Fresh from Spring Break

It's a BEAUTIFUL day out today. The weather this past week has finally been so much better (warmer!) that most of the cold month of March. I succeeded in finishing my second essay this past weekend. A brief review of how the study of social movements has shifted, privileging, slightly, the topic of identity -- at least in how it has been approach. It is not just a descriptor of a group or collective action, but sometimes a strategy or goal of a social movment. I used the labor and gay movements to discuss the quote, "Movements that privilege identity ignore opportunities" (Tarrow, 1998). By highlighting how labor movements actually did have some identity components to them (either in providing a collective 'conscious' or solidarity or as an impetus for social as well as economic reform) and how the 'quintessential' identity-based movement has recognized the constraints of a ‘fixed’ identity and the benefits of queer theory’s poststructuralist contributions to the movement, I didn’t disprove Tarrow’s statement so much as qualify it.

Ted left yesterday. Despite working almost the entire time he was here (me anyway) Tim and I had a wonderful time with him. Tim was sick the last night he was here, so Ted and I got to hang out and chat over a few pints on our own - a fun night indeed in the new ‘smoking garden’ - the new smoking laws are in effect and the locals have something to say about. We met Sheena and her twin sisters Christine and Irene.

Fresh from spring break, the students are home and start back to classes today. There less than 6 weeks left - they will start freaking out soon. This weekend we have the overnight Durham/York trip. Tim and I and around 40 students are scheduled to go. It’s always a highlight of the semester.

This week I need to grade some journals, starting sketching out the summer SCC course and working on my final essay! I’m shooting to have it done by 10 April - one week. Go.