A mix of students, faculty, and retired professors attended the ‘Reflections on Women’s Studies’ celebration on Thursday, April 1, hosted by the Women’s Studies program.
The event both mourned and celebrated the retirement of two of its prominent faculty members: Rebecca Gibson, Associate Professor of English, and Carol Stoneburner, Coordinator of Women’s Studies.
Gibson joined the faculty in 1988. She earned her B.A. from Converse College and a Ph.D. from UNC Chapel Hill. Stoneburner earned her A.B. in Religious Studies from Drew University. She became faculty in 1970 and coordinator of Women’s Studies in 1974.
Stoneburner spoke primarily on the development of the program to practice “midwifery of students, to positively impact the culture of moral and ethical stances.”
“The study of women is illicit,” said Stoneburner. “Something needed to be done to allow them power.” She also noted the increased role in women in the Guilford faculty over the last 30 years.
Through interwoven pieces of literature and by referencing a variety of midwives to knowledge, Gibson and Stoneburner celebrated their experiences at Guilford.
Stoneburner’s respected midwives included Audre Lorde, Alice Walker, and Judith Herman, while for Gibson, the embodiment of women’s power came from Adrienne Rich’s ‘Re-forming the Crystal’.
In reflecting on her role of teacher, Gibson spoke passionately about women and women’s relationships – reflecting as both a mother and daughter.
“How do we mother our students when we haven’t learned to mother ourselves? Have we provided a path safe enough for this … work?” asked Gibson. Even though the retirement celebration had an air of joyous commemoration, the loss to the department – and college – was evident.
“We are losing a lot of knowledge of Guilford’s past,” said junior Sara Kate Kneidel, a Women’s Studies major. “It isn’t necessarily bad; it just means we have to move forward. It does affect our understanding of the present.”
Gibson and Stoneburner have left lasting impressions in their time at Guilford, as can be seen in the excitement in both themselves and their students.
“I loved teaching classes outdoors,” said Gibson. “[One time] we were under a tree and everybody was speaking golden words and the tree was shedding golden leaves. It was one of those rare classes where everybody was on track.”
“[Gibson] really listens to students,” said Gwen Madill, senior Women’s Studies major. “The fact she’s writing down stuff we say in class – it shows she’s learning from us.”
“[Stoneburner] has [also] been a big part of my Guilford experience,” Madill continued. “There’s something about Carol’s investment in Women’s Studies that I’m worried it might lose after she’s gone.”
“[Stoneburner] pushed me to think about parts of myself I probably wouldn’t have thought about,” said Kneidel.
Due to the theme of the event – that of celebration – the two speakers did not reflect on their internal grief to the audience.
“[Stoneburner] was mourning too,” said Gibson. “I have mourned a lot over the semester … I’ve been in school since I’ve been five. What the hell is the world outside like? It’s scary to me – I feel like I need to go find out.”
“I intentionally asked for (the celebration to be held on) April Fools’ Day,” said Stoneburner. “I needed to try to be true to my feminist convictions.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Women’s Studies program at Guilford. Since its inception in 1974, over 180 students have majored or concentrated in women’s studies.