the gender verse and is comprised disparity that can still be of a majority of women found in the field of media. students, finding a board Julie Burton, president of that is mainly run by the Women’s Media Cenwomen is not a surprise ter, said, “Our research “We are, essentially, a — but we have the job to shows that women, who daily newspaper run ensure that these kinds of are more than half of the mainly by women.” statistics continue outside population, write only a of the University. third of the stories.” The underrepresentaBut at Rutgers, 12 of tion of women in journalour 17 editors are womism is certainly a number en — and on the busithat needs to be improved, ness side, 10 of the 13 and we have the responsidirectors, managers and assistants are women. We are, essentially, a bility to encourage more women to enter jourdaily newspaper run mainly by women. Of nalism and take up positions such as our own course, this has not always been the case: at The Daily Targum, to teach the next generRutgers University itself did not become a ation of women journalists that anything can coeducational school until 1972. But in re- be done, and any story can be written with cent years, we have had multiple women hard work and perseverance. I hope that this running the paper, from editor-in-chiefs, is a message that our board can send that will managing editors, news editors, photo edi- inspire the next few generations of Targum tors and so on. And Editorial Board 149 has editorial board’s until we see true equality in the field of journalism. been nothing but successful. Editor-in-Chief
March 27, 2017
felicia Mcginty Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
Since assuming her position as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs nearly four years ago, Dr. Felicia McGinty has worked tirelessly to improve the student experience at Rutgers. She helps coordinate events, expand student resources and ensure that the student body is represented within the University’s decision-making process. McGinty has worked in Student Affairs for 25 years and has proven to be a trailblazer in the field. In an interview with RU Voice Magazine, she stressed the importance of using power to make a positive difference. “We all have a voice,” McGinty said. “We all have the ability to do something, to say something, so for me it’s just a great responsibility learning how to use it. It’s important because I always feel like no matter where I’m going or where I’m at, I always have a voice. Even if I’m sitting in a room with ver y powerful, elitist white men — I have a voice. I may or may not feel empowered to use it in that moment but I have a voice.” According to her staff page, McGinty has developed and led courses on Academic and Personal Development, Critical Thinking and First-Year Development. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership along with a Master of Arts in Education Counseling. “When I think about the mark I want to leave and what I think is most important is that every student that comes to this University community feels a sense of community — feels welcomed, feels supported and valued,” McGinty said.
Barbara lee
Ruth b. mandel
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs
Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics
Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Distinguished Professor Barbara Lee is an academic renaissance woman. Lee holds a B.A. and M.A. in English, a Ph.D in higher education from Ohio State University and a J.D. degree from Georgetown University. Lee has worked at the University since 1982, first as a professor, and as of 2015 is responsible for overseeing faculty and academic labor relations. Lee has worked as an attorney, authored several books on employment law, higher education law, employment discrimination, and academic employment practices. She also has co-authored several textbooks, including “The Law of Higher Education,” “A Legal Guide for Student Affairs Professionals and Academics in Court: The Consequences of Faculty Discrimination Litigation” and edited several journals, according to her University biography. Lee chaired the New Jersey Bar Association’s Higher Education Committee and was formerly a member of the board of directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). Additionally, she won the Daniel Gorenstein Award in 2009 for her excellence in scholarship at Rutgers and the Alice Paul Equality Award in 2011 for her work for women in the workforce. Lee now teaches employment and higher education law at the School of Management and Labor relations and researches new developments in the law that affects employers and higher education.
Since 1995, Ruth B. Mandel has worked as director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics and teaches as a Board of Governors Professor of Politics. During her tenure on the Banks, she has invested in research and education for youth political engagement, immigrant political behavior, governors and state executive leadership, science and politics and ethics in government, according to her University biography. Her work for political engagement has extended to programs and internships across the undergraduate and graduate levels, making Eagleton’s outreach programs well known on state and national levels. Mandel also co-founded the Eagleton Center for American Women and Politics in 1971. As director of the center from 1971 to 1994, she built and managed one of the nation’s best sites for research and education for U.S. women’s political history, women’s political networks, the “gender gap” and women’s political participation. She also wrote “In the Running: The New Woman Candidate” about women’s changing roles in politics. From 1991 to 2006, Mandel was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the governing board of Washington, D.C.’s Holocaust Museum. As a member and then later chairperson of the council, she helped set up the governing structure for the new museum and create the Museum’s Committee on Conscience. Mandel also served on the Charles H. Revson Foundation for two terms.
