University News

WIU Celebrates Women's History Month

February 27, 2015

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MACOMB, IL - March is National Women's History Month (NWHM), and the Western Illinois University Women's Center has released a calendar of events happening on campus and in the community.

Nationally, the celebration and recognition of women's historic achievements began in 1980, when National Women's History Week was first proclaimed. In 1987, this national celebration was expanded by Congressional resolution to include an entire month.

According to Molly Murphy MacGregor, executive director of the National Women's History Project (NWHP), each March, to unify the observance of NWHM, a special theme is created. Women whose lives and extraordinary work exemplify the theme are selected as honorees. This year's theme is, "Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives."

WIU Women's Center Director Janine Cavicchia said several of this year's programs tie in with this theme, and the Women's Center is profiling stories of women's lives with postings on the Women's Center Facebook page at Facebook.com/WIUWomensCenter.

"We'd like to thank everyone who submitted programs and activities for this year's calendar and all presenters and sponsors, including the Feminist Action Alliance and the Macomb Feminist Network," Cavicchia said.

This year's events include:

Friday, Feb. 27
Noon-1 p.m. Entrepreneur Presentation
1-3 p.m. Master Class COFAC Recital Hall
Jacquelyn Adams
Sponsored by the WIU Music Business Association, the Western Illinois Horn Institute and the Visiting Lectures Committee

March 1-31
"Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives"
WHM Facebook postings facebook.com/WIUWomensCenter

March 1-31
Women's History Month Displays
Multicultural Center Showcase, University Union Showcase
University Union Bookstore, WIU Quad Cities Campus and Macomb City Hall

March 1-31
"Women's Art: Women's Vision" Art Exhibit
Multicultural Center 2nd floor
Entries due Tuesday, March 3 in the Women's Center
Sponsored by the Women's Center

March 1-31
Western Hall-outside the Hall of Fame Room
"A Historical Perspective of Women's Athletics at Western Illinois University" - Athletics exhibit

Tuesday, March 3, 2-4 p.m.
"Talking and Tasting: Feminists in the Kitchen"
Multicultural Center 1st floor Activity Room
Presented by women's studies Professor Lori Baker-Sperry and Assistant Professor Holly Stovall
Sponsored by the WIU Department of Women's Studies

Wednesday, March 4, 9:30 a.m.–2:15 p.m.
Red Cross Blood Drive
Multicultural Center Multipurpose/Activity Rooms
Sponsored by the Women's Center

Wednesday, March 4, 7-9 p.m.
"WonderWomen! The Untold Story of American Superheroines"
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
Screening and panel discussion
Sponsored by Feminist Action Alliance & the Women's Center

Friday, March 6, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
International Women's Day Luncheon, panel presentation and displays
Multicultural Center 1st floor
$10 non-students; no charge for WIU students
Reservation deadline March 3 to the Women's Center
Sponsored by the Women's Center, the Center for International Studies, and the International Friendship Club

Saturday, March 7, 10–11:30 a.m.
"Writing Women into History" Awards Brunch
Multicultural Center Activity and Multipurpose Rooms
Honoring community women
Sponsored by the Macomb Feminist Network

Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 3–3:30 p.m.
NPR's "51 Percent" radio program about women
WIUM 91.3 FM & WIUW 89.5 FM, Tri States Public Radio,
Underwritten by the Western Organization for Women

Sunday, March 8
International Women's Day

Sunday, March 8–Saturday, March 14
Girl Scout Week

Monday, March 9–Thursday, March 12, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Multicultural Center 1st Floor Lobby
Girl Scout Cookie Sales ($4 per box)
WIU Campus Girl Scouts & Girl Scouts of Central Illinois

Monday, March 9, 3:30- 5 p.m.
Women's Art Exhibit Meet the Artists Reception
Multicultural Center 2nd floor
Sponsored by the Women's Center

Wednesday, March 11, 5-7 p.m.
"Women's Roles in the Development of Human Rights"
Stipes Hall, Room 121
Presented by Visiting Lecturer Rebecca Adami
Sponsored by the Department of History

Thursday, March 12, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
"Does the Second Shift Apply to Black Women?: The Lived Experiences of Working African American Mothers"
(An Historical Perspective from Slavery to Modern Day)
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
Presented by Katerina Dawson

Saturday, March 14–Sunday, March 22
Spring Break

March 21-22, Washington D.C.
Feminist Majority Foundation's 11th annual National Young Feminist Leadership Conference
Feminist Action Alliance, the Women's Center, Women's Studies

Monday, March 23, 7-9 p.m.
"Black Feminist Scholars: Historical Perspectives for Current Activist Work"
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Masculinities and Men's Development and the Women's Center

Tuesday, March 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
"Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality"
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
AAS student panel facilitated by Safoura Boukari
Sponsored by the Department of African American Studies

Wednesday, March 25, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
3rd Annual Wise Latina Luncheon
Featuring keynote speaker Rosie Molinary
Author of "Hijas Americanas"
Multicultural Center 1st floor Activity Room
Sponsored by Casa Latina Cultural Center and LIPS

Wednesday, March 25, 7:30-9 p.m.
"Standing on my Sisters' Shoulders" The story of the Mississippi Civil Rights movement from the point of view of its remarkable and courageous women who changed the course of history.
Documentary screening and panel discussion
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
Sponsored by the Women's Center

Thursday, March 26, 4:30 p.m.
"Weaving the Stories of Their Lives: Five Women Activists and Reformers From Around the World"
Malpass Library Garden Lounge
Sponsored by WIU Department of History & University Libraries

Monday, March 30, noon-1 p.m.
"Does the Second Shift Apply to Black Women?: The Lived Experiences of Working African American Mothers" (A Mental Health Perspective: Stress, Anxiety and Depression)
Multicultural Center 1st floor Multipurpose Room
Presented by Katerina Dawson

Monday, March 30, 7-9 p.m.
WHM inaugural Poetry Slam
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
Sponsored by the Feminist Action Alliance

Tuesday, April 14, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Equal Pay Day resource and information tabling
University Union Concourse
Sponsored by the Feminist Action

Wednesday, April 15, noon-1 p.m.
WOW Spring Luncheon
Multicultural Center 1st Floor Multipurpose and Activity Rooms
Featured Speaker: Marilyn Van Ausdall, Monmouth, IL, Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Nominal charge for lunch

Wednesday, April 15, 5-9 p.m.
American Association of University Women (AAUW) – "$tart $mart Wage Workshop for College Women"
Multicultural Center
Sponsored by the Women's Center, Feminist Action Alliance,
Women's Studies and Career Development Center

Friday, April 17, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
"The Clothesline Project" display - A Sexual Assault Awareness Month program
Multicultural Center East Lawn; rain location: MC First Floor
T-shirt making sessions will be held in March and April
Call (309) 298-2242 to schedule a T-shirt making session
Sponsored by Victim Services, WIU Women's Center,
Feminist Action Alliance and University Counseling Center

Friday, May 1, 11:45 a.m.- 1:15 p.m.
"REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists & Leaders"
Multicultural Center Multipurpose/Activity Rooms
Celebration Luncheon Honoring Women's Center staff and volunteers, affiliated student organization leaders, and other supporters

For more information about National Women's History Month, and for full list of the 2015 National Women's History Month Honorees and women's history celebration materials, visit nwhp.org. For more information on WIU activities, contact the WIU Women's Center at (309) 298-2242, e-mail j-cavicchia@wiu.edu or visit wiu.edu/wc.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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