Next week, Utah State University will begin a six-part, virtual celebration of voting rights and a discussion about challenges facing United States democracy today.
The public symposium commemorates both the centennial of women’s suffrage nationally and the 1965 Voting Rights Acts.
A press release for the event states “It frames the issue more broadly in terms of Utah's own voting history, with a woman casting a ballot as early as 1870. The series allows us to examine the victories and the setbacks in equitable democratic representation and equality of political access in Utah, the United States, and globally.”
According to the press release, events are free of charge to those who register, through the kind support of multiple sponsors, including Utah Humanities (UH), which empowers Utahns to improve their communities through active engagement in the humanities.
Additional funding came from the Tanner Humanities program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research, History Department, USU Year of the Woman Grant, and Office of the Provost. Better Days 2020, Voterise, Real Women Run, Utah League of Women Voters, and AAUW also provided support. Utah Public Radio is a partner in this programming, and as a preview of the first event, Tom Williams recorded an interview on Access Utah with Dr. Anderson.
To check out the schedule and speaker descriptions or to register for the webinar, please visit: history.usu.edu/voting-rights-symposium/register
Schedule of events:
September 17,5:00 p.m.: A Conversation with Dr. Carol Anderson (Emory University) Author of One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression is Destroying Our Democracy Moderated by Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola
September 24, 5:00 p.m.: Dr. Lisa Tetrault (Carnegie Mellon University) When Women Won the Right to Vote: Myth & Memory Moderated by Dr. Tammy Proctor.
October 1, 5:00 p.m.: Dr. Selina Gallo-Cruz (College of the Holy Cross) Invisibility, Resistance, and Women's Political Power Moderated by Dr. Angela Diaz.
October 8, 5:00 p.m.: Dr. Mona Siegel (Sacramento State University) Making the World Safe for Democracy: The Global Battle for Women's Suffrage after the First World War Moderated by Dr. Susan R. Grayzel.
October 15, 5:00 p.m.: Dr. Kimberly Jensen (Western Oregon University) Registration, Education, and Voting: Black Women and Civic Organizating in Oregon, 1913-1916 Moderated by Dr. Evelyn Funda.
October 22, 5:00 p.m.:
Roundtable: Utah in the National Debate
Moderated by Dr. Christy Glass
James Courage Singer, Diversity Fellow in Sociology & Ethnic Studies Salt Lake Community College; Former Candidate for U.S. Congress.
Katherine Kitterman, Historical Director for Better Days 2020, American University
John Mejia, Legal Director of the ACLU of Utah
Jeanetta Williams, President of NAACP, Salt Lake Branch
Sheri Newton, Voting Access Director, Disability Law Center
