“ It was amazing to see the wide range of
people who are feeling motivated to make
a difference and take action against certain
norms that currently exist in our society.
One of the major takeaways for me was
that there are many issues that different
people feel compelled to take action
against, and this convention allowed space
for all of those issues to come together.“
GABRIELLE ROTH
During the weekend of October 27, OS professor Michael
Heaney sent five students from his Advanced Reseach Team
to the Women’s Convention in Detroit. The students conducted
surveys of the participants for a study of women’s activism and
had a chance to participate in the workshops, strategy sessions,
inspiring forums and intersectional movement building at the
convention.
“The Women’s Convention is a premiere example of a
rising wave of collective-action feminism in the United
States. The intersectional conference sought to unite
women in workshops, team-building, and panels that
harnessed the political, interdisciplinary, and creative
energy. For me, that creative energy was one of the
most striking examples of women’s power and pride.
The art birthed from the intersectional nature of the
movement and at the convention was as potent and
powerful as it was beautiful.” ELIZABETH MARICS
“One especially striking moment came during
lunch on Saturday when there was a panel of
speakers including organizers of the Women’s
March and congresswomen Debbie Dingell
and Maxine Waters. Many of the speakers
were able to get the crowd involved and
passionate about their speeches. Throughout
the lunch there were moments when the whole
room of women and a few men would erupt
in applause and stand on their feet cheering
and pumping their fists. It was exciting to
witness so many people openly demonstrate
how passionate they felt about the women’s
movement and their drive to further issues
affecting women.“
GENEVIEVE HARNER
WOMEN’S
CONVENTION
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MARK MIZRUCHI
ROBERT COOLEY ANGELL
Robert Cooley Angell
INAUGURAL
LECTURE
“Much has been written about the increasing
fragmentation of American society, and the
polarization of our politics. Although several
explanations have been offered to account for
this polarization, I argue that something else is at
fault: the decline of leadership among the heads of
large American corporations. Through its relative
moderation and pragmatism, the corporate elite
helped to keep extremist elements at bay during
the post-World War II period, an era of historically
low inequality and high economic growth. In the
1970s, however, these elites, facing a major crisis,
allied themselves with the far right groups they had
Collegiate Professor of
Sociology
In recognition of this honor, on
February 7, 2018, Mark gave the
inaugural lecture: The Fracturing
of American Political Life.
previously shunned. Although this allowed large
corporations to achieve several goals, it opened the
way for extremists to gain control of the Republican
Party. In aligning itself with traditional conservatives,
the corporate elite created a situation that it can no
longer control. The result is the political extremism
that we observe today. “
MARK MIZRUCHI
Read more about Professor Mizruchi’s research
on his website, and watch the video of the lecture
on the OS website.
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