Grace Marchant

What’s your favorite class? Why?

I have taken so many classes that I have enjoyed at L&C. Some of the most memorable have been courses for my minor in gender studies. My favorite course, overall, has to be Feminist Theory with Associate Professor Kim Brodkin. My gender studies minor as a whole has been such a memorable and important part of my education. Feminist Theory introduced me to a wide range of literature in Feminist and Queer studies that I engage with in my other courses and in my life. There are pieces we read that I still think of new questions about to this day! This is a great class to take if you are interested in reading a wide range of contemporary and classic theory about gender and sexuality.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

Of course, the campus is incredibly gorgeous. Some of my favorite memories have been simply just taking long walks, exploring, or sitting in the sun on an ethereally bright day with friends. I found Lewis & Clark had a great variety of classes and majors for me to explore. I came into college wanting to pursue something where I could critically engage with contemporary events and discussions. The philosophy department really sold me on this front, and since then I have had a lot of personal freedom in research and writing. Also, when I came to campus, I was lucky to have my tour guide show me the Co-op. I immediately loved the idea of a pay-what-you-want on campus coffee shop, and I knew that was a space I wanted to be involved with. Flash forward (now four years later), and I have been serving as a coordinator since the fall of 2022. With a wonderful team of peers, we plan concerts, open mics, art markets, and additional events in the space!

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

I find the philosophy major interesting because the courses focus on relevant social issues and major questions in philosophy. Additionally, there are several different history courses that center different key philosophical traditions and philosophers. Some of my favorite courses have been Philosophy of Art and Beauty, Metaphysics, and my capstone on Ethics of Interpersonal Relationships.

The philosophy department also encourages students to explore topics that they are personally interested in. In my previous courses, I have written papers about art at the Portland Art Museum, Queer and Transgender Philosophy (which I presented at the 2023 Gender Studies Symposium), folklore by Taylor Swift, affect and embodiment, and experiencing and addressing loneliness. 

What do you like or find most interesting about your minor?

The gender studies minor has truly led me to think about the world through a different, more caring perspective. I really appreciate how the disciple of gender studies has evolved and how the department aims to capture as many of these angles as possible.

In addition to the capstone of the minor, Feminist Theory, some other excellent Gender Studies courses I took during my time at L&C included Gender and Sexuality Global Perspectives with Sidra Kamran, Queer Film and TV with Melanie Kohnen, and Gender and Aesthetic expression with Therese Augst. Each of these professors are uniquely wise, and facilitated a great classroom experience to engage in meaningful and relevant discussion.

Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc.

In my time at L&C, I have found a wonderful community at the Co-op. I think our group of coordinators, baristas, volunteers, and musicians are some of the coolest people I have worked with. It is so fulfilling to get to work with a team of people who share a passion for creating community on campus. I’m eternally grateful especially for the teams of coordinators I have been able to work with, and bring so many lovely events to life. The Co-op is guaranteed to have wonderful energy to study and chat with friends. If you are a new or current student who has yet to check out the space, you definitely should!

And of course, I have met so amazing people in my time at Lewis & Clark. I am so grateful for all of the campus walks, dorm hangouts, dinners, and celebrations that I share with such a lovely community of friends. The people I have been able to connect with and know in my time at school are so valuable to me. I assure that the friends you make here will support and cherish you immensely!

If you went on a New Student Trip with College Outdoors, how did it shape your experience as an incoming student?

I did not go on a New Student Trip when I came to Lewis & Clark, but I wish I had! A lot of my friends my first year did and absolutely loved their experience. College Outdoors is sure to provide an initial family of peers for new students to meet and connect with before school starts. I think the New Student Trip is also a great opportunity to introduce students to the beautiful nature and outdoor spaces around campus and Portland.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

As cliché as it is, If there is one piece of advice I could give incoming students, it’s going to be to get involved! There are so many great organizations on campus, and I genuinely believe there is something for everyone. On this note too, go to campus events! Our organizations work hard to make these events a possibility, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore. CAB, KPH Radio, IME, The Co-op, and College Outdoors are just a few fabulous clubs that have a variety of opportunities for students to get involved and host plenty of on and off campus events for students to enjoy! There are also multiple symposiums that students and faculty of the college host each year, including: the Environmental Studies Symposium, the Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Ethnic Studies, the Gender Studies Symposium, the Prison Abolition Club (PAC) Symposium. I highly recommend students attend panel discussions and keynote speaker events during these symposia—you will walk away having learned something interesting, and it is a privilege to have access to these opportunities through our institution!

