Women's Studies Program to Host 'No Limits' Conference March 5-6

WHEN: Friday-Saturday, March 5-6
WHERE: Nebraska Union, 1400 R Street

Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 24, 2004 -- The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Women's Studies Program will host the 2004 No Limits Conference, "Imagining Change: Women as Agents for Social Justice," March 5-6 at the Nebraska Union, 1400 R St.

No Limits is an annual regional research conference for undergraduate and graduate students and is co-sponsored by the Women's Studies Student Association and the Women's Studies programs at UNL, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

The goal of No Limits is to bring students and the community together to focus on the role of women scholars and community members in global and local social activism. Presenters and participants will explore ways to pursue social justice, including scholarship, public participation and creative work.

At a noon luncheon on March 5, Wendy Smooth, assistant professor in the department of Political Science, will present a keynote address on "Channeling Rage and Speaking Truth to Power: Women, Politics and Change in the 21st Century." Attendance at the luncheon is free; lunch is $7.50.

At 3 p.m. the short film "Las Quinceaneras," winner of a 2003 Great Plains Film Festival Award, will be shown at the Nebraska Union. The film was produced by the Latino/Latina group from Park Middle School in Lincoln.

At 4 p.m. "Senorita Extraviada: Missing Young Woman," by Lourdes Portillo, will be shown at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, 313 N. 13th St. The showing is open to the public for the regular admission prices of $7.50, $5.50 for students, seniors, and children, and free for conference registrants. Portillo is an award-winning experimental documentary filmmaker whose films include "Las Madres: The Mothers of Plaza de Mayo." Her films incorporate the search for social justice and identity from a Latina/Chicana perspective. After the film, Portillo will deliver a keynote address, answer questions, and meet participants at a reception.

The 12:30 p.m. luncheon on March 6, "Sing, Shout, Teach, Listen: Seeking Justice and Change in Our Communities," will feature a panel of community activists who will explore how citizens, students, scholars and creative artists can influence social policy and create social change. Panelists will include Shirley Mora James, Lela Knox Shanks, Amy Miller and Rebecca Kaiser. Attendance at the luncheon is free; lunch is $6.25.

The No Limits Conference is funded by the Nebraska Humanities Council, the Nebraska Arts Council, the College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Academic Affairs, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, Ethnic Studies Program, the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, Center for Great Plains Studies, and other departments and programs at UNL.

All No Limits events are free and open to the public. Registration is required for meals and encouraged for attendance at events. For more information, contact the UNL Women's Studies Program at (402) 472-9392.

CONTACT: Erika Hamilton, Women's Studies, (402) 472-9392