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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (3/06)
Contact: Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Johnson, Centenary News Service, 318-841-7265

Centenary to Host ACS Women's and Gender Studies Conference March 24 & 25

SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College will host the seventh biennial Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) Women’s and Gender Studies conference, "Governing Bodies: Reflections on the Self, Society, and State." Interest sessions begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 24 and the conference will conclude with an afternoon crawfish boil on Saturday, March 25.

This year’s conference will feature a keynote address by bestselling author Naomi Wolf on the topic of beauty myths as they apply to racial stereotypes and the "Southern belle" phenomenon. The Southwest Louisiana Cajun band, the Magnolia Sisters will entertain at the crawfish boil finale on Saturday afternoon. The Magnolia Sisters have been named Attaway Fellows in Civic Culture and will return to campus at a later time for another performance and discussion.

Students and faculty members will present on over 60 varied topics, from the cultural construction of gender to public policy and the legislation of women's health. There will also be several roundtable discussions, panels and an artistic exhibition. Presenters represent colleges and universities spanning the globe, from South Africa to Nova Scotia and Nigeria to the United States.

Conference fees are $45 for students and $80 for faculty. These fees include all meals and transportation to conference events. Students may be eligible for travel funds from the ACS.

For more information on conference topics and registration methods, visit www.centenary.edu/genderconference, or contact either Michelle Wolkomir at mwolkomi@centenary.edu or 318-869-5054 or Kim VanHoosier-Carey at kvanhoos@centenary.edu or 318-869-5253.

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