UI History Prof Makes History

Katherine Aiken took four years of history classes at the University of Idaho back in the 1970s and never had a woman professor.

There weren’t any.

She didn’t set out to change things, but that’s what happened when she became the department’s first female full professor in 1986.

“She does an excellent job, and that’s routinely reflected in the very high student evaluations she receives and in enrollment in her courses,” says Rick Spence, UI history department chairman.

UI teachers honored Katherine with a Teaching Excellence Award last week. At the same time, UI students honored her with the ASUI Outstanding Faculty Award.

“I cried when I opened the letter” that told her about her two awards, she says. Then, she grins. “I think I should retire.”

She deserves a third award - from the state Department of Transportation. Katherine, 48, has commuted from her Coeur d’Alene home to Moscow on narrow U.S. Highway 95 three to five days a week for 16 years. Weather has never stopped her from reaching class.

“If I don’t go, no one else teaches for me,” she says.

That sense of duty directs everything she does.

Teaching in packed lecture halls intimidated her, but she pledged to give students her best.

She asked students in her modern American history class to bring artifacts from the 1970s. The burned bras, “Star Wars” sheets, bell-bottoms and dog tags inspired fascinating discussions.

She contrasted Idaho’s first congresswoman, Democrat Gracie Post, with its latest, Republican Helen Chenoweth-Hage. To get elected, they both climbed on horses, played up their femininity and portrayed themselves as forceful, Western women. Students were intrigued.

The five men and two other women in UI’s history department just elected Katherine chairman for the next three years. She’ll start in July as the first woman in the job.

She’s honored, but ambivalent about the career shift. She’ll teach less, shuffle paper more. And she’ll drive to Moscow more often. It never occurred to her to turn down the job.

“I felt it’s my turn,” she says. “And it’s important for women to take those positions.”

No wonder her colleagues and students are impressed.

Best seller

I asked for the Panhandle’s best libraries and Candy Allen nominated Athol’s. Candy says librarian Sue Wagner is incredible because she helps people learn to use the computer, arranges children’s activities and is a one-person chamber of commerce.

“The building is usually full of kids who not only come there to read and check out movies, but I suspect to see Sue and her staff,” Candy says.

Tube-free

If you can keep your television off for a week, you could win $100, but you have to write an essay, too.

Sandpoint’s Committee on Television Awareness will supply you with a list of 100 alternative activities to watching TV - reading aloud, games, baking - if you can’t think of anything else to do.

No-TV week starts Monday. Pledge sheets are available at Sandpoint schools, bookstores and the library. Make it a family challenge. Call 263-3674 or 263-3564 for details.

Web masters

Remember Project Safe Place and its Web site design contest? North Idaho College students Nikki Mulvaney and Cliff Keller won as a team. They’ll share the $500 prize. With luck and a few donations, the site will be up June 1.

To help or donate, call Beth Barclay at 676-0772.

Who are North Idaho’s youngest Web whizzes? Cyberspeak to Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814; send a fax to 765-7149; call 765-7128; or e-mail to cynthiat@spokesman.com.