image from the film A Cow at My Table, by Jennifer Abbott
http://www.all-creatures.org/book/r-cowtable.html

MOO Project: Taking Part in Feminist Writing Space

Class Connections:
Unit: Feminist Writing Spaces
Bridging Our Readings and Your Community Service
Preparing You for Writing Project #2
Furthering the Goals of the Course

Brief Introduction to MOO's:
"MOO stands for Multi-User Domain Object Oriented also referred to generally as MU*s or multi-user environments. A MOO is one of several types of MU*s. They are virtual environments accessed via the Internet that originated as multi-player role-playing games. They function similarly to chat rooms in that they provide synchronous communication between many users. However, in a MOO users can build all sorts of spaces and objects.

"' Object oriented' means that the virtual space is populated with places, people, and things that exhibit their own characteristics and behaviors and that can be created and manipulated by users. For example, you can create, examine, take, and drop an object such as a flower. Some objects may have additional verbs associated with them, different things that users can "do" to that object. For example, one may be able to "smell" the flower."

(from the CWRL MOO site, http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/technology/mooing.shtml)

Our MOO Project:
Our MOO will be a world of feminist spaces interacting using the language we've been learning this semester. Everyone will enter through the Women's Building, and you'll either take part as the representative of an organization housed in the Women's Building or as a character from or author of one of our texts dealing with feminist spaces. In each organization's area, the organization's representative will greet a textual character/author, and they will have a conversation about issues that are important to them about this organization, its work, and its space. (Refer to our Friday brainstorming.)

Goals for Our MOO Project:
•  Here we'll be taking part in feminist writing space, instead of physical feminist meeting space, so you'll get a feeling for how writing can be a method of creating space.
•  Everyone will get to know an community organization better, and will have the experience of talking with or as an organizational representative.
•  Since this project is similar to your Writing Project #2, the writing project and the MOO will serve as practice for each other.
•  Since our class is geared towards acquiring tools with which to discuss feminist spaces, acquiring and practicing writing skills, and asking good questions, the MOO will serve as a vehicle for each of these.

MOO Assignment, Part I:
due Friday, March 12, or Monday, March 22

Since half of the class will represent organizations and half will play textual characters/authors, everyone will propose one organizational representative and one textual character/author you'd like to be in the MOO. This way, everyone will have a chance to help build characters and rooms, and, based on your proposals, I'll assign roles.

1. List the name of the character or author you'd like to play in the MOO and the text they are connected with (choose from the list below):
•  provide an image you think represents this character/author (if you find this image online, provide a link and print out the page to turn in; if you find it in a publication, bring that page in)
•  include a quote you think summarizes how they feel about feminist spaces or an issue related to feminist spaces (remember to give the page number and source for the quote)

2. List the name of the organization you'd like to be a representative of in the MOO (choose from the list below):
•  provide an image you think you'd find in this space
•  describe a sound you think you'd find in this space
•  include a quote you think summarizes how they feel about feminist space or an issue related to feminist spaces (remember to give the page number and source for the quote)
•  describe an object you think you'd find in this space

3. Briefly explain why you chose this character/author and this organization.

4. Briefly explain whether you'd rather represent the character/author or the organization and why.

MOO Assignment, Part II:
due Monday, March 29

If you are representing an organization:
1. Write one short paragraph describing the organization's space in the Women's Building. That is, what do people see, hear, smell, find when they enter the space?
2. Write one short paragraph in the voice of the representative of this organization. Talk about an issue of feminist spaces that is very important to this organization. Use quotes from an appropriate text.

If you are playing a character or author:
1. Write one short paragraph describing your character or author. For example, consider the following questions (respond to the ones that will help you visualize your character and the tone in which she will speak): What are some issues that are important to her? Where does she come from? What tone does she use? What does she like? What does she not like? What is she unsure about?
2. Write one short paragraph in the voice of this character or author. Talk about an issue of feminist spaces that is very important to this person. Use quotes from an appropriate text.

For Organizations, You May Choose from These:
1. ALLGO (Austin Latino/Latina Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Organization)
2. Texas Department of Health, Violence Against Women Division
3. Women's Advocacy Project
4. Association of Women in Communications
5. Saheli
6. Girl Scouts
7. MADD (Mothers against Drunk Driving)
8. Women & Their Work
9. Danskin Triathlon
10. SafePlace
11. Women's Resource Center, UT
12. Girlstart
13. Women in Engineering Program, UT
14. Mother's Milk Bank of Austin

For Authors/Characters, You May Choose from These:
1. Jennie Ruby, author of "Woman-Only and Feminist Spaces"
2. Cathy N. Davidson or Jessamyn Hatcher, editors of No More Separate Spheres!
3. Sarah Penn, character in "The Revolt of 'Mother'"
4. Malkah, character in He, She, & It
5. Riva, character in He, She, & It
6. Shira, character in He, She, & It
7. Nili, character in He, She, & It
8. Somel, character in Herland
9. Moadine, character in Herland
10. Zava, character in Herland
11. Nancy Stender, author of "I Saw You Naked at Michigan"
12. Nomy Lamm, Rachel Carnes, or Sadie Crabtree, authors of "MWMF Trans-Inclusion Petition"
13. Cherríe Moraga, co-editor of and contributor to This Bridge Called My Back
14. Gloria Anzaldúa, co-editor of and contributor to This Bridge Called My Back
15. Member of the Combahee River Collective, contributor to This Bridge Called My Back