The Flint Hills Observer
May1997

Openly Lesbian and Bisexual Win Distinguished KSU Undergraduate Teaching Awards
by Deb Taylor

Two recipients of the distinguished College of Arts and Sciences Stamey Teaching Award for 1996-97 are Marlene Howell, Women's Studies Department, and Greg Eiselein, English Department. The Stamey Award is given to faculty who demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Howell, who has taught in the Women's Studies Department off and on since 1987, is happy to receive the award and is delighted that two out of the six recipients are from Manhattan's glb community. "It shows that gays, lesbians, and bisexuals have much to teach the world," stated Howell.

Eiselein, who has taught 19th-century American literature and cultural studies at KSU since 1993, is also pleased that both he and Marlene received the award, and particularly in the same year. Eiselein thinks it's funny that they received the Stamey Award in a time when the mainstream conservatives are trying to attack lesbigays by saying that "if queers teach, we'll ruin our students and attempt to recruit them." "The mainstream tries to attack us," stated Eiselein, "when in fact we can be very good teachers."

Howell regularly comes out to her students each semester, explaining that teachers often use themselves as examples in teaching women's studies courses. Therefore, noted, Howell, "it's important to be honest with our students, and also to let the [lesbigay] students in class see that someone is proud to be and is comfortable with being openly lesbian. It's an impediment to quality teaching and learning."

Eiselein notes that being bisexual in the English Department is a non-issue. He's not discriminated against, but he also does not think that anyone really cares about it either. The comfortable environment in the English Department allows Eiselein to teach lots of literature by queers; his biggest area is Walt Whitman. Eiselein has also taught Literature and AIDS, where he identifies himself as a bisexual to his students. While Eiselein believes it's important to identify as queer, sexuality is not the focus of his class. Still, he is happy for the opportunity to come out to his students, stating that "people who come out make it safer for others to come out."

Howell agrees, stating that she feels she's receiving the award "for all [lesbigay] teachers, and especially for those who are not safe enough to come out." Howell notes that the Women's Studies Department is an easy place to be openly lesbian.

Nominees for the Stamey Teaching Award came from students, faculty, and department heads. Once nominated, candidates were judged on student teaching evaluations, their teaching philosophies and resumes, and references from their department heads. Eiselein stated that his teaching is not "unique," but is rather representative of the quality teaching faculty in the English Department. He spends much time with his students, and he's organized and enthusiastic about teaching. "I love to teach," he stated.

Howell says that students "bring an incredible amount of wisdom to the classroom, and that wisdom ought to be honored in the process of learning by encouraging them to look at their own life experiences as well as learning to make analyses of gender." Howell is honored to receive the Stamey Award, both as a teacher and as member of the gay, lesbian, bisexual community.