WGSS program sees an increase in their enrollments this year
Story and photos by Britany Adorno-Alice
Ellen D.S. Lopez, director and professor of Psychology, left, Christine Kindler Psychology professor, middle, and WGSS program coordinator Carol Gray, right.
The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program, or WGSS, at UAF has doubled enrollment numbers since last year under the leadership of political science professor Carol Gray.
The WGSS program is a minor dedicated to educating students on women, gender and sexuality, and minorities on their historical and present-day experiences. The WGSS program’s strength lies within the courses they offer, ranging in discussions of various minority groups. The courses available to the WGSS program are cross referenced across other disciplines, adding to the diversity of the minor in its ability to be well paired with other majors.
Starting last fall semester, the WGSS program began hosting monthly events where all UAF students and faculty alike who wanted a space to discuss and learn about the different things that WGSS elevates. This month’s guest speaker was William Farrell, former USAID official from Ghana, who spoke with those at the meeting about the vital importance and role of women in peace and conflict prevention.
Each meeting occurs on the first Wednesday of every month, and will occasionally have one guest speaker whose topic is affiliated with one of the many things WGSS covers. The meeting fluctuates from having small crowds of students and staff who are regular attendees to large crowds.
Farrell’s presentation shared many of his findings during his time spent between the US and West Coastal Africa, speaking with many of the communities there and finding ways to bridge the mistrust that existed between them.
Slow growing as well is the affiliated group the Society of Advocacy and Gender Equality, also known as SAGE. SAGE is a new up and coming club whose mission with the teachings of the WGSS program is to help and offer aid to other groups across campus to get the support they need to help spread their message.
The SAGE members are responsible for hosting events that aim to bring the community together, such as the Chalk the Walk during the last Fall semester, as well aiding in the protest that occurred with the WGSS program during the DEI changes.
Students (left to right) Jay Pierre, Natalie Cluster, Aaralyn Hall, Maddy Mead, and Ace Cross organizing a SAGE meeting after the presentation.
The WGSS program has a strong group of members, both in the staff and in the students, and according to Carol Gray, are looking forward to seeing a further increase in engagement from students enrolling in the minor.
Plans were made to continue to advertise WGSS to get more people interested in the discussions of protecting our communities of minorities here on campus.
WGSS’s next meeting is scheduled for the first Wednesday of November, with guest speaker Dr. Ingrid Johnson and her presentation on the impact of abortion restrictions on Violence Against Women.