The woman attacking the Women's Studies Program

Let me get this straight.

Female Arizona State Rep. Linda Gray threatens to eliminate the Women's Studies Program at the UA because students are complaining about walking to Antigone Books to buy their materials? Who is Gray representing, Exxon? Hey, maybe if I whine about the exhausting journey across campus (in breezy, 75 degree weather, that is) to buy a $68 book for calculus, Gray would urge cutting funds to the Math department as well, or would it take a rumor that the Arizona Bookstore is "catering to homosexuals" to fire her up? Businesses should not sell to gay people, is that it Ms. Gray?

Am I supposed to believe that a program which actively supports a community of women, about which the discipline educates its students, is somehow illegitimate in doing so? Is it against university policy for a professor of political science to encourage students to volunteer for a local campaign? Or for theater professors to ask students to see a play? Personally, I would criticize a program which is too wrapped up in theory and confined to text to motivate students to look outside the sheltered, college community. Rather than being reprimanded, the department of Women's Studies should be praised for exemplifying the role the UA can play in Tucson and for empowering students to be proactive from within their academic pursuits.

It all makes me wonder what frightens Gray so much about a bookstore that sells books by popular writers, women of color, gay writers - oh, wait a second! This may not be about university policy at all. Could her own homophobia be tempting Rep. Gray to destroy the Women's Studies program? To this likelihood I have only this response: You're right, Gray, it is not hard to find a gay student in Women's Studies. In fact, if you take a less 'conservative' glance, you will find it is not hard to find a gay student in any department on campus.

I guess while you are at it, you might want to consider restricting funds to the university as a whole, or else you could just give us a list of acceptable books to read (oh, and please be sure to include where we are allowed to buy them). This way, I am sure no one will shop at Antigone's, and you can sleep at night.

LoRee Kenagy
Dance freshman