October 26, 2004
2005 Affirming Action: The Progressive SIG/Caucus Coalition (PSCC)
For the past five years, the PSCC has worked to form a common space where different SIG and Caucus groups can meet to discuss how their different concerns can be wedded into a common agenda. In doing so, the goal has been to foster a sense of communal activism which crosses any particular interest group. It has sponsored forums which bring the different groups into dialogue as well as worked to support each group’s individual initiatives. The success of this work can be seen both in the large and diverse attendance at PSCC events as well as it success at having resolutions and programs adopted by CCCC. PSCC membership now includes American Indian, Asian/Asian American, Gay/Lesbian, Labor, Latino, Non-Tenure Track, and Working Class SIGS and Caucuses.
The theme of “Affirmative Action,� however, provides an opportunity for the PSCC to address fundamental concepts of its origins and its actions. The PSCC wants to use this occasion, that is, to have its members reflect upon the activism which has marked their organization and to project what set of issues should guide future work for the coalition. An emergent concern, for instance, is the ways in which labor policies cut across ethnic, class, and sexual orientation populations. Considering how issues of labor interact with concerns about hiring and retaining minority faculty will also be addressed. The question for the PSCC in San Francisco, then, concerns affirming action: What are the central concerns cutting across our membership groups? What will it mean for PSCC to take action to address those concerns?
To foster such work, a roundtable format has been chosen. The initial three speakers will highlight the work of their individual SIG/Caucuses to advance the pedagogical, professional, and political goals of its members. As stated above, a central theme will be the role of labor. Three respondents will then highlight the ways such work shares common themes and goals. General discussion will follow.
Posted by sparks at 9:26 PM
October 25, 2004
2004 Bushwhacked: Queering Borders and Boundaries in the Lone Star State
For the past three years, the Progressive SIGs and Caucuses Coalition has sponsored forums for the different interest groups in CCCC to develop a common agenda. The PSCC have organized these forums out of the belief that language, writing, and literacy are inseparable from issues of public policy and social justice. For that reason, our sessions have highlighted the connection between classroom practice and local, national, and international events. In addition, we work with individual SIGs/Caucuses to develop resolutions for presentation to the CCCC Executive Board. Last year, our session was attended by over 150 CCCC participants and each of the resolutions we supported were adopted. (For instance, we are currently working with CCCC to develop a web page for use by teachers on the “war on terror,� a goal of one of our resolutions.)
For this year’s CCCC, we hope to use the Texas location to focus on the rights of gay, immigrant, and prison populations. Each of these issues are a key point of contention both in Texas and in the Bush Administration. In particular, we hope to present a session which shows how advocacy work in these areas relates to our writing classrooms and our profession. As always, the session will also feature resolutions developed by PSCC members for presentation at the CCCC Executive Board Meeting.
Posted by sparks at 9:29 PM
October 24, 2004
2003 Identity Politics/Common Ground/Iraq
We are a coalition of CCCC Special Interest Groups and Caucuses who feel that language, writing, and literacy are inseparable from issues of public policy and social justice. This year, one of the goals of our session is to highlight two important initiatives within CCCC focused on tribal colleges and higher education labor practices. We hope to use this session to generate support for these resolutions at Saturday’s Business Meeting.
We also believe that the Iraqi crisis is an important concern in our field. In response, we have revised our original session plans to include the opportunity to discuss the role of writing teachers and rhetoricians at this current moment, both in CCCC’s and in our national debate. We will also announce several initiatives to foster this debate throughout the conference.
It is our belief that only by simultaneously working on our specific concerns as writing teachers and on producing an informed public debate, we believe we will fulfill our goals as a progressive coalition.