Spring Break
Donna Rouner encourages CSU to celebrate diversity
Shannon Hurley
Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: News
When Donna Rouner began her career as a journalist at the Daily Iowan, the University of Iowa student newspaper, in the 1960s, she was enamored with the profession because she viewed it as one accepting of diversity.
But when she found out that she couldn't join the Society of Professional Journalists, then known as Sigma Delta Chi, because of her gender, some of the romanticism died.
"It was humiliating not to be able to join the main professional organization," Rouner said. "I was treated as though I couldn't work in the profession as well as a man."
She didn't let it get her down though and began her life as one of the first activists in the feminist movement.
In 1968, Rouner and other women at the University of Iowa took it upon themselves to fight for gender equality within their profession and challenged the IU's SPJ chapter. They were denied.
"Things in college were relatively open … we were treated in a fairly equal manner in class," said Rouner, "But the workplace was awful - remember women received only a little more than 50 cents to the dollar a man received for the same work."
"We fought it with the national organization," said Rouner, "and we lost [there too]."
But a year later SPJ convention attendees in San Diego agreed to allow women into the organization and the Iowa chapter followed suit in the early 1970s. Rouner, however, was not satisfied and did not join up. But despite her silent protest, Rouner did participate in SPJ workshops and encouraged her students to join and participate in the organization's job recruitment activities.
"I always admired I.F. Stone, who boycotted the Washington Press Club because he was not allowed to bring a black man to lunch there in the 1940s," Rouner said. "I didn't join SPJ for … 20 to 25 years as I was angry that I could not be a member."
After receiving her bachelor's degree, Rouner taught at City High School in Iowa City where she was also an advisor for both the school's newspaper and yearbook. While working there, Rouner took a leave of absence to pursue a master's degree at Ball State University in Indiana.
But when she found out that she couldn't join the Society of Professional Journalists, then known as Sigma Delta Chi, because of her gender, some of the romanticism died.
"It was humiliating not to be able to join the main professional organization," Rouner said. "I was treated as though I couldn't work in the profession as well as a man."
She didn't let it get her down though and began her life as one of the first activists in the feminist movement.
In 1968, Rouner and other women at the University of Iowa took it upon themselves to fight for gender equality within their profession and challenged the IU's SPJ chapter. They were denied.
"Things in college were relatively open … we were treated in a fairly equal manner in class," said Rouner, "But the workplace was awful - remember women received only a little more than 50 cents to the dollar a man received for the same work."
"We fought it with the national organization," said Rouner, "and we lost [there too]."
But a year later SPJ convention attendees in San Diego agreed to allow women into the organization and the Iowa chapter followed suit in the early 1970s. Rouner, however, was not satisfied and did not join up. But despite her silent protest, Rouner did participate in SPJ workshops and encouraged her students to join and participate in the organization's job recruitment activities.
"I always admired I.F. Stone, who boycotted the Washington Press Club because he was not allowed to bring a black man to lunch there in the 1940s," Rouner said. "I didn't join SPJ for … 20 to 25 years as I was angry that I could not be a member."
After receiving her bachelor's degree, Rouner taught at City High School in Iowa City where she was also an advisor for both the school's newspaper and yearbook. While working there, Rouner took a leave of absence to pursue a master's degree at Ball State University in Indiana.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 3/14/08 @ 4:44 AM MST
Celebrate diversity as long as it is in line with American principles , ideals and culture.
Other wise diversity is just a catch phrase for watering down our culture untilk it is not recognizable. (Continued…)
Registered Independent
posted 3/14/08 @ 12:40 PM MST
Well that was an interesting little historical piece, Ms. Hurley. All professional women have similar anecdotes they could recount, if they wanted to dwell upon them. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
posted 3/14/08 @ 8:49 PM MST
Nice to see ya Reg Indy
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