The launch of one’s own book would be an important moment for anyone, but for Professor Don Romesburg — a historian and the chair of women’s and gender studies at Sonoma State — his book launch is also a political statement.
Romesburg is among more than 130 faculty and staff members who are being laid off from Sonoma State due to the recent budget cuts. The entire women’s and gender studies department is also being eliminated. So for the launch of Romesburg’s new book, Contested Curriculum: LGBTQ History Goes to School, Romesburg wanted the launch to be a public event at Sonoma State to show the administration what they are losing.
“I wanted it to be kind of a reminder to the administration that they’re making a terrible choice by getting rid of women’s and gender studies and queer studies,” Romesburg said. “They have someone who’s an absolute expert in the field at [a] time when it’s more important than ever, and they’re letting that go.”
Romesburg launched his new book on April 23 in Stevenson Hall. More than50 attendees came to hear from Romesburg, ask questions and get signed copies of the book.
“I got to learn so much from all he had to say,” said Morgan Johnson, a fourth-year English and theater arts major at Sonoma State who attended the event.
At the event, Romesburg answered questions about his newest book and the recent cuts at the school. One attendee asked how students will learn about LGBTQ+ content in their curriculum if women’s and gender studies is being cut.
“I think that they can push the professors to do better to have that content in their class,” Romesburg responded.
Romesburg’s new book is a comprehensive look at the movement for LGBTQ+ inclusive history in K-12 education, and suggestions for what could be done in our current administration and culture. Romesburg has been working on the book formally for five years.
At the launch, Romesburg gave out 50 free copies of his book and signed all the copies attendees brought to the event.
The book launch comes after recent developments to the budget cuts at Sonoma State, from the passing of no-confidence votes for administrators, the filing of a temporary restraining order to momentarily stop the academic cuts, and a follow-up legislative forum. With all these developments, Romesburg hopes the cuts will be stopped.
“I think that the legislative folks, the community, the faculty and the students all clearly support women’s and gender studies,” said Romesburg, “It’s just the administration that does not. And so, if we can get over that hurdle, I think that we’ll all be here in September.”
Max Martin, a third-year History major at Sonoma State, recognized Romesburg after seeing him speak at the two legislative forums. “We’re in good hands,” Max said.
During the launch, Romeburg expressed how he and the rest of the women’s and gender studies department are fighting the cuts.
“I’m not ready to say I’m dead just yet,” said Romesburg, “Not yet. We’re fighting all the way to the end.”
