March is Women’s History Month and many campus organizations and departments are hosting events and speakers to commemorate this month.
Women’s History Month is an annual declared month worldwide that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia and corresponds with International Women’s Day, which takes place on Saturday, March 8.
According to Women for Women secretary Sarah Eggleston, Women’s History Month serves as a time to commend tenacious women.
“Women’s History Month is when society recognizes the strong women in society,” Eggleston.
Women for Women is one of the campus organizations sponsoring events to commemorate Women’s History Month.Women for Women is celebrating Women’s History Month with a week-long event titled ‘Self-Acceptance Week.’”
This year’s Self-Acceptance Week is aimed at empowering victims of sexual assault. “The biggest event Women for Women hosts every year is Self-Acceptance which is the week of March 24. We have a full week of events planned,” Eggleston said.
Self-Acceptance Week includes a different activity Monday through Friday, such as “Hear Me Roar,” a readers’ theater showcasing stories of survivors of sexual assault.
In conjunction with Women for Women’s Third Annual Self-Acceptance Week, Hear Us Roar will take place on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. said Justine Samek former, Women for Women president.
“Our readers’ theater called ‘Hear Us Roar’ has taken place for the last seven years working to end sexual assault and help others understand that they are not alone as survivors. Come support survivors, friends, family members, students, faculty, staff and community members as they tell their stories from their point of view,” Samek said.
Keynote speakers are coming to Northern to celebrate Women’s History Month said Brian Kakas, an assistant professor of Ceramics at the School of Art and Design.
“There are five national and international artists that have been arranged to visit NMU for lectures, workshops and demonstrations.
“Scheduled events will address aspects of their professional works offering insight to particular fields of research ranging from socio-political topics concerning gender identity issues to artists that are bridging gaps between material sciences and visual arts through the use of digital and analog technologies,” Kakas said. “We are excited to host a group of such high-caliber of artists from around the globe in celebration of Women’s History Month at Northern”
Native American women are represented by speaker Audrey Guyer. Guyer is being sponsored by the Multicultural Education Resource Center (MERC), and will be presenting her documentary film, “Our Fires Still Burn: The Native American Experience.”
“The film shows viewers some contemporary Native American role models living in the Midwest,” said Shirley Brozzo, the Associate Director of the Multicultural Education Resource Center.
“Our Fires Still Burn: the Native American Experience” will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 in Whitman Hall Commons.
Jasmine Walker, a sophomore English major and gender studies minor, said, “Women’s History Month events are important opportunities that students should take advantage of and attend.”
Students interested in learning more can email Sarah Eggleston at [email protected] for activities pertaining to Women for Women.
Shirley Brozzo at [email protected] regarding “Our Fires Still Burn: The Native American Experience.”
Brian Kakas at [email protected] regarding artist keynote speakers.