Tell us about the upcoming Gender Studies Symposium. What has your experience as a cochair been like? How does this event complement your academic experience?

Being a cochair for the Gender Studies Symposium has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a student. Our upcoming symposium is titled [No] Hard Feelings. Our group of cochairs wanted to explore a couple different intersections of gender studies to speak to some broader social concerns we have identified. This theme centers emotion, feeling, subjectivity, affect, and identity as key structures that influence our existence and ability to navigate through the social world. It has been inspirational to receive proposal submissions from peers and other academics from nearby institutions knowing how many folks are committed to exploring and valuing gender and sexuality in their academic fields.

One of my favorite experiences in this process were the days we heard back from our keynote speakers for this year’s symposium. They are both scholars I have read in my gender studies courses who have impacted how I view the discipline as a whole. Additionally, they are each innovative and have created something new and exciting from theory that I could only aspire to do if I continue to pursue philosophy and gender studies in grad school.

I am also incredibly grateful for the group of cochairs I have the pleasure of working with. Each one of them has inspired me throughout this process, and I do not know what I would do without every bit of creativity, passion, care, laughter, and dedication that my peers bring to the process of creating this symposium. They are such admirable scholars, and even more wonderful people.

What’s one of the best spots on campus?

Of course I’m a little biased, but my favorite spot on campus is the Co-op. Between studying, working my barista shift, and hosting/planning events, these days I’m in the space quite often, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else! The Co-op is a space full of student art, including murals, music, and student vendors! Student volunteers keep any money they make during their barista shifts, and artists keep all of their proceeds from art sales. The Co-op hosts open mics, student concerts and larger shows (in collaboration with KPH and CAB), art markets and bake sales, karaoke nights, movie screenings, dance-a-thons, improv shows, a capella concerts, and many more events hosted by additional student organizations! The students who volunteer with the space all bring a great energy and truly make the place as delightful as it is.

I also love love love the Graduate Campus. It is my favorite place to lay out on a sunny day and stare at the trees. I also have many fond memories of hanging out there on snowy days.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

My favorite thing about living in Portland are all of the great neighborhoods downtown! I can always find a cute coffee shop, thrift store, or bookstore to spend my afternoons when I’m free from class. There are so many unique food carts to get a filling meal from and lots of great concert venues in the city as well.

Have you been involved with one of our symposia, as an organizer or participant? What was the experience like? How did the event complement your academic experience?

I have presented at the 42nd and 43rd Gender Studies Symposia, and I am serving as a cochair for the 44th annual symposium. This past year, I was selected to be a presenter in the 2023 Gender Studies Symposium. The two papers I presented were titled “Assessing Dominant and Subordinate Gender(s): Queerness, Embodiment, and Invisibility,” and “Queer Semiotics: How Online Identity and Aesthetics Influence Queer Fashion(ing) and Style.”

Our campus’s symposia are truly some of the most interesting and enriching events held on campus. It is such a cool experience to get to see your peers present their research and learn more about topics you’re interested in. Having served as a cochair, too, I have so much admiration for all of the cochairs, planning committee members, volunteers, faculty, and scholars who bring these events to life symposia to life. A symposium is such a unique, special space to share critical reflections and research about the social world. Working with the Gender Studies Symposium also solidified my passion for research and writing, and I hope that I can pursue similar experiences in graduate school and into my career.

What are some of your best Lewis & Clark memories so far?

It’s so hard for me to choose just one memory that is the best memory at Lewis & Clark. But I must say, all of the great memories that come to mind are when I’m surrounded by friends, or the campus community. Most of my favorite moments have been as simple as studying around campus, hanging out in my friends dorms, roaming the nearby trails, and spending time enjoying the nature surrounding me. Shows, concerts, and open-mics are always a great time—whether on campus or off campus, our student organizations always bring together an awesome lineup of student and Portland local bands. FOSA, the Festival of Scholars and Artists, is a highlight for me too. It’s so cool to be able to spend a day learning about people’s thesis topics and other great papers. There are plenty of theatrical and live events as well–like the tradition of reading poetry in the garden–as well as student art to admire.

Philosophy Gender Studies