February 11, 2003
Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Dr. Allan G. Johnson, a noted
sociologist, writer and trainer/consultant will discuss “Unraveling the
Knot of Privilege, Power, and Sexuality” Monday, March 3, at Central
Washington University.
His free, public presentation, the second for the 2002-03
academic year in the CWU Presidential Speaker Series, is slated for 7
p.m. in the Samuelson Union Building (SUB) Ballroom. Seats will be
available on a first-come, first-served basis, with the doors opening
at 6:30 p.m.
Johnson, who serves on the faculty at Hartford College for
Women at the University of Hartford, is a frequent speaker on
university campuses, where he presents controversial, often difficult
issues, in a way people can relate to on a personal level.
“As a white male, I am especially concerned with reaching men
and whites who may feel so uncomfortable with issues of privilege that
they won't even talk about them,” Johnson says. “I try to offer a
blend of life experience, humor, social reality, audience participation
and clear analysis that opens windows to new and productive ways of
thinking and living in the world.”
Johnson has been interested in and worked on issues of
privilege, oppression and social inequality since receiving his Ph.D.
from the University of Michigan. That work has included authoring
several books, including “The Gender Knot: Unraveling our Patriarchal
Legacy” in 1997 and “Privilege, Power, and Difference” in 2001.
Johnson will also autograph copies of his books by request
following the public lecture, which is sponsored by the CWU president’s
office, theatre arts department, student empowerment center, student
health and counseling center, office for equal opportunity, residence
life, diversity education center and campus life.
For more information about Johnson’s lecture, or for persons
of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509)
963-1774, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.
While at CWU, Johnson will also present a faculty development
workshop, titled “Privilege, Power, and the University,” from 2 to 4
p.m. in Grupe Center. For more information, or to reserve seminar
space, call (509) 963-3101.
