University News

National Women's History Month Celebrated at Western

February 26, 2016

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MACOMB, IL - March is National Women's History Month (NWHM), and the Western Illinois University Women's Center is celebrating with 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 a 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 "Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government."

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 Facebook 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," Cavicchia said. "Along with WIU President Jack Thomas and Macomb Mayor Mike Inman, who annually sign a Women's History Month Proclamation, we invite and encourage members of our campus and surrounding communities to attend and participate in these programs and activities, and to support the promotion of women and the continued efforts of all who are involved in programs that enhance the awareness, diversity and sensitivity of our community."

This year's events include:

March 1-31
"Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government"
WHM Facebook postings facebook.com/WIUWomensCenter

March 1-31
Women's History Month Displays
Multicultural Center first floor lobby showcase,
University Bookstore, University Libraries and Macomb City Hall

March 1-31
Women's Art: Women's Vision Art Exhibit
Multicultural Center second floor
Sponsored by the Women's Center

March 1-31, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
"A Historical Perspective of Women's Athletics at Western Illinois University" Athletics Exhibit
Western Hall - outside of the Hall of Fame Room
Sponsored by Intercollegiate Athletics

Tuesday, March 1, 7 p.m.
AAUW Keokuk (IA) Branch Program and Meeting
"Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government"
Presentation and discussion facilitated by Janine Cavicchia, WIU Women's Center director and member of the Macomb Feminist Network
Southeastern Community College Student Lounge

Wednesday, March 2, 9, 23, 30, 4-5 p.m.
Feminist Action Alliance weekly meetings
Women's Center Conference Room, Multicultural Center, room 209

Saturday, March 5, 10-11:30 a.m.
"Writing Women into History" awards brunch
Honoring Community Women
Multicultural Center activity and multipurpose rooms
Sponsored by the Macomb Feminist Network

Saturday, March 5, noon-7 p.m.
Women's Roles Around the World in Environmental Sustainability Booth at the 43rd annual International Bazaar, University Union Grand Ballroom
Booth sponsored by the Women's Center
Bazaar sponsored by the International Friendship Club

Saturdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 3-3:30 p.m.
NPR's "51 Percent" radio program about women
WIUM 91.3 FM and WIUW 89.5 FM, Tri-States Public Radio,
Underwritten by the Western Organization for Women

Sunday, March 6-Saturday, March 12
Girl Scout Week

Dates to be determined
Girl Scout cookie sales ($4 per box)
Multicultural Center first floor lobby and Morgan Hall first floor lobby
WIU Campus Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts of Central Illinois

Monday, March 7, 3:30-5 p.m.
Women's Art: Women's Vision Art Exhibit
Meet the Artists Reception
Multicultural Center second Floor
Sponsored by the Women's Center

Tuesday, March 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
International Women's Day Luncheon, panel presentation and displays
$10 non-students; no charge for WIU students
Reservation deadline Wednesday, March 2 at the Women's Center
Multicultural Center first floor
Sponsored by the Women's Center, the Center for International Studies and the International Friendship Club

Wednesday, March 9, 7-9 p.m.
"The Significance of Betty Friedan," presented by Barbara Mantz Drake, retired editor of the Peoria Journal Star
Multicultural Center first floor
Sponsored by the Departments of History, Women's Studies, Broadcasting and Journalism, Political Science, the Women's Center and the College of Arts and Sciences

Saturday, March 12–Sunday, March 20
WIU's Spring Break

Tuesday, March 22, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Cultural Connections - Female Superheroes
Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room
Sponsored by the Center for International Studies

Thursday, March 24
Commentary - WIU Women's Center 30th Anniversary
1986-2016 Honoring our Past; Shaping our Future
Janine Cavicchia, Women's Center Director 1998-2016
Tri States Public Radio WIUM 91.3 FM & WIUW 89.5 FM

Thursday, March 24, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
"Women in Public Service and Government: American and Global Perspectives," presented by WIU Department of History faculty members, Professor Ginny Boynton, Associate Professor Ute Chamberlin, Associate Professor Ginny Jelatis and Associate Febe Pamonag
Malpass Library Garden Lounge
Sponsored by WIU Department of History

Thursday, March 24, 7-9 p.m.
Documentary screening and discussion
"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.
Multicultural Center first floor multipurpose/activity rooms
Sponsored by the Women's Center, Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center, the departments of Women's Studies, African American Studies and History and the Expanding Cultural Diversity Project/Dealing with Difference Institute

Monday, March 28, 7-9 p.m.
Documentary dcreening and discussion – "Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority," the story of the first Asian American woman and woman of color in the U.S. Congress; U.S.
presidential candidate; and co-author of Title IX
Multicultural Center first floor multipurpose/activity Rooms
Sponsored by the Women's Center, Women's Studies, Political Science and History

Tuesday, March 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
At the Core and in the Margins:
The Incorporation of Mexican Immigrants in Rural Illinois
A REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists and Leaders presentation by Professor Julia Albarracín, author and WIU professor of Political Science
Multicultural Center multipurpose room
Sponsored by the Women's Center, LASO and USAC (Latin American Student Organization and Undocumented Students and Allies Coalition)

Thursday, March 31
Commentary–Women in Politics
Ready to Run Illinois Preview (April 30)
Professor Janna Deitz, political science and director of public leadership and outreach
Tri States Public Radio WIUM 91.3 FM and WIUW 89.5 FM

Monday, April 4, 11 a.m-1 p.m.
Fourth annual Wise Latina Luncheon
Multicultural Center first floor activity room
Sponsored by the Casa Latina Cultural Center

Tuesday, April 12, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Equal Pay Day resource and information tabling
University Union Concourse
Sponsored by the Feminist Action Alliance

Friday, April 15, 3-5 p.m.
Women's Center 30th anniversary Celebration open house
Multicultural Center first floor, Women's Center lounge and office suite

Saturday, April 16, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Women's Center 30th anniversary celebration!
Reception, dinner, program and sharing of memories with Women's Center founders, current and former staff and volunteers.
Cost: $30 for non-students
Multicultural Center first floor, Women's Center lounge and office suite

Friday, April 22, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
"The Clothesline Project" display
A Sexual Assault Awareness Month program
T-shirt making sessions will be held in March and April
Multicultural Center East Lawn; rain location: Multicultural Center first floor
Sponsored by Victim Services, the Women's Center, the Feminist Action Alliance and the University Counseling Center

Friday-Sunday, April 29-May 1
NWSA Midwest Regional Women's Centers meeting
Multicultural Center
Hosted by the WIU Women's Center

Friday, May 6, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists and Leaders Celebration Luncheon honoring 2015-16 Women's Center staff and volunteers, affiliated student organization leaders and other supporters
Multicultural Center multipurpose/activity Rooms

Friday, May 6, 3:30-5 p.m. (Remarks begin at 4 p.m.)
Retirement reception for Women's Center Director Janine Cavicchia
Multicultural Center multipurpose and activity Rooms

For more information about National Women's History Month, and for full list of the 2016 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, or e-mail womenscenter@wiu.edu or visit wiu.edu/wc.

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