Roots in feminism
During her four years in college, Sieck has championed the cause of women rights, especially reproductive rights. Her interest in women's issues began in high school, where she challenged the preconceptions of teachers and expanded the horizons of her peers. While in high school, Sieck was interested in gender issues. She worked with the Feminist Majority Foundation to bring assistance to the women of Afghanistan by raising money and organizing days of awareness. During these days of awareness, history teachers taught a curriculum devised by the Foundation about gender apartheid in Afghanistan. However, Sieck also realized that the status of women in the U.S. required attention as well.
Sieck can clearly recall one incident with a teacher in which she was forced to examine the status of women in her own hometown. "I remember we got an assignment that asked us to discuss why men fight in war," Sieck said. "I asked the teacher 'Do you mean men and women, like humans?' That is what he meant, but he didn't seem to understand that the language mattered. He was so resistant to the change. I was aware of an injustice being done: half of the population was being ignored in much of our language, and rarely did people seem concerned. I became interested in the ways that language can impact behavior and perceptions, and this was a cause that I latched on to," Sieck explained.
Sieck worked to inform students in her high school about the women's issues about which she felt so passionate. She revived a fading high school chapter of the National Organization of Women (NOW). "For the 2000 elections, NOW put on a debate as a forum for the four major candidates to see what their stands were on women's issues, not just abortion but also welfare and other things. We had students represent the four major candidates and had them debate different issues that were relevant to women. During the course of the event, it became clear where each candidate stood on things like reproduction rights, healthcare, welfare, education, and other issues that might be relevant to women," Sieck recalled. "The assemblies at our school had always been sort of a joke. But, during one Women's History Month assembly, we did a segment where we got videotapes of girls at the high school from the parents and put a compilation together to honor the progress of women in sports by framing it in terms of Title IX. I really enjoyed making the connection between broad international issues and issues that are occurring at home. Sometimes people come from such a privileged place that they don't see the injustice that they themselves may be experiencing or perpetrating. I find that it can be overwhelming for people to acknowledge things that are happening right in front of them," she said.
Running start
Sieck, like most first-year college students, embraced the college experience with both excitement and fear. "I was thrilled to just be at college in general. Although I was nervous at first, I was also so excited to be in a place where I was surrounded by really interesting and interested people, and I was excited about the relationships with students and with faculty. I wanted to cultivate that from the beginning," she said.
As a resident of North Dormitory, Sieck roomed with Leora Maccabee '05. "I lived in North and I loved it because I made such good friends," she said. "Leora is a really dynamic person and we fed off each other in a really exciting way. There was no apathy in that room!"
Maccabee likewise complimented Sieck. "I've always been drawn to her for her generosity, compassion and care for others," she said. "Because of these characteristics, she is an amazing friend and a powerful activist and advocate for the disadvantaged and vulnerable in our communities."
Sieck's freshman year advisor, Associate Professor of History and WAGS Martha Saxton, recalled that Sieck had a special aura even as a first-year. "Barbara was my advisee as a freshman and a thoughtful contributor to my Women's History class her freshman year," said Saxton. "I remember in that first year the extraordinary care she brought to choosing her courses. She has a sense of the preciousness of every moment and always wants to get it right so that she can make the most of her opportunities."
The Feminist Alliance
While a first-year student at the College, Sieck began her involvement with the College Feminist Alliance. However, it was as a sophomore that Sieck felt she had the opportunity to influence and assist the group.
"Juniors in the Feminist Alliance went abroad and I remember thinking 'I want to do something really significant.' Discussion groups were not going to be well attended and I wanted to do something on a large scale so that the whole college community could attend," she said.
Sieck organized a lecture by Sarah Weddington, one of the lawyers who argued the winning side of the 1973 Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion. The lecture was a huge success, much the result of Sieck's involvement. "I think it was successful, not only because it was a really good event, but also because it was inspiring to have someone here who was in the trenches, who had done really good work when she was only five or six years older than us," she said. "A lot of people ended up joining the Feminist Alliance and that was great."
Sieck's roommate that year, Erin Tanaka '05, praised her former roommate's dedication to reproductive rights and for her role in bringing Weddington to Amherst. "Barbara really threw herself into the event, taking charge of everything from logistics to publicity to smaller group meetings on campus. As her roommate, I wound up fielding many of the phone calls to our room and serving as Barbara's unofficial secretary. I was on the phone one day with Weddington's manager, Randy-a guy Barbara and I got to know quite well-when it occurred to me that my Catholic grandmother probably wouldn't approve," Tanaka said. "Still, regardless of whether or not you support Roe v. Wade or any of the other issues Barbara has been involved in, you really have to admire her for the passion and dedication she brings to everything she does. Barbara is one of the seniors who has given the most to Amherst during our four years here."
