Update for those who helped me.

[Jamastiene]

In regards to my graduation from college here in NC. The issue was that they didn't want to let me graduate wearing a pant suit. They wanted to make me wear a dress. I was upset and came to DU. Well, whoever says that democrats/progressives/liberals can't get together and come up with a plan that works is wrong. Thanks to many many nice responses and advice from Duers, I graduated this past Sunday wearing a pant suit and held my head high. Of course, they had Robin Hayes (a particularly icky repug) as the keynote speaker at the thing, but I just sat there and yawned along with the rest in my row until he finally shut up and they let us march and get our diplomas. Also, I'd like to thank the ACLU of NC for sending the school a letter making them rethink the hard line approach they were trying to take with me on the issue. Many women wore pant suits and the applause when they announced that we could wear the pants suits to graduation at the rehearsal was a particularly happy, thunderous applause. Thanks to the intelligent kind people of DU and the ACLU of NC, I graduated Summa Cum Laude and received a diploma in Electrical/Electronics Technology in a pant suit and was as happy as can be to finally win one here in a red state.

To all the wonderful kind folks of DU and the ACLU
:grouphug: and lots of love.

Jama

[politicaholic]

1. Congrats!

[Jamastiene]

4. Thank you.

[skygazer]

2. Well, I must have completely missed the leadup to this

But congratulations!! :bounce: :party: :bounce:

I can't believe there are places STILL trying to keep women in dresses! How incredible.

[Jamastiene]

8. Thanks.

I wish I had the link to the original post explaining all the details, but it was something I anguished over and got pretty upset about and discussed with many kind wonderful people here on DU about 2 weeks ago. I got some of the best advice and took some of it regarding contacting the ACLU and pushing back a little bit when they try that type of shenanigans to keep women second class. I won one finally. I am still in shock. And the happiness it let other women have made me feel even more proud to be liberal and to be a DUer.

[KitchenWitch]

3. Good for you

So you did not have to go nekkid under the gown (I am disappointed :rofl: )

[Jamastiene]

10. ROTFL

I was planning that if they didn't back down from their hard line approach. I seriously was considering it. In a way, I was though. I am so used to jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt, that I felt nekkid anyhow. It was certainly tons better than having to actually show them some skin wearing a dress though. I'm thankful for that.

[Bossy Monkey]

5. Great to hear! Nominated nt

[Jamastiene]

11. Thanks. And thanks for the nomination.

We won one if you think about it. We all did.

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. Thats awesome!

I'm glad your school saw the err of their ways...and congrats on graduation!

[Jamastiene]

13. Thanks. I appreciate it.

You would be surprised at how they acted too. My teachers have always respected me more or less, but the higher ups have been so out of touch and hard to reach or talk to. All of a sudden they were looking at me with this sort of stunned look. It was almost as if they couldn't believe it.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Good luck in your new profession! Hope you get a job with this degree!

I prefer dresses and skirts, but I respect your right to wear --whatever you want!

[Jamastiene]

15. Precisely.

You prefer the dresses and skirts, so you should be allowed to wear the dresses and skirts. I prefer the pant suits, so I should be allowed to wear the pant suit. Thanks for the congrats.

[Radio_Lady]

18. Will you stay in North Carolina? I used to live in Hendersonville, NC --

out to the west, near Ashville. I loved that place, but Portland, Oregon is great, too! "Bloom where you are planted," someone said. I like that quote.

Have a great summer -- you earned it!

[Jamastiene]

25. I'm only

staying long enough to save up the money to move and get the degree in computer engineering in almost 2 years. I want all the aces I can get in the hole before I move to one of the blue states. I just think that much more of it to be amidst liberals one day in person. I want to be completely up to par and ready to hit the ground running when I do move. In other words, I don't want to have to move back when I do finally escape NC.

Asheville is much more liberal than the rest of the state. It has been a while since I have visited Asheville, but I've heard wonderful things about how it has turned into a great place to be. Thanks for your well wishes. I hope you have a great summer too.

[Bouncy Ball]

9. That is SO cool!!!

Congratulations and best of luck!

[Jamastiene]

17. Thanks. n/t

[AlienGirl]

12. Congrats!...Now move to Seattle!

We're waiting for you! :hi:

Tucker

[Jamastiene]

19. I still want that computer

engineering degree and to fight them some more. I'm still keeping Seattle high on my list of places to look to when I get enough saved up to move. Thanks for the congrats and the support. You've been super nice to me. :pals:

[xmas74]

14. Congrats!

You really deserve it.
Now, what was that degree in? (time for you to brag a little about your "other" accomplishment)

[Jamastiene]

21. It was a diploma in

Electrical/Electronics Technology. Basically, what that one does is it gives you an edge in getting a job as an apprentice to an electrician. It's nice to have, but this time around I am going for the computer engineering associate degree so I can possibly make more money. In other words, I'm still going for another year and a half to get the degree now that I see I can go back to college many years after graduating high school and I can handle it. I didn't know I could handle it, so it's great to know I can now. It just makes me want to save up and get more education so I can make enough money to move from the red state in a couple of years. Thanks for the congrats.

