Rebecca M. Blank
Joan and Sanford Weill Dean, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Henry Carter Adams Collegiate Professor of Public Policy
"How are Single Mothers Faring? Ten Years After Welfare Reform."
Tuesday, March 13th
The Younts Conference Center
3:30 p.m.
You may find additional information about Dr. Blank and the AE lecture at the Economics Department website (http://economics.furman.edu/M&MLecture.html) and the Ford School (http://www.fordschool.umich.edu/people/Blank/main.html).

*CLP
Nikki Giovanni
November 30, 2006
McAlister Auditorium
7:00pm
The Student League for Black Culture at Furman University cordially invites you to An Evening with Nikki Giovanni on November 30th, 2006 in McAlister Auditorium on the campus of Furman University at 7:00pm. Nikki Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. She is one of America’s most famous poets and prides herself on being “a Black American, a daughter, a mother, a professor of English,and a member of DST.” Ms. Giovanni is determined to fight for civil rights and equality and is persistent in presenting the truth as she sees it. Ms. Giovanni continues to be a strong voice in the African-American community by promoting her focus on the individual: “specifically, on the power one has to make a difference in oneself, and thus, in the lives of others.” Ms. Giovanni graduated with honors from Fisk University and is currently a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech University. This event is free.

National Young Women’s Leadership Conference
From Campus to Congress
Saturday, March 24, 2007 & Sunday, March 25, 2007
University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC
&
*Women’s Equality Summit and Congressional Action Day
Monday, March 26, 2007 & Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Spend 4 days in the Nation’s Capitol –
Leave with an impact for a lifetime
For more information visit
www.feministcampus.org/leadership
* Hosted by the National Council of Women's Organizations and Younger Women's Task Force and in conjunction with the Feminist Majority Foundation

Prior Events:

TITLE: Trade, Women and the Flower Industry, and Labor Reforms in Colombia
WHEN: October 11
TIMEOFDAY: 7:00 pm
PLACE: Watkins Rm
DURATION: 1.5 hrs.
DESCRIPTION: Colombia is the second largest flower exporting country in
the world. 78% of flowers grown in Colombia are sold in the US, while 12%
are sold to the European Union. 70% of flower workers are women, many with
little formal education. The majority are heads of families, with no labor
rights, nor workplace standards. This event focuses on the labor and
environmental conditions of the flower industry in Colombia, and how this
industry is closely tied to US economic interests, being owned mostly by
US companies, such as Dole. The recent Free Trade Agreement between the US
and Colombia will have a major impact on workers’ conditions. The average
tariff paid on exported Colombian products is 12%. Flower companies, under
the FTA, enjoy tariff-free status, plus the competitive advantage of a
workforce with no guaranteed labor rights or workplace standards. This
event should be a CLP because of its educational goals: 1) to educate
people about the impact of the US Free Trade Agreement with Colombia, 2)
raise awareness about the flower workers, their rights and needed labor
reforms, 3) raise awareness about the negative effects of this industry’s
practices on the environment, and 4) to show the work of CACTUS, a labor
union born in 1996, that looks to improve workers’ conditions. This event
is part of the Furman Hispanic month celebration.
CREDENTIALS: Luz Marina Peñaloza's tour of the US southeast is sponsored
by the politically independent grassroots organization Witness for Peace.
Luz works as a community organizer for CACTUS in Bogotá to improve the
conditions for workers in the flower industry. CACTUS provides training in
labor rights, legal defense mechanisms, social and psychological
understanding of processes, worker health and safety and relevant
environmental issues. They do research, education, communication and
organization with flower workers and the local communities that are
affected by the industry.

TITLE: Breaking the Political Glass Ceiling: Women and Congressional Elections
WHEN: Monday, October 23
TIMEOFDAY: 8:00 pm
PLACE: Burgiss Theater
DURATION: 1 hour
DESCRIPTION: Professor Barbara Palmer of American University will discuss her most recent book (co-authored with Dennis Simon) of the same title. She will discuss her research surrounding the remaining obstacles to gender parity in political representation in the United States. In particular, her work focuses on the role of incumbency and re-districting in keeping women from gaining political office. She will review her examination of over 30,000 Congressional campaigns from 1956 to 2004. Her thesis examines the role of the social and political culture in keeping women from public office. This program fits nicely with the goals of the Cultural Life Program in exposing students to path-breaking research in this area and to questions of persistent inequality in the American political system.
CREDENTIALS: Barbara Palmer is an expert on women and congressional elections. She is the co-author of Breaking the Political Glass Ceiling, with Dennis Simon of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. As a professor at American University, Palmer has given invited talks to a wide variety of groups across the country on the integration of women into Congress and has published several articles in academic journals such as the American Political Science Review and Gender and Politics. She has taught courses on women & politics, American politics, and public law. In the spring of 2005, she received the Alice Paul Award for her commitment to women's issues and mentoring young women. Palmer is also the Political Director of WUFPAC, Women Under Forty Political Action Committee, a nonpartisan organization that encourages young women to get involved in politics and provides financial support to women under forty years old who are running for Congress. WUFPAC has been featured in CQ Weekly, Glamour Magazine, and on the PBS show, To the Contrary. Before coming to Washington, Palmer was an Assistant Professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She was a recipient of the H.O.P.E. teaching award and was nominated twice for the Phi Beta Kappa Perrine Prize, the highest teaching honor at SMU usually given only to the most senior faculty. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science in 1997 from the University of Minnesota. She also works as a free-lance photographer.

Rosalind Barnett, Ph.D and author
Same Difference: How Gender Myths are Hurting Our Relationships, Our Children, and Our Jobs
Monday, November 6th, 7:00 pm, Watkins Room