Erica Jong to deliver keynote address at Vassar’s 2000 Seven Sisters Conference, March 24-26

Erica Jong will be the keynote speaker of this year's Seven Sisters Conference at Vassar College. Jong will speak at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 25, in the Villard Room, Main Building. The conference, titled "Through the Lens of a Seven Sisters Education: Going Against the Grain," is scheduled from Friday, March 24, through Sunday, March 26.

Jong is the groundbreaking, critically acclaimed author of "Fear of Flying," her landmark first novel. Her novels, poetry, and articles focus on women's strength and possibilities. Erica Jong is arguably one of the liveliest and most influential women writing today. Henry Miller cheered "Fear of Flying" as "a female Tropic of Cancer," allowing women to "find their own voices and give us great sagas of sex, life, joy and adventure." She has written six other novels, six collections of poetry, and numerous articles. Her works have been awarded the Premio Internationale Sigmund Freud (Italy) and the United Nations Award of Excellence for literature. She has also received awards from Poetry Magazine (Chicago), the Poetry Society of America, and the Borestone Mountain Poetry Anthology. All of her novels have been bestsellers. Jong served as president of the Authors' Guild of the United States from 1991-93 and continues to serve on its advisory board as well as on the advisory board of the National Writers Union.

The Seven Sisters Conference is an annual symposium held for students, professors, and alumnae/i of Vassar, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith, and Wellesley. The conference offers an opportunity for students and alumnae/i of these institutions to discuss, compare, and contrast their educations. Last year's conference was held at Mount Holyoke. This year, several successful professionals and activists will lead groups, form panels, and hold discussions. Other speakers and panelists include:

• Suzannah Fabing, professor of art at Smith, alumna of Wellesley
• Martha Kaplan, professor of anthropology at Vassar, alumna of Bryn Mawr
• Megan Kerr, professor of math at Wellesley, alumna of Wellesley
• Pat McPherson, trustee and alumna of Bryn Mawr
• Nan Rothschild, professor of anthropology at Barnard, alumna of Vassar
• Julie Reiss, professor of psychology and education at Vassar, alumna of Vassar
• Anne Senghas, professor of psychology at Barnard, alumna of Smith

For additional information, call the office of campus activities at (845) 437-5370. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Cathy Jennings at (845) 437-5370, as far in advance as possible to request appropriate and reasonable accommodations.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations or information on accessibility should contact Campus Activities Office at (845) 437-5370. Without sufficient notice, appropriate space and/or assistance may not be available.

Vassar College is a highly selective, coeducational, independent, residential liberal arts college founded in 1861.

This article was posted on Friday, March 24th, 2000.