No Limits 2009: Feminisms, Environments and New Media
University of Nebraska, Omaha
March 6-7 , 2009
No Limits is an interdisciplinary conference on Women's and Gender Studies sponsored by the Women's Studies Programs at UNO and UNK, the UNL Women's and Gender Studies Program and UNL's Women's Studies Association.
The conference began in 1993 with a group of dedicated students who wanted to create an unquestionably interdisciplinary conference able to accommodate both traditional and non-traditional topics and presentations. Since that time the conference has remained student-oriented, open to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates.
In the past ten years No Limits has hosted hundreds of presentations from students and community member involved in Women's and Gender Studies in numerous academic departments and community groups. Further, No Limits encourages creative presentations, including artwork, performances, and the reading of original work. No Limits has also hosted many renowned scholars, writers, performers and activists, including Judith Cofer Ortiz, Nomy Lamm, Toi Derricotte and Lourdes Portillo.
In order to keep this event accessible to all participants, No Limits charges no conference registration fee. It is entirely supported by donations from academit departments and units within the University of Nebraska and the fundraising efforts of the Women's Studies Association.
This year the University of Nebraska at Omaha Women's Studies Program will host the No Limits! Conference on March 6 and 7, 2009. The theme for No Limits 2009 is "Feminisms, Environments, and New Media." We invite proposals from undergraduate students, graduate students and recent graduates on any topic from any discipline related to: women's lives, history, cultures, sexuality, feminism, and women's and gender studies. Creative writing, visual arts, film, music, performance and academic papers are welcome. (Proposals need not pertain to the conference theme.)
In addition to student presentations, we plan three keynote events:
Collaging the Gendered Self: Using media to give voice to lived experience begins with a talk by Women's Studies major Rachel Dick during the Friday (March 6) luncheon. Following the talk conferees are invited to create collages. These will be collected into a mosaic for reproduction in multiple media.
A Sense of Wonder is a one-woman play to be performed by Kauilani Lee Friday evening (March 6). A Sense of Wonder conveys the life work of Rachel Carson, who wrote Silent Spring . Rachel Carson's biographer has said of this performance: "This is the Rachel I knew...a perfect introduction to one of the most influential women of our time."
UNO Women's Centennial Luncheon takes place Saturday, March 7. Tableaux Vivants will entrance diners as they assemble for lunch. Professors Josie Metal-Corbin and Susan Maher will share highlights from their respective projects that focus on the centrality of women to UNO's history.
Students should submit a 250- to 500-word abstract outlining the proposed paper presentation, workshop, creative reading, film or project via e-mail (along with any audio-visual equipment needs) by January 30, 2009 to: kfalconeralhindi@mail.unomaha.edu.