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Writer to speak on solo sex The Women’s and Gender Studies symposium today in Knight Library will study the history of masturbation By Chelsea Duncan Senior News Reporter Students and faculty from all over campus will have the chance to leam about the history of masturbation today at the inaugural "Currents in Gender Studies" symposium. The symposium, which begins at 11:00 a m. and lasts until 1:30 p.m. in the Knight Library Browsing Room, will focus on University of California-Berkeley history Professor Thomas Laqueur's latest book, "Solitary Sex: A Cultural History of Masturbation." Women's and Gender Studies Director Judith Raiskin said the point of the symposium is to bring students and faculty from different disciplines together in a discussion about current scholarly works. "We really need to make these events happen so we are exposed to the important scholars in many different fields," she said. Laqueur, who also wrote "Making Sex: Body and Gen der from the Greeks to Freud," said his new book exam ines the point in the 18th century when masturbation be came a cultural debate, which meant that women's sexuality came into the limelight for the first time. "Most sexuality before the 18th century didn't actually pay attention to women," he said in a telephone inter view. "For the first time actually, the sexuality of women became critical." He said the book focuses on cultural thoughts about masturbation, which gradually shifted from being viewed as a societal wrong to being a way in which women could extol their sexual identities. "It's an important part of the feminist movement," he ^ said. Philosophy graduate student Amy Story, who plans to L attend the symposium, said masturbation's role in the feminist movement was important for women in assert ing control over their sexuality. "Women's bodies don't belong to men; they actually belong to women themselves," she said. "It represents the statement of autonomy." She said it is important for students to be exposed to historical analyses such as Laqueur's book, because they help people understand current social trends in sexuality. "Books like this reveal a sort of trajectory of history that allows us to better understand where we stand today," she said. Raiskin said the symposium is unique because instead of simply hearing a quick presentation from a guest speaker, attendees were encouraged to read the book in advance. She said this makes the event "a little more leisurely and a little more luxurious." Women's and Gender Studies Assistant Professor Eliz abeth Reis, who is also speaking at today's symposium, said in an effort to encourage reading, free copies of the book were given to the first 20 people who signed up for the lecture. She said the conversation should be produc tive because most people have read the book. "It brings together faculty and students across campus to have a creative and stimulating conversation about in tellectual issues," she said. Raiskin said the University is fairly isolated geographi cally, which makes sharing scholarship across campuses, or what she calls "cross-fertilization," difficult. She said she hopes the symposium, which is spon sored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the Oregon Humanities Center, the Center for the Study of Women in Society and the Women's and Gender Studies Pro gram, will become an annual event. Each year, the sym posium will highlight a current work of an international ly renowned and influential scholar. Contact the higher education/ student life/student affairs reporter atchelseaduncan@daiiyemerald.com. JARVIS continued from page 1 cooperate and work with the board on the office functions until June. Goldschmidt said during last week's board meeting in Portland that the search for a new chancellor will begin once the office's restruc turing is completed. On Thursday, he formally announced the ap pointment of former state Depart ment of Administrative Services Di rector Jon Yunker as chief operations officer and executive vice chancellor for OUS, according to an OUS press release. Jarvis is currently one of two candidates for the presidency of San Jose State University in Cali fornia, OUS spokeswoman Di Saunders said. Contact the higher education/ student life/student affairs reporter at chelseaduncan@dailyemerald.com. GTFF continued from page 1 wages back to the University." Goff later added that GTFs essential ly "have to pay for the materials we teach with." But University Vice Presi dent for Research and Graduate Stud ies Richard Linton, who is a member of the University's bargaining team in the negotiations, responded after the protest, saying, "Most institutions don't subsidize fees for graduate stu dents." Linton also added that the sit uation for GTFs at the University is quite good relative to GTFs at the Uni versity's