Marking The First Decade

In April, 1985 Women’s Studies celebrated its ten-year anniversary by inviting alumnae back for a weekend of workshops, discussions, reminiscences, and festivities. Johnnetta Cole spoke on a panel with Marysa Navarro and Catherine Stimpson on the subject of “Women’s Studies in an International Context.” Bev Rohlehr and her band provided the music and attendees enjoyed an art exhibit by Lisa Baskin called “The Past…Our Future.” A generous donation by a UMass alumna who had graduated before the Women’s Studies program was developed made the event possible. She made the gift so that future students could enjoy the benefits of a program that had not been available for her.³¹

In 1985, Dale Melcher, longtime Women’s Studies staff, was the campus coordinator for the Tenth Annual Summer Institute for Union Women which the program co-sponsored. One hundred forty-five union women attended. That same year, Arlyn Diamond, one of Women’s Studies’ founders, was elected president of the faculty union, the Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP).

³¹ WOST newsletter, February 1985.