Contact Gaye Vandermyn (541) 346-3133 June 10, 1997 EUGENE--The University of Oregon has named documentary filmmaker Julia Lesage as the 1997 recipient of the Charles E. Johnson Memorial Award. Lesage, an associate professor of English, is an advocate for inclusiveness, free expression and fair treatment for all, particularly in film. She will receive the award during commencement ceremonies at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, at Hayward Field, 1580 E. 15th Ave. The Johnson Award, first given by the UO faculty in 1980, honors one faculty member each year who has demonstrated exceptional service to the university and its community, and who has exemplified the principles affirmed by former UO President Charles E. Johnson. The award says those principles include that freedom of speech and assembly hold a central position among American constitutional and educational precepts; that a university can and must adapt to accelerating social change while maintaining its basic objective; and that, as Thomas Jefferson said, "...here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it might lead, nor to tolerate error so long as reason is left free to combat it." "Her independence of mind is refreshing, because of course it is quite a rare thing even in a university setting where we are all supposed to be intellectual pioneers but usually end up as followers rather than leaders," says Louise Westling, English professor and department head. "In one other respect, Professor Lesage is particularly worthy of the Johnson Award--her work in creating video documentaries that allow students of color and students with disabilities to speak their minds about the unconscious discrimination that blights their lives on university campuses," Westling continues. Two documentaries Lesage has produced have won numerous national awards: "Getting Around" (1995), which details the experiences of students with disabilities, and "In Plain English: Students Speak Out" (1992), about students of color on and off campus. "In Plain English" is housed in numerous permanent university and civic collections across the country. "Julia is a shining light in our department, on our campus and in her field, a unique and powerful voice on behalf of intellectual inclusiveness and social justice. While choosing her battles wisely, she never hesitates to speak out--often with wit, always with honesty and conviction--to remind us of our own best impulses," says Kathleen Karlyn, a UO assistant professor of English. Another colleague Karen Ford refers to Lesage as "the conscience of the English Department," noting that she "consistently recognizes, and insists that we all recognize, the ethical issues at the heart of our departmental decisions. "In raising our awareness of these issues, and in giving voice to these often unheard students (by letting them speak for themselves in the films), Lesage's work exemplifies the principles that the Charles E. Johnson award seeks to reward: freedom of speech, productive response to accelerating social change, the rigorous examination of ideas, and a willingness to pursue the truth--even when the truth is painful," says Ford, an assistant professor of English. Ford says Lesage educates other faculty about difficulties disabled students encounter in the classrooms and about emerging fields favored by ethnic students or minority candidates for English department positions. Her careful review and analysis of faculty candidates' work, shared in turn with other faculty, have helped increase minority hires by four in the past two years. Lesage co-founded and co-edits the journal JumpCut: A Review of Contemporary Media, which publishes articles on feminism, race, Third World cinema, and gay and lesbian film. JumpCut encourages writers to present alternative views on the aforementioned issues, regardless of how unpopular they may be. Many of these writers have since gone on to make important contributions in their fields. Lesage has helped gay and lesbian students organize a film festival whose quality has captured national attention. Johnson, for whom the award is named, died in an automobile accident in June 1969 while serving as acting UO president. Prior to becoming acting president, Johnson served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts (now the College of Arts and Sciences) for five years. The Johnson Award is among the most prestigious given to any faculty member at the University of Oregon. A five-member faculty committee makes the Johnson Award selection from nominations submitted by UO faculty, staff and students. -30- #G-1065/Local/lp