Join us in commemorating the centennial anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that granted women the right to vote.
The symposium, "Celebrating the 19th Amendment: Women's Rights Here and Abroad," will take place on Saturday, Oct 19, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., at Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Drive. The $20 fee includes lunch. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct 11. This event is open to the public. OLLI membership is not required. Registration can be made online at olli.unl.edu or by calling the OLLI office at 402-472- 6265.
Sponsored by OLLI at UNL, Global Perspectives: The Winter Lecture Series, and the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County, the program will feature scholars from the University of Nebraska and other institutions, as well as Nebraska women in elected office. Hear about the history of the struggles for women’s suffrage; the impact of women in elections over the past century, as well as women’s involvement in elective office; and the status of women’s rights on a global scale.
The 19th Amendment states in part, "The right of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." On August 2, 1919, the Nebraska legislature ratify the 19th Amendment. By August 1920, 36 states ensured that, across the country, women had the right to vote.
The keynote speaker will be Rhoda Howard-Hassmann, professor emeritus, from Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Hassmann will address international human rights with a special focus on women and women's suffrage. She has written several books and articles on international human rights, including women's rights. She was also a consultant for the creation of UNL's undergraduate program in human rights.
Other speakers include:
Leslie Working, adjunct instructor, History, Union College, Lincoln
Dr. Working will provide a history of women's suffrage in the United States. Her dissertation, "Having Been Born Locomotive: Women, Mobility, Progress and Activism," addresses the ways increasing mobility of nineteenth-century Americans impacted female activists' ideas about women's lives and how their assertion of women's right of access to new technologies made travel to Western spaces a possibility for female reformers. She has taught at Ball State University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Union College and UNL.
Katrina Jagodinsky, Susan J. Rosowski Associate Professor of History, UNL
Dr. Jagodinsky will address the effects women have on politics in the U.S., especially in the last 30 years. The diversity within women's engagement in politics is an issue we are seeing come to a head national and one that will be important in the 2020 election.
The following panelists will participate in a moderated discussion:
Lou Ann Linehan is a current State senator elected to represent the 39th Nebraska legislative district since 2016. In addition, she has served as a deputy principal officer, pillar director, deputy team leader, deputy assistant secretary, U.S. Department of State and chief to staff to U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel. She serves on the Education, Nebraska Economic Development Task Force and Revenue committees.
Patty Pansing Brooks is a current State senator representing Nebraska's 28th legislative district. She was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. Prior to her legislative experience, she served as senior policy counsel/aid to then-Lincoln mayor Chris Beutler, general legal counsel for Spence Title Insurance Company and served on the Lincoln-Lancaster County Commission on the Status of Women.
DiAnna Schimek had a diverse career in public service, most notably as the representative for the 27th Nebraska legislative district from 1988- 2008. Throughout her years in the legislature, Schimek served on various committees including: Government; Military and Veterans Affairs; Urban Affairs; and Business and Labor.
Anna Wishart is a freshman State senator, representing the 27th Nebraska legislative district since 2017. Before joining the Unicameral, she served on the Lincoln Airport Authority board of directors. She is a policy consultant for Beyond School Bells, a group that advocates for after school and summer school programming across the state. Senator Wishart is also a former staffer for state Senator Rick Kolowski of Omaha.
Day/Date: Sat, Oct 19
Registration Deadline: Fri, Oct 11
Time: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for check-in.)
Location: Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Dr.
Cost: $20 includes lunch. Cancellation after the registration deadline will be non-refundable. Please contact the OLLI office if you have specific dietary restrictions.
Register Online:
https://cehs25.unl.edu/wconnect/ace/quickpick.awp
Register by telephone: 402-472-6265