Jacqelyn litt Dean of Douglass residental college
Dean Jacquelyn Litt came to Rutgers University in 2010 as a professor for Douglass Residential College and an expert in women’s and gender studies. Before coming to the University, Dr. Litt had an extensive career teaching and directing women and gender studies programs across the country. Her command of the subject made her the founding chair of the women’s and gender studies department at the University of Missouri before coming to Rutgers. Before that Litt directed women’s studies programs at Iowa State University and Allegheny College. Litt has focused on promoting gender equity in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, human rights and public health throughout her career and time at Rutgers. She has also implemented several leadership and mentoring programs at the University for faculty members. As a result, she is a nationally recognized expert on faculty mentoring. Today there are fewer than 50 all-women colleges and universities in the country, and under Dean Litt, Douglass Residential College has become leader amongst them. As an all-women’s college within a large research institute, Dean Litt believes that Douglass Residential College has been singled out as the new prototype for the next phase of women’s colleges. “Douglass today stands alone as the only all-female residential college at a flagship public research university in the nation,” Litt said in an Op-Ed for NJ.com. “The unique combination of a Douglass education — a mission-focused education — within a pre-eminent national research university sets the stage for women’s contributions to this future.”
March 27, 2017
C. Vivian Stringer Head Women’s Basketball Coach
C. Vivian Stringer is the dominant femme force in Rutgers Athletics: both as the women’s basketball coach and a major player in the new Rutgers Big Ten Build. During her 22 season-long career on the Banks, Stringer has a career record of 971-366, fourth on the all-time Division I coaches victories list, and has led the Scarlet Knights to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances. Stringer sits among the collegiate ball elites as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, where she is the 11th female coach to be inducted, a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and named one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” by Sports Illustrated. Stringer’s career began in the early 1970s at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, a small historically-black college near Philadelphia, before Title IX was even established. In 1982, the NCAA sponsored the first-ever women’s basketball tournament and Stringer’s squad advanced to the final four. Stringer would later visit the Final Four three more times: once with the University of Iowa, and twice with the Scarlet Knights in 2000 and 2007. This makes Stringer the only basketball coach out of both the men’s and women’s divisions to take three different teams to the Final Four. While at Rutgers, coaching in both the Big East Conference and the Big Ten, has made the women’s basketball team one of the most successful on the East Coast in terms of team record and individual performances. 18 of Stringer’s former recruits were selected in the WNBA Draft. The next recruit to watch is one of the nation’s top point guard, Tyler Scaife, of the 2013 recruitment class.
Alexandra cupello waters
Lisa Hetfield
Residence Life Campus Director
Interim director of the Institute of Women’s Leadership, Associate director and director of development
Alexandra Cupello Waters may not be known by many students outside of the Residential Hall Association, but she is responsible for the Cook/Douglass and the College Avenue campuses and almost 8,000 students. Everyday tasks can take Cupello Waters anywhere around the New Brunswick campuses, responding to incidents in the residence halls or at leadership and mentoring meetings with her staff members. A large part of working in Residence Life involves moving information up and down the chain of command from resident and apartment assistants to Campus Director Cupello Waters. This can range from urgent issues to inter-departmental mentorship, which is the backbone of the housing department. “I really like the dynamic opportunity of this idea of being a mentor, and equally learning from everyone I work with,” Cupello Waters said. “It keeps it fresh, young and real for me.” Cupello Waters described that flow of mentorship as “organic.” And it’s that same organic flow that helps Cupello Waters manage her work-life balance. As part of Res Life, Cupello Waters has lived on campus for many years with her family, all the while moving up to her current position. While raising her daughter at Rutgers, Cupello Waters said that same flow open dialogue has helped shaped her family in a positive way.
Kimberly Guinta Executive Editor of Rutgers University press
Kimberly Guinta has worked at the Rutgers University Press for the last two years, publishing academic texts in the humanities and working with professors to print their works and teach different texts in class. Guinta focuses on four primary areas: women’s and gender studies, Caribbean studies, anthropology and higher education. Guinta previously worked at Routledge in New York also doing academic publishing and has a master’s in publishing from Pace University. Guinta’s process is collaborative and involves working for experts in the fields she’s publishing, to both edit and choose books for the publication. “We’re trying to put out research that is both interesting and topical, and we’re always looking for authors that have something to say and want to make a difference,” Guinta said. This means her work can cover topics from the environment, social justice or the arts, Guinta said. But no matter what the subject matter it, it’s always with a goal of connecting students with the newest research in the humanities. The press also does a lot of books about the University, most recently “Scarlet and Black” about slavery and disposition in the University’s history.
After Director Alison Bernstein passed away last summer, Lisa Hetfield, previously the associate director, stepped up to be the interim director of the Institute of Women’s Leadership (IWL) as well as director of development. Hetfield has been at the University for 26 years and in her current role is primarily focused on raising money for IWL’s projects and programs. The top priority now is the Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in the media, culture and feminist studies at Rutgers. In addition to raising money for IWL programs and events, Hetfield also oversees the day-to-day operations of the Institute, which are based on the needs of students striving toward the professional world. Hetfield said that at IWL, they work with women in New Jersey learning about the needs of professional women in fields like politics, business, public policy, media and more. With the input of contemporary women in the workforce, students are then trained and prepared for their professional careers in one of the many programs or through the many events hosted by IWL. Hetfield also overseas the Institute of Women’s Leadership’s initiatives recognizing University women with multimedia projects. One video project, which is available on its website, is “250 Years of Women at Rutgers.” This video highlights the accomplishments and efforts of women involved throughout the entire University’s history.