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Description
Oral history interview with Illinois State University alum Anita Smith, class of 2012. The interview was conducted by Taylor Starr and Nadia Smith, students in WGSS 392/429: Queer and Transgender Theory, on November 15, 2024.
Smith grew up in Evanston, Illinois, where she attended a large and diverse high school that she credits with preparing her to interact with people of many backgrounds. Initially enrolling at ISU as a special education major, she later switched to interdisciplinary studies shortly before graduation when she realized teaching was not the right path for her, despite her long-standing interest in working with people with disabilities. While at ISU, Smith was deeply involved in two communities that shaped her college years: the women’s rugby team and the Alternative Breaks program. Rugby provided her with close friendships, leadership experience as a captain, and a supportive community, while Alternative Breaks allowed her to travel for service projects, eventually taking on leadership roles that helped her discover her strengths in planning and organization.
Reflecting on significant political events during her years at ISU, Smith recalls the excitement on campus during Barack Obama’s 2008 election but says that students at the time were less politically outspoken compared to today. She came out as a lesbian during her junior year, describing the process as largely smooth thanks to her supportive friends and family, and she reflects that while her sexuality was part of her identity, it was not a defining feature of her college experience. After graduating, Smith began a career with Project Oz, a Bloomington nonprofit serving homeless and runaway youth, where she has worked in multiple roles, including crisis counseling and program data management.
Smith also shares the experience of her relationship being featured in the ISU alumni magazine—initially a moment of pride that turned sour after the publication printed a homophobic letter to the editor reacting to the story. She feels the fallout was poorly handled by the university and it remains a painful memory. Smith married her wife, whom she met through rugby at ISU, in 2015, and they now have children together. Reflecting on her ISU years, she emphasizes the importance of finding a community, being confident in one’s identity, and surrounding oneself with supportive people. Despite challenges, she looks back fondly on her time at ISU, the friendships she formed, and the opportunities she had for growth both on and off the field.
Interview Date
11-15-2024
Index
00:00-02:28: Introduction; Smith’s early life and high school
02:28-03:31: Choosing ISU
03:31-04:54: Changing from education major to interdisciplinary studies
04:54-07:12: Coping with stress; available resources
07:12-12:28: Alternative Breaks experiences
12:28-14:40: Experiences on women’s rugby team
14:40-18:46: Election of Barack Obama; National Equality March; political climate
18:46-23:02: Experience coming out and being out as a lesbian at ISU
23:02-24:25: Regrets about ISU experience
24:25-29:59: Alumni magazine incident and aftermath
29:59-31:47: Relationship with wife; marriage
31:47-35:54: Career with Project Oz
35:54-40:08: Rugby memories; conclusion
Recommended Citation
Smith, Anita, "Interview with Anita Smith, Class of 2012" (2012). Alumni Oral Histories. 87.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/aoh/87