Spring Break
Lecture discusses women's political involvement today
First female Oregon Supreme Court Justice was scheduled to attend; cancelled due to illness
Shyna Gill
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News
Dr. Melody Rose, founder of the Portland-based political activism organization NEW Leadership Oregon, held a lecture on Wednesday evening about the current state of women's involvement in politics. Justice Betty Roberts was scheduled to appear alongside Rose in a conversation-style lecture as part of a Women's History Month series sponsored by the Women's Center, but cancelled due to illness.
"She is very disappointed that she couldn't be here, only illness would keep her away from students," Rose said of Roberts, 86, the first female Oregon Supreme Court Justice.
Earlier in the day, Rose was a guest in Beth Rietveld's Women and Leadership class. She stressed the importance of women becoming more involved in politics and leadership to the class of ten students.
"It was great. It was an engaged group of students and we had a good discussion," said Rose, chairwoman of the Political Science Department at Portland State University.
"Our students range from science majors to apparel design majors," said Rietveld of her class.
Later in the evening, Rose read excerpts in the Joyce Powell Leadership Center in the Memorial Union from Justice Roberts' book, "With Grit and By Grace: Breaking Trails in Politics and Law," published by OSU Press in 2008. "It is a little daunting to fill her shoes," Rose said of Roberts' absence.
Roberts became politically active during a time when the United States was undergoing drastic events in history. She quickly rose to political fame and paved the way for women in politics, when in 1982 when she became the first female Supreme Court justice in Oregon.
Rose explained that Roberts grew up in a poor family in Wichita Falls, Texas. She had no role models to follow in politics, since females were "not considered ideal" for this line of work, said Rose. "We owe real debt and gratitude," said Rose, "for those individuals who paved the way" for women to become politicians.
Roberts "was a first among firsts in Oregon politics," Rose said.
Rose is the founder of NEW Leadership Oregon, an organization based on the campus of PSU within the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. According to its website, "NEW Leadership Oregon is dedicated to inspiring, educating, and supporting the next generation of women political leaders."
According to an OSU press release, Rose is also the author of an upcoming book "Playing the Gender Card? Media, Strategy, and Hillary Clinton's Race for the White House", with Regina Lawrence. The book is scheduled to be released later this year by Lynne Rienner Publishers.
The program, sponsored by OSU's Women's Center and OSU Press, kicked-off a series of Women's History Month events sponsored by the Women's Center.
Shyna Gill
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
"She is very disappointed that she couldn't be here, only illness would keep her away from students," Rose said of Roberts, 86, the first female Oregon Supreme Court Justice.
Earlier in the day, Rose was a guest in Beth Rietveld's Women and Leadership class. She stressed the importance of women becoming more involved in politics and leadership to the class of ten students.
"It was great. It was an engaged group of students and we had a good discussion," said Rose, chairwoman of the Political Science Department at Portland State University.
"Our students range from science majors to apparel design majors," said Rietveld of her class.
Later in the evening, Rose read excerpts in the Joyce Powell Leadership Center in the Memorial Union from Justice Roberts' book, "With Grit and By Grace: Breaking Trails in Politics and Law," published by OSU Press in 2008. "It is a little daunting to fill her shoes," Rose said of Roberts' absence.
Roberts became politically active during a time when the United States was undergoing drastic events in history. She quickly rose to political fame and paved the way for women in politics, when in 1982 when she became the first female Supreme Court justice in Oregon.
Rose explained that Roberts grew up in a poor family in Wichita Falls, Texas. She had no role models to follow in politics, since females were "not considered ideal" for this line of work, said Rose. "We owe real debt and gratitude," said Rose, "for those individuals who paved the way" for women to become politicians.
Roberts "was a first among firsts in Oregon politics," Rose said.
Rose is the founder of NEW Leadership Oregon, an organization based on the campus of PSU within the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. According to its website, "NEW Leadership Oregon is dedicated to inspiring, educating, and supporting the next generation of women political leaders."
According to an OSU press release, Rose is also the author of an upcoming book "Playing the Gender Card? Media, Strategy, and Hillary Clinton's Race for the White House", with Regina Lawrence. The book is scheduled to be released later this year by Lynne Rienner Publishers.
The program, sponsored by OSU's Women's Center and OSU Press, kicked-off a series of Women's History Month events sponsored by the Women's Center.
Shyna Gill
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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