Associate Dean of Students Bekki Lee was impressed with Sieck's dedication to the Weddington lecture and to the issue of women's rights. "Barbara's involvements on and off campus have been numerous, but it is her work with the Amherst Feminist Alliance that best represents her potential," Lee said. "Barbara developed a strong commitment to social concerns during her pre-college years."
Lee also spoke of Sieck's growth. "Upon her arrival at Amherst, she noted that her classmates lacked interest in gender-related issues. The Amherst Feminist Alliance was struggling, and by the start of her sophomore year, Sieck decided it was time to move into leadership. The issue of a woman's right to choose was being hotly debated across the country, and Barbara decided that Sarah Weddington, the attorney who successfully argued the landmark Roe v. Wade case before the Supreme Court, was the person to bring to campus."
Gaining perspective
As a junior, Sieck spent the spring semester studying abroad in Montpellier, France. While she recalls the trip with great enthusiasm, not all of her experiences were easy to handle or happy. "I lived with a host family that was experiencing a lot of pain and anger. The parents hit their children and the mother ended up having a serious panic attack that bordered on a breakdown," she remembered vividly, "The father was really into being polite to me and he would be about to get up and hit one of the kids and I would distract him by telling him about my day because I knew that he would listen to me and then forget about the children. I became a resource for the kids and also formed relationships of mutual admiration with them."
Despite her concern for the children and sympathy for her host mother, Sieck recognized that she needed to change host families. "It was a real crisis of conscience to leave because of the kids," she said. "But I realized that I was dreading going home to their house each day, so in early April I switched host families."
During that time Sieck volunteered at École Louis Armstrong Elementary School. "The students were mostly North African immigrants. It was so interesting because there is a huge race issue in France involving North African Arab immigrants and white French citizens," she explained. "The school was located in a low-income area. A lot of the kids had just come from Morocco the year before. It was incredible because we would have political discussions with these 8-year-olds, and they would tell me what they thought about [President] George Bush. Throughout my life I had always been really critical of a lot of the U.S.'s policies, but when talking to these kids I found myself defending the U.S., if only to diffuse so much of the anger they seemed to feel towards America."
Professor of Political Science and WAGS Kristin Bumiller noted Sieck's devotion to social issues. "Barbara is an amazing person-she is an exceptional example of a student who puts her values into action as shown in her respect for others, [her] drive for academic excellence, and in her activism for social justice," she said.
When her time in Montpellier ended, Sieck enjoyed traveling throughout Europe. While in Europe she received special treatment from a United States Ambassador. "I went to the Hague and met the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands. My mom went to high school with him," she said. "I went to the International Court of Justice and met a judge there."
Sieck incorporated structured and causal learning into her travel. "It was a really good balance between going to museums and important sites that everyone is seeing and then going to cafes and having conversations with people and getting a sense of the place on lots of different levels," Sieck said.
Sieck stayed in Europe for the summer to work for Amnesty International in London. "Amnesty International was a really interesting experience. A lot of the work I had done before was specialized toward women's rights. Amnesty is such a huge organization but it was not geared as much toward women's rights as I thought that it would be," she said. "They have so many member countries so in some ways they have to be more conservative than other groups so that they don't alienate anyone. However, despite some of the frustrations in that area, I got to do really substantive work because we made up the internship as we went along."
The half-year Sieck spent in Europe was memorable and enlightening. "I remember the plane ride home thinking that I could not believe so much had happened in those six months," she said. "I realized that it was only through immersing myself in another place could I truly understand how my country affects the rest of our world."
All grown up
During her senior year, Sieck helped to organize an event to celebrate the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. "It was celebrating reproductive freedom and realizing that it is still under attack since since it is so important in these times," she recalled. "It was an event that a lot of people attended. I think people are recognizing that there are many different ways to be political and to make a difference."
Sieck's positive influence on the College will not end with her graduation. Next year she will be the Alumni Fellow in the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs.
Professor of Anthropology Deborah Gewertz raved about Sieck's personal traits and academic skills. "She is one of the most thoughtful and analytically sophisticated young women I have ever taught," Gewertz said. "She personifies engaged intellection-and, if this weren't enough to win my pedagogic heart, she writes like a dream come true."
"Barbara Sieck once admitted to me that she was a 'friendaholic,'" said Katelyn Gamson '05, one of Sieck's many friends. "In my opinion, she found a perfect label for herself."