Facts. and friction

A crash course in feminism

LYNDONVILLE, Vt. The first institute for the study of feminist thought finished off its opening session with the participants, all women, doing a dance of karate kicks as a red-haired dog named Emma Goldman roamed the floor.

: The dog named for the early 20th century anarchist belonged to

the teacher of a class on "feminism and socialism," and the karate moves were lifted from a self-defense course.

The two classes reflect. the diversity of the five weeks of lectures and discussions at the institute, named Sagaris for the double-edged sword of the Amazons representing women's strength.

The participants from 30 states, some from as far away as California included teen-agers and grandmothers, welfare women and PhDs, radical lesbians and ex-nuns.

They paid up to $700 for room and tuition to study economics, psychology, literature whatever makes up the politics and culture of feminism.

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Sagaris was the brainchild of a group of liberation activists including novelist Blanche Boyd, poet Kathryn Kilgore and

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Goddard College teacher Joan Peters.

“We felt there was a need for a place to study the political theory of feminism at a more sophisticated and challenging level than was being taught at woman's studies programs in colleges," said Ms. Boyd, 30, who, like many of the women here, prefers that title.

"We wanted to build a bridge between movement activists and movement intellectuals," she said.

It took three years and grants from such organizations as the Carnegie

and Eastman foundations for the idea of Sagaris to become a non-profit corporation running a summer session jammed with activities.

Classes lasted from 9 in the morning until evening. then broke into discussion groups that went on long past midnight.

Earnest women carrying notebooks and tape recorders and wearing Tshirts with pictures of Susan B. Anthony and such slogans as "the future is female" stretched out on classroom floors to listen to lectures.

Mary Daly, a Boston College theologian who wrote "Beyond God Father," talked on "sisterhood as cosmic covenant."

Candace Falk from Santa Cruz, Calif., expounded Marxist theory.

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Emily Medvec, who raised part of her tuition by collecting aluminum Cans. discoursed women, power and money. · Novelist and lesbian activist Rita Mae Brown taught "leadership."

The session resulted in plans for publication of a book of the lectures and formation of feminist and lesbian organizations and a feminist news service.

Sagaris has started a second session, and Ms. Boyd hopes it will become a permanent institution. The initial session was, she said, "an intellectual hothouse of feminism."

And the students were enthusiastic, if somewhat confused, about the bloom that it produced.

"It has been incredible, but I don't know what it all means," said Beth Hodges, a teacher from Hays, Kan. "I don't know if I'll ever know what it means."

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"It has totally expanded my life as to what I could be when I was around women who are so dynamic and so concerned,' added Sharon Meyer, wife of a Walla Walla, Wash., Methodist minister and a mother of four. "I have

Participants in the Sagaris Institute for the Study of Feminist Thought dance up a storm during a session ir. Lyndonville, Vt. Women from 30 states paid ur to $700 for five weaks of room and board while they studied économics, literature, psychology and other subjects that make up the politics and culture of feminism.

three speaking engagements when I go home, and I have never spoken publicly before."

And Eileen Pagan-Russak of Levittown, Pa., who added her maiden name to her married one 20 years after her wedding, said simply: "I will not be returning home the same person I was five weeks ago.

But the session with its consciousness-raising intensity was not with-

out its frictions.

Near the end of the session, some women sent the Sagaris board a demand for

more third world representation. The confrontation ended in tears and hugs all around but no definite results.

Pat Swinton, facing trial in a series of New York bombings, caused division when she came to raise money for her defense. Some women thought she had been coopted by the male left and had no right to ask for help from women. But the split that worried women most, between lesbians and "straight" women, faded quickly. After five weeks

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with the lesbians, clearly the majority, holding hands and embracing on campus there was an understanding that seemed a breakthrough of sorts in the problem that has needled the feminist move-

⚫ment since the 1960s.

"The first week I was here I freaked out when I saw all those lesbians," said Helen Barranof, 52, a jolly. maternal Newton, Mass., woman. "But it was so good to talk out all these things."

"There were so many that I really had to stop and think. Maybe they're right and I'm wrong." said Virginia Barrett of Rowe, Mass.

Laima Turnley, a New York photographer who is married, found it liberating to be around open female affection. "At last I

was able to feel comfor-

talbe hugging and kissing another woman, like they do in Europe." she said.

Associated Press

"It was exhilarating being able to acknowledge

the physicality and sexuality of another woman."