[xmas74]

24. But electricians make great money.

Look into the stats: they are really worried about the future right now. Many are going into retirement age w/in the next ten years. Statistics show that the big swing will be for apprenticeship jobs such as electricians, plumbers, construction and not as much for traditional degrees.
Hang onto that diploma. It could really help you in the future (I wouldn't mind having it right now).

[Jamastiene]

26. Oh, I will hang onto it.

I just want a back-up so I can do something not as physically hard when "Arthur" starts setting in in my old age. I'm looking at what the repugs are doing to my generation's social security and trying to prepare to work until I die, which is what we'll probably have to do.

Believe it or not, the apprentices don't make the most money in these parts and the NEC tests and permits cost a lot, or so I have learned. It's still decent money, but I want to have a twofold plan, so I'll have something to fall back on. I plan on doing some apprentice work to earn money before all is said and done.

[xmas74]

31. Good for you!

It's always great to pick up more than one skill-just keep your options open.

[Jamastiene]

32. As a matter of fact.

I took an extra class this semester with my old electrical teacher just to practice what I have already learned. It's a sort of long story, but I'm kind of starting into the computer engineering midway. In other words, the other students in my digital electronics class this semester have alrady been in that curriculum for almost a year. We are talking about someone starting with the heavy hitters in a whole new curriculum. I decided to take a basic electronics class I didn't even need under my electrical teacher/advisor to keep up practicing with the electrical portion of that field. I am helping him build projects and keeping in touch at the same time. He seems pretty impressed a lot of the time with what I can remember. He's also tough and well respected. I am sure that if I need a reference for my resume when I do pick up a new job, he will be a great one too. I'm trying to do this the best I can while I can manage to concentrate on my education. If anything happens to my aunt, I won't have that luxury. I want to capitalize on it per her wishes now.

[xmas74]

33. Good.

It's important for you to have some sort of marketable skills. You will need them in this job market.
I have thought about going back to school. I'm thinking a trade school this time. I thought about nursing but heating and cooling sounds like something I could do and make decent money at too.

[Jamastiene]

35. Definitely both of those are great ones to get into.

People will always need their heating and cooling fixed, especially in the winter months. And nursing is one of those that always seems to net great money. Also, teaching, if you have the patience and the steel in your veins to handle it, is a job that is always available.

[xmas74]

39. The nice part about heating and cooling

is that I can make my own hours, instead of working any and every shift. Plus, not too many women in the field so someone might be more interested in hiring me.

[July]

16. ALL RIGHT!!! Congratulations to you!

I'm so glad you could dress the way you wanted -- that was such an invasion of your space!

Good luck to you in your future. Sounds as if you have what you need to pursue your goals. Yay, you!

[Jamastiene]

22. Thanks.

It means a lot to me to talk to you folks on DU about this. It's honestly yhe first time I have won one here on anything. And I attribute much of that win to Duers and the advice and support given to me when I last posted about this issue.

[katinmn]

20. Summa Cum Laude and a degree in Electrical/Electronics Technology?

Obviously you're much smarter than the college administrators who thought that what you wore was more important than honoring YOU for YOUR achievement.

I don't know you (though I've seen your posts) but I'm so proud of you!
:hug:
:loveya:

[Jamastiene]

23. Thank you.

That means a lot to me.
:hug:
:loveya:

[Lisa]

27. as a mainly pants-wearing academic female ...

I salute you! Congrats on your degree, and way to go on getting the school to see reason. If only the keynote speaker had been Senator Clinton -- I'm sure she would have backed up your courageous stance. One would think that in the year 2005, one would not have to fight for these things ... but your victory should make your graduation that much sweeter. You deserved every bit of that applause.


In celebration -- Marlene Dietrich's tuxedo (from 1954!)

"Never a slave to the fickleness of fashion, Dietrich remained faithful to her own personal style which was at once sophisticated and casual. She had a penchant for pantsuits and male accessories like hats and canes, which was considered shocking during that era. It is even rumored that, in the ’30s, one Parisian hotel wouldn’t allow her to enter through its main door dressed in trousers."



http://parisvoice.com/03/oct/html/art/art1.cfm

[Jamastiene]

29. Thanks.

I couldn't agree with you more. And I love the historical reference to Marlene Dietrich. I didn't know that she was barred from entering a hotel once. I hope they have changed their policy by now. :toast:

[understandinglife]

28. Congratulations!

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[Jamastiene]

30. Thanks.

Peace too.

[Theres-a]

34. Congratulations!!

:woohoo: :applause:

[Jamastiene]

36. Thanks.

I appreciate it.
:pals:

[IdaBriggs]

37. Here is the original thread --

Congratulations!!! :) http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3136628

[Jamastiene]

38. Thanks and thanks.

I searched for it, but wanted to post my thank you to DUers with or without the original thread, just to let everyone know that Duers helped me finally win one. I couldn't have done it without the encouragement. And yes, that is the original thread. Thanks for the congrats and finding the thread.

[Hissyspit]

40. Congratulations, Jama! You're gonna leave me behind here in NC!

:P