MERC celebrates women’s history

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Multicultural Education and Resource Center (MERC) is sponsoring four presentations on women’s issues. On Thursday, March 19, Provost Susan Koch will give a speech in honor of Women’s History Month entitled “Phantoms at the Gate: Reflecting on Women and the Academy via Virginia Woolf’s ‘The Professions for Women.'” According to Shirley Brozzo, the director of MERC, the speech will address professions for women. Ruth Watry, a political science professor at Northern, will also give a presentation. She will speak on the Women’s Suffrage Movement in the United States on March 25 at 6 p.m. in Pioneer Room B of the University Center. The speech will cover the span of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention until the enactment of the 19th Amendment in 1920. “It is important to learn about the battles women had to fight to get this right that many of us take for granted,” Watry said. She said the No. 1 selection for president in the last 30 years has been “none of the above,” meaning that a majority of eligible voters did not partake in voting at all. “Rights that were won are rights we can lose. If we understand what these women had to do to secure these rights, we’re more likely to exercise, appreciate and understand the benefits of voting rights,” Watry said. On Wednesday, March 18, Psychology Professors Mary Pelton-Cooper and Maya Sen presented “The History of Women in Psychology: Overcoming Sex, Gender and Politics” and graduate student Rae’Kheal Alexander in MERC discussed “Becoming a Woman of Confidence.”

– John Becker and Lucy Hough

Workshop to teach French bread making

The NMU French Club is hosting a free seminar on Thursday, March 19 which will provide a taste of French culture and cuisine. Marquette local Peter Claybaker, owner of and baker for the Marquette Baking Company, will come to Northern’s campus to instruct the seminar. The NMU French Club invited Claybaker to lead the seminar because of his knowledge and expertise on the process of baking various French breads. In addition to explaining baking procedures, he will discuss the history of the baguette, sourdough boule and croissant. Free samples of each type of bread will be provided for those who attend. Hannah Shiver, co-vice president of NMU’s French Club, said the event is targeted to not only students at Northern, but high school students and community members as well. “I would recommend this seminar to anyone who is interested in the culinary arts, French food and culture or has a love for food in general,” Shiver said. In addition to his bakery, Claybaker’s breads are found at the Marquette Food Coop, Donckers and the Huron Earth Deli. The seminar will take place in the Whitman Commons from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

– Lauren Tarr

3-on-3 basketball to raise money