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SFU.CA 1975 90 90 it's aN understatement to say that former professors Andrea Lebowitz and Maggie Benston were met with resistance when they presented their proposal for a Women's Studies Minor Program at sen- ate in July 1975. After all, one university senator had the audacity to say the idea would be like letting prisoners teach prison education. Thankfully, the new president of SFU, Pauline Jewett, was a staunch supporter of the program. The vote passed and, in January 1976, 40 students enrolled in the first course, WS 100: Introduction to Women's Studies. It was a time when women were increasingly political, demanding that their voices be heard. In 1972, fewer than 10 per cent of SFU's faculty were women, down from 13 per cent in 1965, and some told The Peak they were tired of being asked to type or canvass, but not to theorize or speak. Academic feminism at SFU helped raise awareness about the value of women's experience and the influence of gender. Theorizing, Not Typing 1975 1984 Late 1970s DISASTER EXPERTISE Communication professor Peter Anderson spends four years in what is now Juba National University in the new Republic of South Sudan, con- ducting research and helping estab- lish communication links with area villages. Since then, Anderson has continued his work as an emergency communications expert, providing support for responders during natural disasters. He was awarded the Order of B.C. in 2015. The Ted and Nora Sterling Prize in Support of Con- troversy is established to recognize work in any discipline that contributes to the understanding of controversy. REMAKING HISTORY Faculty and students mark SFU's 25th anni- versary by re-enacting an ambitious endeav- our: Simon Fraser's voyage down the Fraser River. Over a two-week period in September, members of the group paddled canoes down stretches of the river, led by actor Kevin Con- way, decked out in Simon Fraser attire. INTERPRETIVE DANCE SFU researcher Tom Calvert invents a 3-D human animation software called Life Forms, which is recognized globally as a ground- breaking tool for choreographers. By the mid-'70s, femi- nism was in full swing, with women demanding equality through aca- demia. Disaster relief, nuclear disarmament and cancer crusades are also hallmarks of SFU's second decade SFU develops one of the first co- operative education programs in Canada. VIRTUAL ED The Centre for Distance Education (now the Centre for Online and Dis- tance Education) is created, with four university correspondence courses for 55 registered students. SFU engineering stu- dents win gold and "Best in Show" for improved MacroDog project at BEAM Robot Olympics. 93 94 Jack Blaney becomes Canada's first dean of Continuing Studies. 1975 ducting research and helping estab lish communication links with area villages. Since then, Anderson has continued his work as an emergency communications expert, providing support for responders during natural disasters. He was awarded the Order of B.C. in 2015. operative education programs in The Centre for Distance Education (now the Centre for Online and Dis- tance Education) is created, with four university correspondence courses Jack Blaney becomes Canada's first SUmmEr 2016 19

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