University News
National Women's History Month Marked at Western
February 28, 2013
MACOMB, IL - March is National Women's History Month nationwide and Western Illinois University has scheduled a calendar of events to acknowledge and recognize the accomplishments of women.
Nationally, the celebration and recognition of women's historic achievements began in 1980, when National Women's History Week was proclaimed by presidential proclamation. In 1987, this national celebration was expanded by Congressional Resolution to an entire month by declaring March as National Women's History Month.
According to Molly Murphy MacGregor, executive director of the National Women's History Project, each March, to unify the observance of National Women's History Month, a special theme is created. Women whose lives and extraordinary work exemplify the theme are selected as honorees. The theme for 2013 is "Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics."
WIU Women's Center Director Janine Cavicchia said the Women's Center is honoring Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination with profiles on the Women's Center's Facebook page, Facebook.com/WIUWomensCenter, of women who have taken the lead in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Cavicchia said two of this year's programs tie in with the 2012-2013 University Theme of "War and Peace: From Personal Conflict to Global Resolution." The first will be an International Women's Day (IWD) presentation on Friday, March 8 from noon - 1 p.m., and the other will be a Women's History Month featured speaker on Thursday, March 28 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Both events will be held in the WIU Multicultural Center.
"Our IWD program this year will feature members of the Springfield, IL, Chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)," Cavicchia said. "WILPF is the oldest international women's peace organization, and it has been nominated for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. We're looking forward to learning about ways in which the organization's members carry out its vision and mission and how members of our campus and local communities might get involved."
This year's Women's History Month featured speaker will be Erica Borggren, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, who will be discussing the changing roles of women in the military and issues facing female service members and veterans.
"We have about 675 service members and veterans on our Macomb and Quad Cities campuses, of which approximately 100 are women," Cavicchia said. "This is a very timely topic, and we're excited to hear from Director Borggren." In addition to the Women's Center, co-sponsors include the Western Organization for Women, University Women, University Libraries, the Women's Studies Department and the Veterans Resource Center.
Below is a list of programs planned at WIU. Unless noted, all programs are open free to the public.
March 1 – 31
"Writing Women Back into History"
Daily Postings on Women's Center
Facebook page: facebook.com/WIUWomensCenter
March 1 – 31
Women's History Month Displays
Macomb City Hall
Multicultural Center Showcase
University Union Showcase
University Union Bookstore
WIU – QC Campus
March 1 – 31
"The Handmaid's Tale" Facebook Book Discussion
Online book discussion via Women's Studies webpage:
wiu.edu/womensstudies
March 1 –31
Multicultural Center, second floor
Women's Art: Women's Vision Art Exhibit
Opening Reception: Friday, March 1, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
March 1-31 (and year-round)
Western Hall
History of Women's Athletics at Western Illinois University Display
Fridays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, noon – 12:30 p.m.
WIUM 91.3 FM & WIUW 89.5 FM, Tri States Public Radio,
NPR's "51 Percent" radio program about women
Underwritten by the Western Organization for Women
Friday, March 1, 12:30 – 12:45 p.m.
WIUM 91.3 FM & WIUW 89.5 FM Tri States Public Radio
Women's History Month Preview on "Emphasis" with Rich Egger
Saturday, March 2, 10 a.m. – noon
Multicultural Center Multipurpose/Activity Rooms
Macomb Feminist Network award reception: Writing Women Back into History
Saturday, March 2, 4:30 p.m.
Western Hall
Women's Basketball vs. Oakland
Tuesday, March 5, 3:30 p.m.
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists & Leaders Panel Discussion on Elected Women Leaders, Women Voters, and Media Portrayal of Women in Politics and "Women's Issues"
Lisa Kernek, Kimberly Rice and Aimee Shouse
Wednesday, March 6, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Multicultural Center Multipurpose/Activity Rooms
Women's Center Red Cross Blood Drive
Wednesday, March 6, 7 – 9 p.m.
Union Sandburg Theatre
"The Purity Myth: The Virginity Movement's War Against Women" Film Screening and Discussion
Sponsored by the University Libraries and
the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Friday, March 8, noon – 1 p.m.
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists & Leaders International Women's Day Program, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Sunday, March 10 – Saturday, March 16
Girl Scout Week
Tuesday, March 19, 7 p.m.
Union Heritage Room
Panel Discussion "Slut Talk: Blaming, Shaming and Challenging"
Sponsored by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
March 25 – 28
Girl Scout Cookie Sales
Multicultural Center, first floor and Morgan Hall
Tuesday, March 26, 11 a.m.
Multicultural Center
"A Wise Latina Luncheon," featuring keynote speaker Sandra Guzman
Sponsored by the Casa Latina Cultural Center
Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 - 5 p.m.
University Union Lamoine Room
Difficult Conversation 4: The Gender Box:
Pressures to be "Male" and "Female" Continue
Wednesday, March 27, 6 p.m.
Malpass Library Garden Lounge
"Women and the Sciences in Global Context: Achievements, Transgressions and Negotiations"
Presentation and Roundtable Discussion
Sponsored by the Department of History
Wednesday, March 27, 7 p.m.
Union Sandburg Theatre
"Girls in Guyland" Panel Discussion
Sponsored by The Center for the Study of Masculinities and Men's Development
Thursday, March 28, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Women's History Month Featured Speaker:
Erica Borggren, Director of Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs
Changing Roles of Women in the Military and Issues Facing Female Service Members and Veterans
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
Date: TBD
"Violence in America, a Perspective: The Role of Women" Panel Discussion
Coordinated by Pearlie Strother-Adams
Tuesday, April 9
Equal Pay Day
Activities TBA
Friday, April 19, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Multicultural Center East Lawn or first floor
"The Clothesline Project" Display, A Sexual Assault Awareness Month program
T-shirt making sessions will be held in March and April.
Call (309) 298-2242 to schedule a t-shirt making session.
Sponsored by WIRC –CAA Victim Services, WIU Women's Center,
Feminist Action Alliance, and University Counseling Center
Friday, May 3, 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Multicultural Center Multipurpose/Activity Rooms
REAL Women Celebration Luncheon
Nominal charge for lunch
For more information about National Women's History Month, and for full list of the 2013 National Women's History Month Honorees, and women's history celebration materials, visit www.nwhp.org. For more information on WIU activities, contact the WIU Women's Center at (309) 298-2242, or e-mail womenscenter@wiu.edu or visit wiu.edu/wc.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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