Guide to the Women’s Studies Organization, Feminist United, of Rhode Island College v. Rhode Island College records, 2005-2007
Special Collections, James P. Adams Library
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu
Published in 2023
Collection Overview
| Title: | Women’s Studies Organization, Feminist United, of Rhode Island College v. Rhode Island College records |
| Date range: | 2005-2007 |
| Creator: | Schuster, Leslie A. |
| Extent: | 0.01 cubic feet. |
| Abstract: | Records pertaining to the cause and outcome of a court case involving the Women’s Studies Organization, Feminist United, and Rhode Island College. |
| Language of materials: | English |
| Repository: | Special Collections, James P. Adams Library |
| Collection number: | MSS-0088 |
Scope & content
The collection contains correspondence and notes, news clippings, court records, press releases, and flyers relating to the removal the signs and subsequent court case.Access Points
Subject Organizations- Rhode Island College
- Feminist United--Rhode Island College
- Women's Studies Organization--Rhode Island College
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in original order.
Biographical/Historical Note
In 2005, Feminist United (FU), a student organization at Rhode Island College (RIC) received approval from Student Activities to post burma-shave signs along College Road. The signs read, “Keep Your Rosaries Off My Ovaries,” and were placed to coincide with a day of activism on women’s issues. Providence’s Bishop, Father Michael Najim, saw the signs on a visit to the RIC President’s House and requested President John Nazarian have the signs removed, which he did. The removal of the signs led to protests on campus, national news coverage, and a court case claiming the removal of the signs violated the students’ right to free press. The case went to trial in 2006, with the presiding judge finding the college at fault. RIC paid the student group $5,000.Access & Use
| Access to the collection: | The collection is open for research. |
| Use of the materials: | Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them. |
| Alternate form: | Materials in this collection have not been digitized. |
| Preferred citation: | Women’s Studies Organization, Feminist United, of Rhode Island College v. Rhode Island College records, MSS-0088, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College. |
| Contact information: | Special Collections, James P. Adams Library Rhode Island College 600 Mount Pleasant Ave Providence, RI, 02908 Tel: 401-456-8380 email:digitalcommons@ric.edu |
Administrative Information
| ABOUT THE COLLECTION | |
| Acquisition: | The collection was compiled and donated by Dr. Leslie Schuster in 2023. A deed of gift was signed by Schuster at the time of donation. |
| Processing information: | The collection was described by Veronica L. Denison, Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian at Rhode Island College, in 2023. |
| ABOUT THE FINDING AID | |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Veronica L. Denison. |
| Encoding: | This finding aid was encoded by Veronica L. Denison, 2023 |
| Descriptive rules: | Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) |
Additional Information
| Location/Existence of copies: | Materials in this collection have not been digitized. |
| Other information: |
|