Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Linda Li Susan Miller talks about her new book at the LGBT center. The book discusses the history of girls' organizations like Girl Scouts. [Click to enlarge]

Girl Scouts represent more than just campfire songs and brownie uniforms.

Susan Miller, history undergraduate advisor, launched her new book Growing Girls: The Natural Origins of Girls' Organizations in America at the LGBT Center yesterday evening, in which she discusses the importance of organizations such as Girl Scouts.

In addition to being on the LGBT advisory council, Miller has been actively involved in the functioning of the center since 1982. Robert Schoenberg, director of the LGBT Center introduced Miller to the audience and spoke about his experience as her work-study associate in Sept. 1982.

Referring to Miller's book, Schoenberg said. "[It is] exciting to see the product of Susan's labour," and explained how she did much of her writing in the conference room of the LGBT Center.

The introduction was followed by a few words of praise by Religious Studies professor Anne Matter who felt that the history of Girls Scouts never received its due importance.

She said, "[It is] wonderful to see this book because Susan has made girls fit better in society."

Miller explained how she first developed the idea of writing her dissertation and later writing a book on the history of the Girl Scouts after reading the Journal of Heredity.

She said she wanted to understand female adolescence in the first decade of the century and hoped to correctly depict the experiences of girls who attended Girl Scout camps.

History Professor Jonathan Steinberg said Girl Scouts is a part of "American history that involved thousands of girls but has not been written about."

The launch was also attended by Moreno Bernasconi, a Swiss journalist for the Corriero Del Ticino, who said, "For me, as a European, an open event on a topic like this would be impossible to imagine in a Swiss University as the topic is so delicate. Therefore, I am thoroughly enjoying this event."

The event included snacks and soft drinks and was attended by approximately 25 people­ - both first timers at the LGBT Center, as well as veterans.

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