TAMIU to Host Primavera 2002 Women's and Gender Studies Conference

Scholars from as near as Texas A&M International University and as far as Ukraine will participate in this year's Primavera 2002, sponsored by the Women's and Gender Studies Program at A&M International.

Dr. Deborah Blackwell, A&M International assistant professor of history and coordinator of the event, said the conference will allow researchers to share their findings with colleagues and consider new ideas.

"The Conference's theme, 'Masculinities and Femininities,' will bring together scholars from a variety of disciplines to discuss the ways in which gender shapes human experience," said Dr. Blackwell, "Gender studies is one of the most exciting and cutting-edge areas of scholarship today, and we are honored to have so many people coming to Laredo to participate in Primavera. Based on the high quality of the proposals submitted by the participants, this promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking three days."

Blackwell said the community is invited to join the participants at Primavera for all or part of the conference and several events are free.

"We want to invite the Laredo community to come and consider these topics with us. I think people will find them quite interesting and will enjoy hearing so many different perspectives," said Blackwell.

The first free event is the opening reception for the Conference at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center Ballroom. University of Michigan professor Susan Douglas, author of several books, including Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media, will be the guest speaker. Dr. Douglas will be signing copies of her book afterwards, and A&M International's Mariachi Internacional will be performing. This event is free and open to the public.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, March 22, the public is invited to the artists' reception for "New Images: M/F" and the Brindis por la mujer at the Laredo Center for the Arts. Janet Krueger, assistant professor and curator of the exhibit, and artists featured in the exhibit will be available to discuss their work with the public. The Brindis por la mujer will celebrate women on both sides of the U.S./México border. This year's honorees are Donna Lednicky, director of the Hecho en Encinal Project, and Guadalupe Bello, publisher and editor of Cariátides-an art literature magazine published in Nuevo Laredo. This event is free and open to the public.

The closing event of the Conference, a luncheon and lecture, is also open to the public. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 23 in the new Student Center Ballroom. Dr. Judith Newton, of the University of California at Davis, will discuss "The Politics of Feeling: Men, Masculinity and Mourning at Ground Zero." The luncheon begins at 12:30 p.m. and the cost for the lunch buffet is $14 per person. A&M International's Classical Spanish Ballet will perform during lunch.

For anyone wishing to attend the whole conference, a registration fee of $50 in advance or $60 on-site covers all events, including lunch on Friday and Saturday.

For more information about the Primavera 2002 Women's and Gender Studies Conference or specific events, please contact Dr. Blackwell at 326.2628, visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 435G or email her at dblackwell@tamiu.edu. A complete listing of conference events is also available on the Internet at: http://www.tamiu.edu/~jnorris/panels.html. University Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu