"Women's History Who Needs It? by Dr. Alison Hirsch, Assistant Professor of American Studies and History Women were every- where in the past, but they are by no means everywhere in the history books. History is the man made (and occasionally woman made) story of the past. Like all storytellers, historians choose to include certain facts, events, and characters, and to leave out cer tain others. Every history book, every history lesson offers an opportunity to learn about women, but often the textbooks do not take the opportunity. Studying women's history usu ally means seeing what the text books leave out. Of course, women were often left out of things in the past as well. Throughout most of early American history, women could not vote, either in civil elections or in church elec tions. Women could not serve on juries or in the army. Married women could not testify in court or sign legal documents on their own. Marriage, in effect, made women invisible or non-existent, subsumed by law within their husband's identity. But politics, warfare, and courts of law do not define all of human life, and women have always played a vital role in the social, economic, and religious realms. Women are still most notable in history books by their absence. Their omission has been so complete that when women's historians argue for inclusion in textbooks, they are often seen as just another of many interest groups, which are all sometimes lumped together by politicians, bureaucrats, and even college students under the misnomer of "women and the other minorities." But women are not a minority; throughout most of history, they have been at least half of humanity , and today they are a majority-51 percent of America's population. Women are not a minority, but they are members of minority ethnic and racial groups. They are also members of majority or dominant groups. Modern women's histo ry, as it emerged in the late 1960 s and early 19705, is very much a by-product of modern feminism and the women's movement. But the fact that its origins were political does not mean that it is simply "political correctness" to insist on includ ing women in the historical nar rative. If history as it is taught today included women equally with men, then there would be no need for women's history. But traditional history is basical ly "men's history'," and most textbooks have only gone so far as to include women in "side bars" to the main narrative.. A catchword phrase of the late 1960 s was "the personal is political." In women's history, Career Dad at University Park Bryce Jordan Center Thursday April 11 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to plan your future with a Career in the Commonwealth. No preregistration necessary Bring your resume, dress professionally and get a job! For more information contact W- 117 (Career Planning and Placement Office) Dr. Alison D. Hirsch to paraphrase, the historical is personal. Students and teachers quickly discover the impossibili ty of studying women's history without making connections to personal experience—this is true of the half of the population that is female; it is also true for the male half, since every man has a mother, a grandmother, other female relatives and friends that frame the way he perceives women in the past and the present. As we learn about women's past economic, politi cal, and legal disabilities, we need to identify the stereotyping and sexism that were at the root of restrictions placed on women. There are two dangers inherent in this. First, by learning about past stereotypes we may risk perpetuating them in the pre sent. For example, if we know that colonial women bore full responsibility for housework and and early childcare, do we risk believing that this is women's immutable proper place? Ever-present in modern America is what one historian has called the "Nostalgia Trap," the longing for wholesome fami ly values and happy families of the past. We need to know that families have always experi- enced break-ups, abuse, and other problems we identify as "modern." The second danger is that we may create antagonism between men and women if we portray women's oppression as something done to all women by all men. But people today do not, either as a group or as indi viduals, need to feel guilty for what our ancestors did. What is important if to recognized the past, but ad appropriately in the present. We cannot ignore his torical sexism, but men today do not need to feel responsible for that past. What we all need to do is to rise above and to combat sexism in the present. These dangers should not deter us from taking the opportunities offered by women's history to reconceive the American past, which can only better equip us as both pub lic citizens and private individu als to deal with the challenges of the American present. Gender is not just another worrisome vari able we can choose to take into consideration or choose to ignore. Women's place in histo ry is everywhere; by restoring that historical place, we help cre ate a better future for both women and men. We all need women's history. Race: does it still divide us? Student speaks out on need for diversity Dear Co-editors It is truly a joy and an inspiration whenever I see a month dedicated to a different ethnic and minority group. I enjoy going into the library, which always has a very good display, and looking through different books and videos on information of people or cul ture that are different than my own. In this way I find that we, as Americans, are very lucky. We have the chance to learn, not only about our own culture, but other cultures, that normally we wouldn't be able to do if we lived in another country. Here, in America, we have the opportunity to intro duce into our lives many views. No other place in the world could profess to such a comment. However, what is so disturbing is that not everyone takes advantage of such an opportunity. How many of us dur ing Black History month have gone beyond looking at the display? It is not that I am try ing to lay a guilt trip on any one. However, what I am try ing to show is that maybe there is a need for all of us (me included) to observe these spe cial months and take ad van- tage of what they offer. And what do they offer, you may Lion Ambassador President publicly responds to former club member Dear Co-Editors This reply is in response to a letter written by Dan Zackus and published in the Feb. 29 edition of Capital Times. This is addressed to all individuals concerned about Penn State Harrisburg In his letter, Dan dis cusses a meeting, that he and another Lion Ambassador had with a Penn State administrator on Feb. 20 concerning the invi tation list for Dr. Spanier's lun cheon. I was not at the meeting, but because of being the President of PSH's Lion Ambassadors, I was drawn into the center of the disagreement. During the nine, LONG days between the meet ing, the luncheon and the pub lication, a lot of other meetings and discussions were conduct ed. Some were successful, and some were not. However, I must comment that due to the quality of the students repre senting PSH, in student gov ernment and lion ambassadors, along with the administration - Dr. Spanier's visit on Feb. 29 was a tremendous success. However, I have three regrets - the poor timing and title of Dan's article; the resig nation of Dan as a lion ambas sador; and the misconceptions that were left, due to his letter. Out of the three, there is only one I can help correct. That is the last one of which there are many parts. I will begin by explain ing, exactly what the Lion Ambassador organization's main objective is. Lion Ambassadors must make a commitment to promote Penn State, its interests and goals, and that is the sole reason for my response. Contrary to what Dan wrote, Lion Ambassadors do not need to agree with, ". . anything that Penn State Harrisburg or any common wealth branch of Penn State does." What a lion ambas sador should do, is try to assist with the development of the best university system possible If that means pointing out con VIEWPOINT Race has become such an issue that even discussing it in an academic environment the air becomes heavy with fear, which restricts us from having frank and open discus sions about the issue. Books offer us a chance to understand a culture that, otherwise, may have gone on being misunderstood or not recognized. By reading about people that are not like our- selves we may find that they have more in common with us than we realize. Therefore, it gives us the chance to give up those old fears and prejudices that we all carry. It is a way of helping us close the gap among each other and kill off racism. Racism is based on ignorance. Ignorance is devel oped from not knowing or understanding. That, I believe, is a choice we make. We have the mean and if we go to the library, which I can't see how you can avoid, the truth is there to be learned. So it is your choice to educate yourself further. That may be a harsh reality to understand because we all want to believe that we have done our best at becom ing knowledgeable, especially while in.college. But college doesn't guarantee that we will troversies or ideas for improve ment, then that is what a Lion Ambassador should do. However, a responsible Lion Ambassador would RESPECT FULLY, go through the proper channels. When that process is followed, one may discover misconceptions, missing infor mation, or one may invite a challenge that suggests a change is needed. When Dan called me with his concern about the meeting, I talked to the other Lion Ambassador, then I called the administrator the next day. Knowing all three people involved, I knew there were misunderstandings that needed to be corrected, if possible. Through my discussion with the involved administrator and a few other administrators, I discovered Dan's concern, that PSH failed in its choice of lead ership representation for Dr. Spanier's luncheon, was misdi rected. The list of requested representatives was made by University Park, not PSH. The invitation list was to include representative GOVERNING BODIES of PSH - the Board of Advisors, Alumni Society Board of Directors, Faculty Senate, University Senators, and SGA While I agree with Dan, that there are many lead ers on campus who were not invited, I disagree that the stu dent government was not a representative body of student leaders. In Dan's letter, he stat ed that other lion ambassadors agreed with him that, ". some SGA members do noth ing, where as some members go beyond the call of duty." While Dan had no authority to speak for the other 24 Lion Ambassadors, I do have the right to question the validity of his statement. I do not believe that most of this semester's Lion Ambassadors would have made that statement. Not only is such antagonism against the Lion Ambassador mission, but six of our members serve on understand each other better and more importantly it does n't guarantee that we will understand other cultures. It is up to the individual to make the move and teach themselves to become knowledgeable about their