The Tercentennial Office and the Women’s Faculty Forum are cosponsoring a series of presentations and public discussions to mark the transformations brought about by the women of Yale, alumnae and faculty who will present two documentary films on March 20, 22 and 28 that examine coeducation and women’s changing roles at the University.
A special panel will be held on March 29 featuring three prominent Yale College alumnae who will discuss their experiences at Yale. They are Kathleen Cleaver, an attorney and the first female member of the Black Panther movement; artist Sandra Boynton; and business executive Laura Scher.
Events, which are free and open to the public, include:
“Boola Boola …Yale Goes Coed:” An award-winning film about the early days of coeducation at Yale (1969-1973) made by Julia Pimsleur, ‘90, and co-owner of Big Mouth Productions, Inc., when she was a senior. Two screenings: Tuesday, March 20, 7:00 p.m. and Thursday, March 22, 7:00 p.m., both at the Yale University Art Gallery Lecture Hall. Commentary by some of those who were there including Margaret Homans, ‘74, professor of English; Nina Glickson, ‘73, assistant to President Richard C. Levin; Richard Brodhead, ‘68, (graduate student in English, 1969-1972), dean of Yale College; Anthony Kronman, (graduate student in philosophy, 1969-1972), dean of Yale Law School; Gaddis Smith, ‘54, (associate professor of history, 1969 - 1973), Larned Professor Emeritus of History; and Julia Pimsleur.
“A Hero for Daisy:” A film about two-time Olympian Chris Ernst, ‘76, who galvanized her rowing team to storm the Yale athletic director’s office in 1976 protesting the lack of proper locker room facilities for women. The incident did much to alert the nation about the inequities that persisted after the passage of Title IX legislation; Wednesday, March 28, 7:00 p.m., Linsly-Chittenden Hall, Room 102.
Women at Yale and Beyond (WAY Beyond): This panel discussion brings three distinguished alumnae of Yale College to reflect on their years at Yale and following graduation; Sandra Boynton, ‘74, Drama, ‘79, an artist and author who began designing greeting cards as a way of supporting herself in graduate school. She has designed over 8,000 cards, written and illustrated 30 books for children and adults, and designed best-selling collections of wallpaper, t-shirts, balloons and calendars; Kathleen Cleaver, ‘84, Law ‘89, an attorney, professor, author and a former member of the Black Panther Central Committee. She has spent most of her life participating in the human rights struggle. Currently, Cleaver is a senior research associate at Yale Law School and executive producer of the International Black Panther Film Festival; Laura Scher, ‘80, co-founder, chairperson and CEO of Working Assets, a long distance, credit card, Internet services and broadcasting company that donates a percentage of its revenue to progressive nonprofit groups. Since its founding in 1985, Working Assets has donated nearly $20 million to groups such as Greenpeace and Planned Parenthood; Thursday, March 29, 7:00 p.m., Linsly-Chittenden Hall, Room 102.
Yale’s Tercentennial: Throughout 2001, Yale College and the University’s 11 graduate and professional schools are conducting special symposiums, book publications, exhibits, lectures and concerts which recall the University’s storied past, highlight its present and probe the challenges that face the University in its fourth century. Yale’s Tercentennial year is providing an important opportunity for serious scholarly reflection about the institution’s progress in the past century, its place in higher education and its contributions to society.
Tercentennial celebrations reflect Yale’s enduring values: the centrality of liberal education, the insistence on academic excellence, the aspiration of preparing leaders for society and the importance of teaching. For more information, visit www.yale.edu/yale300 or phone the Tercentennial office at 203-432-0300.
