OSU Women's Center Group Oral History Interview

Title
OSU Women's Center Group Oral History Interview
LC Subject
College students College buildings Women's Center
Interviewee
Baisden, Shelby Dahri, Soreth Verdugo, Nicthé Allee, Amelia
Interviewer
Allee, Amelia
Description
Amelia Allee grew up in Denver, but calls Portland, Oregon her home. Allee is 20 years old, and self-identifies as French, English, and Huron (a Native American Tribe). This is her first year at Oregon State University as a transfer student from Portland Community College. As a junior, she is majoring in public health with a focus in health management and policy. Allee is also working towards her certificate of food and culture and social justice. Previously a student advocate at PCC's women's center, Allee began working at OSU's women's center in 2014. She is currently a peer facilitator, but will soon become the leadership liaison. Shelby Baisden recognizes Gresham, Oregon as her hometown, but calls Portland and Corvallis her home. Baisden is 22, self-identifies as white, and is a senior at Oregon State University. She is studying human development and family sciences in the school of public health and human sciences. This is her first year working for the women's center, although she had previously collaborated with the center. She serves as the communications representative. Soreth Dahri's hometown is Karachi, Pakistan. She self-identifies as Muslim and Pakistani. She is 21 and in her second year at Oregon State University. She is majoring in finance in the college of business. Dahri is currently a peer facilitator at the women's center, and this is her first year working for the center. While Nicthé Verdugo lives in Corvallis, Oregon, her hometown is Chandler, Arizona. Verdugo is 22, self-identifies as Chicana, and is a senior at Oregon State University. She is majoring in ethnic studies with a minor in women, gender, and sexuality studies within the college of liberal arts. This is Verdugo's second year working at the women's center. During her first year, she served as the program coordinator, creating and organizing events. Currently she is the leadership liaison. One of her duties is to serve as a mentor for the staff of the women's center. The interview begins by introducing four staff members of Oregon State University's women's center–Amelia Allee, Shelby Baisden, Soreth Dahri, and Nicthé Verdugo. After discussing their backgrounds, majors, and positions at the women's center, they discuss the challenges of their jobs. These challenges include white privilege and misunderstandings of feminism. They recommend sexual assault awareness and expanded definitions of feminism for future event topics. The interview then chronicles their ideas and advice for the future of the women's center. For this, the interviewees recognize open mindedness, good and purposeful intentions, non-generalizations, and challenging barriers. On a more personal level, they describe several experiences in which their identities have caused them to have both negative and positive interactions. The interview ends with an acknowledgement of the family-like environment of the staff and of the center.
Work Type
transcripts
Location
Corvallis >> Benton County >> Oregon >> United States
Date
2015-05-05
Identifier
OSU-Womens-Center-Group-2015-05-05
Rights
In Copyright
Dc Rights Holder
Oregon Multicultural Archives, OSU Special Collections & Archives Research Center
Language
English
Local Collection Name
Oregon State University Cultural Centers Oral History Collection, 2013-2014 (OH 21)
Type
Text
Format
application/pdf
Set
Oregon Multicultural Archives OSU Special Collections & Archives Research Center
Primary Set
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Is Part Of
OSU Cultural Resource Centers
Institution
Oregon State University