The Under the Radar Speakers Series, a series planned by professors in the English department aimed at discussing diversity, will hold its sixth event today. Today’s event will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Hill Memorial Library. Debra Moddelmog, the William A. Read lecturer from Ohio State University, will present a lecture titled “Telling Stories from Hemingway’s FBI File: Conspiracy, Paranoia and Masculinity.” Myriam Chancy, English professor, is a co-planner for the series, an event that brings together writers and scholars specializing in queer studies to talk about diversity and issues facing society today. “Prejudice of any kind has to be addressed and has to be addressed simultaneously,” Chancy said. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to address one prejudice and then to disregard another. It’s very important to bring to the floor as many oppressions as possible … so that [all people] can be free to pursue their lives as they want to.” Chancy said the series connects gay issues to the broader issues in diversity such as race, class and gender. The series was planned by Chancy, English professor Kristen Hogan and English assistant professor Eldon Birthwright. Although all three are in the English department, Chancy said the series was not a departmental venture. The professors worked to secure funds from multiple sources, and Chancy donated a portion of her research fund to pay for the events. The idea for the series came from an event planned by Hogan. Hogan put together an event which celebrated the work of Sharon Bridgforth, a Southern black lesbian poet. Chancy said the positive response to the presentation of Bridgforth’s work encouraged the professors to make it an ongoing series. Solimar Otero, English assistant professor, performed at the series’ event on March 7 along with Ana-Maurine Lara and Lenelle Mo’se, both Caribbean-American writers. In addition to discussing gay issues, the event also celebrated Caribbean voices. Otero said the program gives a venue for voices that are not typical to Baton Rouge. “Queer and diversity issues are important to bring out because so many talented people write about their experiences as being different, being queer, being black, Latina and so on,” Otero said. “It is a sign that we realize that the world is made up of all kinds of people and that we all matter.” Isabel Blum, communication disorders sophomore and treasurer of Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians, Supporters United, said she supports the mission of the series. “There are still a lot of people who don’t understand people that aren’t the same as they are,” Blum said. “When they don’t understand it they act violently or they are mean. Opening the minds of other people just makes them think about it in a different way.” Chancy said the organizers have been pleased with the turnout at the events. “This is an institution where there are a number of scholars and students interested in the issues, regardless of their orientation,” Chancy said. The series will conclude on April 9 at 6 p.m. with a lecture by Seth Clark Silberman titled “Queer Theory’s Ecstasy” at the African American Cultural Center. All of the events are free to the public.
—-Contact Sarah Aycock at [email protected]