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We are pleased to announce
The Fifth Biennial Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference
Wednesday, October 5 - Saturday, October 8, 2005
Sponsored by Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition
Hosted by Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI

This interdisciplinary conference affirms diversity, especially variation in the rhetorical strategies, language use, research methods, and literacy and communication practices of women from different races, classes, cultures, and historical eras. Possible sites of rhetorical and linguistic diversity include, but are not limited to, history, ethics, new media, pedagogy, law, literature, cultural studies, economics, environmental studies, science, communication studies, technical communication, philosophy, and engineering.

General Conference Information

Pre-Registered Participants
All pre-registered conference participants should check in at the Information and Registration Desk in the Memorial Union Building to affirm their attendance and receive their conference program and other conference materials.

Meals
Conference meals are included in the conference fee if you have indicated your attendance on the registration form. A continental breakfast will be available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00am to 9:30am next to the Information and Registration Desk on the second floor of the Memorial Union. A bag lunch will be available Thursday (12:30-1:30) and Friday (10:45-12:30)next to the Information and Registration Desk. Dinner will be served in the Memorial Union Ballroom on Wednesday at 6:30pm, on Thursday at 5pm, and Friday at 7:00pm. The Coalition Luncheon will be served in the Memorial Union Ballroom on Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30pm followed by a business meeting.

Conference Parking
Parking on campus is limited and most nearby side streets have restricted parking. After 5pm and all day Saturday, all campus parking lots are open and available for parking. On Thursday and Friday, those who brought cars are encouraged to park them at the hotels and take the shuttle van to/from campus. A $2.00 all-day parking lot is located across from the Memorial Union; however, the small number of spaces are usually taken for the day by 8am. Those who wish to drive to campus on Thursday or Friday are advised to use Lot 24, a larger and free on-campus parking lot located above the main campus about a ten-minute walk from the Memorial Union. Lot 24 is accessible off Sharon Avenue behind the Gates Tennis Center and the Student Development Complex (SDC). A shuttle will run between Lot 24 and the Memorial Union during peak hours. There is a steep hill between the lot and the main campus but the walk is short and picturesque.

Conference Van Service
Shuttle buses will run continuously between the Michigan Tech Memorial Union Building and the official conference motels:  Best Western Franklin Square Inn, Houghton Super 8, Best Value King’s Inn and the Holiday Inn Express.  We encourage use of the shuttle buses whenever possible.  Schedules will be available at the motels and at the registration desk. Special needs arrangements may be made by calling 906-487-2397 or from an on-campus phone dial 7-2397. However, if you find yourself wanting to go on foot, from downtown it's a fairly pleasant walk (less than a mile).

Local Maps
Here is a map of downtown Houghton with the hotels marked. There is a campus map available here.

Transportation in the Houghton/Hancock Area
Commercial transportation services in the local area offer service at reasonable costs. The cities of Houghton and Hancock both operate a public bus service that picks up from designated stops or rider locations on request. Listing here does not constitute endorsement.
Neil's Cab: 906-482-5515 (reasonable taxi service)
Houghton Motor Transit: 906-482-6092 (pick up on request)
Hancock Public Transit: 906-482-3450 (pick up on request)

Disability Accommodations
Conference organizers are committed to facilitating full conference participation by all registered participants. All campus buildings are fully accessible with elevators, entrance ramps and automatic door openers. A copy of the conference program in large print is available at the Information and Registration Desk on the second floor of the Memorial Union or on the conference website in .pdf format. MTU complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education or services at MTU, please contact the Registration Desk at (number TBA) or MTU Conference & Institutes Coordinator Lori Witting at 906-487-2263 or lori@mtu.edu.

Book Display
A not-for-sale book display will be open during the conference hours of 7:30am to 5:30pm Thursday and Friday and 8:00am to 3:00pm Saturday next to the Information and Registration Desk on the second floor of the Memorial Union. Conference participants who have authored books are encouraged to display them.

Audiotaping & Videotaping
Audiotaping and videotaping of sessions is not permitted. Any exceptions must be pre-approved through the MTU Conference Coordinator, Lori Witting (906-487-2263 or email lori@mtu.edu)

Illness & Medical Emergencies
Dial 123 on any campus phone or 911 on any local or cell phone. All emergencies should be reported to the Information and Registration Desk located on the second floor of the Memorial Union (906-487-2397 or from an on-campus phone dial 7-2397).

Childcare
Childcare arrangements must be handled privately. The organizing committee and the Office of Conferences at MTU take no responsibility for childcare arrangements.

Smoking
All Michigan Technological University buildings are smoke-free. Smoking inside campus buildings is not permitted.

Technology Needs & Assistance
All conference presentation rooms are equipped with overhead projectors, screens, and LCD projectors. However, if you plan on using the LCD projector, you need to provide your own laptop and if you have a mac, you need to bring an adapter which will allow you connect to a vga port on the LCD projector. If you're a mac user, your laptop came with a little white connector cord. If you have questions about this, let us know. Video and dvd players and digital projectors will be provided if requested at the time panels were accepted. Computer-assistance staff are assigned to all presentation areas to assist presenters with technology needs and problems. Staff are identified by conference badges. Request staff assistance at the Information and Registration Desk by calling 906-487-2397 or from an on-campus phone dial 7-2397.

Email & Messages
Access to the internet is available on a dedicated computer located at the Information and Registration on the second floor of the Memorial Union. A complete listing of conference participants including email and university affiliations is included in the conference program.

Telephones & Cellphones
Pay telephones are located on the ground floor of the Memorial Union. Participants are asked to turn off cell phones during all sessions.

Lost & Found
Personal items either lost or found should be turned in to the Information and Registration Desk located on the second floor of the Memorial Union.

Future Conference
In 2007, the Sixth Biennial International Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, hosted by the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Contact Conference Organizer Barbara L'Eplattenier (bleplatt@ualr.edu) for more information.