H A N DS- O N
Analyzing 20th century letters, petitions, and statements written by women from anti-suffrage organizations to congressmen and legislative bodies was my primary source of information. While every document shared a common objective, each one presented a slightly different perspective. Of all the arguments utilized by anti-suffrage women, I was most interested in those concerning race and femininity. Those opposed to women’s suffrage argued that it would destroy white supremacy, as African American voters would outvote white voters. They also claimed that politics and voting were masculine and would cause women to lose their femininity. Though the debate over women’s suffrage has been over for nearly a century, we can see the same rhetorical techniques being used in political discourse today. Many of the arguments used by women in opposition to the 19th Amendment emphasized patriotism, using the Constitution, international conflict, and race to fight the expansion of women’s rights. Today, those same reasonings are often used by both sides of the political spectrum to support their efforts. More specifically, the preservation of traditional femininity and the use of religion remain common arguments against an increase in women’s rights. Initially, the research was only to be completed for the final assignment of the course, but with encouragement and guidance from Professor Cope, I was fortunate enough to be able to present my research at the Undergraduate Research Showcase and the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). I was surprised at the amount of interest in my topic at CCCC, but many people reiterated the importance of the research, especially in today’s society. I am excited to continue researching and hopefully contribute to our understanding of women’s rhetoric throughout history. — C.L.
SCOTT KIEFER, PhD When it comes to professional connections, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Scott Kiefer is humble. “I guess I’m not all that well connected,” laughs Kiefer. But, when he takes time to reflect, he really does have many connections. Take Shadowfax, for example. While the connection with York College existed prior to Kiefer’s arrival on campus, his work with the organization has built the program up and developed it into a capstone project. Students who
“The biggest thing for our students is it gives them interaction with a real customer. They work with the supervisors [at Shadowfax] and then they also work with the people that actually use the devices there.”
work with Shadowfax and its clients make a real difference in the community while also gaining the skills they need to be successful in their careers. “We wanted to start doing community outreach. We wanted to be more than just the car projects,” says Kiefer. And, so this program “morphed into this capstone [project] where we can do bigger devices.” Kiefer has always been passionate about engineering and he appreciates the understanding of how things work. What led him to be a professor of engineering all began with a meeting with a professor during undergraduate school. The professor encouraged him to apply for a summer engineering program at the University of Wyoming. “That was when I really woke up to the fact that I can now take the appreciation I have for how things work and how engineering works, and have an opportunity to share it,” reflects Kiefer. All students who work on a capstone car project join the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE). This organization connects engineering professionals worldwide. As a member, Kiefer encourages students to get involved and has helped students successfully secure careers through the Society. — C.K.
— SCOTT KIEFFER, PhD
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