UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #547
SHEPPARD, JANICE R.

SHEPPARD, Janice R. (1949- )
Graduate Student; Assistant Dean of Students
At UW: 1974-83; 1987-

Interviewed: 2000	
Interviewer: Brian D. Bunk
Indexed (time code) by: Elaine Ayers
Length: 2 hours, 27 minutes

Graduate study at UW; Involvement in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues; ROTC controversy; Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee (GLIC); UW System LGBT issues network; GLIC report; Wisconsin Alumni Association Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Alumni Council; Faculty Senate committee on LGBT issues; Permanent LGBT liaison.

First Interview Session (April 13, 2000): Tape 1

Tape 1/Side 1

00:00:00	Interviewer’s introduction. 

00:00:21	JS discusses terminology used when referring to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender issues (LGBT).

00:03:13	She describes her graduate study at UW.  JS explains how she began working in the Dean of Students office. Reflections on research as a graduate student.

00:12:50	JS became involved in LGBT issues soon after entering the dean's office.  

00:15:37	She discusses the controversy over the ROTC's refusal to allow gay and lesbians to be commissioned as officers after completing the program.

00:19:10	Chancellor Shalala’s efforts on ROTC issue. Faculty Senate vote. The Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee (GLIC). Attempts to support students in both the ROTC program and LGBT community.

00:30:06	End of side.

Tape 1/Side 2

00:30:08	JS continues her discussion of the ROTC controversy.

00:32:48	She discusses the formation of the Gay and Lesbian Issues Committee (GLIC) and describes its goals.  

00:37:30	JS describes the composition and functioning of the Committee.  She discusses some members of the committee including Jim Steakley.

00:46:05	JS explains how GLIC compiled the 1992 report "Issues of Concern to Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students on Our Campus."  

00:48:56	She describes the formation of an informal UW System network on LGBT issues.  JS explains why the organization has remained an informal System committee.

01:00:29	End of side.  End of tape.

Second Interview Session (June 14, 2000): Tapes 2-3

Tape 2/Side 1

00:00:01	JC continues her discussion of the UW System LGBT network.  Advantages and disadvantages of official recognition. She describes and outlines the evolution of the network.

00:09:37	JC describes student involvement and the network’s visibility.

00:18:26	She comments on some of the GLIC report recommendations, including the creation of a LGBT issues liaison within the Dean of Students office.  JC describes how the recommendations were developed.  

00:25:39	JC discusses reaction to the report on campus and evaluates the effectiveness of the report.

00:30:11	End of side.

Tape 2/Side2

00:30:12	JC characterizes the GLIC report as pragmatic and realistic.

00:31:03	She describes the beginnings of the “We’re Everywhere” campus newsletter.

00:34:55	JC outlines her duties as liaison to the LGBT campus community and describes some of the activities she coordinated, including the newsletter and a graduation reception. Alumni Council activities.

00:41:15	She discusses the formation of the Wisconsin Alumni Association Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Alumni Council.  JS discusses Council activities including Homecoming events and the annual meeting.

00:49:59	JC explains the purpose of the 1995 letter to the University Committee proposing a permanent Faculty Senate committee on LGBT issues.  She describes the reorganization of GLIC because of the new Faculty Senate committee.  The Faculty Senate committee focused largely on curricular issues.

01:00:36	End of side.  End of tape.

Tape 3/Side 1

00:00:01	JS speculates on the reasons why LGBT studies were slow to develop at UW.

00:06:02	She discusses her work with LGBT graduate students issues.

00:08:44	JS describes the elimination of her position in 1995.  She talks about the change from LGBT liaison to LGBT contact person.  JS characterizes the campus reaction to the budget cuts and position changes.

00:17:11	She discusses the 1997 LGBT Faculty Senate Committee report.  JS describes the duties of the permanent LGBT liaison, Sara Hinkel.

00:22:46	JC lists the most important LGBT issues in the future: domestic partner benefits for faculty and staff and transgender concerns.

00:24:56	End of side.  End of tape.

END