eight other peer comparator institutions. These are institutions that the University uses to measure com parative faculty salaries and include University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Iowa and the LJniversity of California-Santa Bar bara." If you look at total compensa tion (salary, benefits, tuition waivers) ... when we compare ourselves to our peer comparator institutions ... we're currently ranked third (in GTF total compensation)," he said. "Three out of nine is very competitive." Another major issue of contention is that certain University departments are hiring undergraduates at hourly wages to fill positions typically filled by GTFs. Linton said the practice provides undergraduates with "important edu cational experiences" and cited such positions as undergraduate peer men tors or lab assistants. According to Linton, the positions are often ones that could not be filled by a CTF because the posts require far fewer hours than the minimum hours for a GTF. Departments also turn to undergraduates when the graduate student pool for a particular depart ment has been exhausted, he added. Lindgren said the practice might decrease the quality of education for undergraduate students. It also, he said, undermines the GTFF and de prives the employees of the benefits of union membership and GTF status, which include tuition waivers, bene fits and access to the grievance process and collective bargaining. "Undergrads might wonder about the quality of their education when they're essentially being supervised by undergrads," Lindgren said. "It under mines our union." The negotiations will continue later this month, with the next bargaining session scheduled for April 19. Lindgren said the University's cur rent offer includes a $40, or 15 percent, fee reduction. However, the controver sial practice of hiring undergraduates re mains largely unresolved, Goff said. The earliest the GTFF could strike is June 30, according to state law. Senior News Reporter Jared Paben contributed to this report. Contact the people/culture/ faith reporter at moriahbalingit@daiiyemerald.com. CAMPUS iPfei SOP HJP Friday • Women's and Gender Studies Lecture featuring a talk by Thomas Laqueur from the University of California-Berkeley, Browsing Room, Knight Library, 11 a.m.-l:30 p.m. Part of the "Currents in Gender Studies” series. • An Afternoon of Italian Music, Poetry and Celebration featuring mu sic and presentations, Browsing Room, Knight Library, 4-6 p.m. • Philosophy Lecture by philosophy Professor Naomi Zack entitled "Rule by Women: Feminist Ideas of Politics, History and Class,” Room 360, Condon Hall, 4-6 p.m. • Morse Center Conference Lecture featuring Percy Schmeiser, the Saskatchewan farmer sued by Monsanto for patent infringement when their "Roundup Ready” seeds were found in his canola field, entitled “David v. Goliath: Foreign Enforcement of U.S. Patent Law and the Might of Monsanto,” Auditorium, Agate Hall, 7-8:30 p.m. • Oregon Ballroom Dance, Room 220, Gerlinger Hall, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Now hiring for advertising executives to start spring term. □ If you want a good job when you graduate, you need a great job now. The Oregon Daily Emerald is an independent newspaper that provides hands-on experience in the challenging world of advertising sales. We are looking for motivated students who believe in the power of advertising in the Oregon Daily Emerald and who can transfer that enthusiasm into sales. You will have the opportunity to hone your customer relationship management skills, create ad campaigns for clients and see your efforts come to life in the newspaper. Job descriptions and applications are available at Suite 300 EMU. Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 9 at 5 p.m. Oregon Daily Emerald ’ The Oregon Daily Emerald is an equal opportunityIrrfployefr Aorfirflittecf td cfuftuVal^cli^/efsjty/ ‘ 1 THI! AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WANTS YOU! Scckinq students who are interested in Student Orientation Proqrams at the University of Oreqon. Ambassador duties include: • Giving campus tours • Calling prospective students • Becoming familiar with the recruitment process • Assist at various recruitment events Ambassador - Multicultural Recruiter Positions • Maintain Ambassador duties listed above • Seeking students that have background with cultural diversity issues • Will be involved in programs that target students of color Information Sessions: Find out more about the Ambassador Program by attending one of the information sessions. Thursday, April 22nd @ 3:00pm, Umpqua Room, EMU Friday, April 23rd @ 2:00pm, Century Room E, EMU http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~ambass Applications now available @ 465 Oregon Hall • For Further Questions, call 346-1274 Applications due Wednesday, May 5th by 5 p.m. in 465 Oregon Hall