fellow man. We should all make a commitment to ourselves to learn more about people of dif ferent backgrounds. And that goes for us all, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, and so on. Only through learning can we lose these fears that have our country in such turmoil. We must all face it, we are all prejudiced! We all feel a certain way about certain peo ple that are different than our selves. The difference between a smart and an ignorant person is that smart people seek ways to combat their prejudices and face them head on. Ignorant people will let themselves believe the worst about a peo ple without seeking the truth. My dream is that some day we will not need a glass display. That we, in an open and humane forum, will be able to discuss any topic and defuse prejudice. But as I said, right now this is only a dream. Miriam Turpack Communications Dan must learn that in every facet of life, there will be people that go beyond the call of duty, and there will be peo ple that are self-serving. It is up to good leaders and members, to pull those people into ser- vice, and enable them to dis cover how it feels to actually earn recognition and really be a member of a group. If this hap pens enough, we may find less self-serving individuals in the future. If someone does not earn the recognition they place on their resume, it is their weight to carry around. It has no negative affect on others. As for another of Dan's statements about, ". .. having lunch with a very important person at Penn State.. . ," I believe that anyone you have lunch with at Penn State is a very important person. I would like to con clude by stating that member ship in the Lion Ambassador organization does not rob any one of their first amendment freedom of speech as Dan con cluded. If it did, I could never have served as president. Ask anyone that knows me; I can not keep my mouth shut! Being a Lion Ambassador is a proud achievement that one can proudly add to their resume; especially, all the ones I have had the pleasure of serving with this year! They have worked very hard, and they have served Penn State well! I am sorry, that I failed to convince Dan of his miscon ceptions. He will be missed, for he served us well! While I'm at it, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that remained supportive throughout the nine day con troversy. It was meaningful to me and the organization, for although we have worked very hard, we have much left to accomplish. Lion Ambassadors are Penn State Proud! Karen R. Wilson President PSH Lion Ambassadors CAPTIMES, March 28.1996 CHIEFLY CHATTER by Head of Police Services Leonard J. Supenski Last month the Capital Times wrote an introductory piece on my appointment as head of Police Services on campus. This month, in what I hope will be a continuing series on police and safety related topics, I'd like to elaborate upon the philosophy of policing I intend to bring to the Harrisburg campus of Penn State. First of all, I consider myself to be in the "policing" business. While commonly referred to as "law enforcement officers," only 20 to 30 percent of what we do actually involves enforcement. Historically as well as today, policing means not just "locking up the bad guys" and writing traffic citations, but pro viding service to the community. Our primary mission has been and will continue to be, order maintenance. That is why we are referred to as peace officers. In any community, the . role of police involves a variety o services such as: preserving the public peace; preventing and detecting crime; facilitating the orderly flow of traffic; reducing the amount of fear; educating the public about crime and ways to prevent being victims; and- dare I say it - improving the quality of life for its citizens. Lest the last role sound like more bureau-babble, quality of life from a police perspective can be defined quite simply, "What is it about this community that makes me want to live or sta here?" Regardless of what other elements go into improving a community's quality of life, safety and security is always a major fac tor. Business cannot thrive, chil dren cannot be educated, recre ation cannot abound and the arts cannot flourish in an unsafe envi ronment. It is no different with a university campus - a community in every sense of the word. Today police cannot do the job alone. In reality, they neve could. Creating and maintaining a safe community must be a collab orative effort between the police and the community they serve. I am committed to that philosophy. However, to develop a partnership we must get to know one another. We'd like you to get to know us so the next edition of the Capital Times will feature a profile of the men and women of PSH Police Services. In the future, we'll be getting to know you bet ter. From Riegel is part of a group fromthe Center that goes to busi nesses and institutions to see if they comply with the ADA. 'We have trained a couple people in our group to give out potential (parking) violation tick ets." she said. The ticket, which consists of a bright yellow card with attention printed on it in red letters tells viola tors that they are parked in a reserved parking spot. With plans for the new library building, Riegel urges PSH to consider the needs of disabled people in construction. - If they bulild a new place that's not accessible, it will have to be done over," she said. When President Bush signed the ADA In 1990, he encour aged Americans to let the shame ful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers