SRU celebrates Women’s History Month with ‘waves’ of events
Those who picketed for the women’s suffrage movement in 1917 are among women’s contributions to society that Slippery Rock University is celebrating during Women’s History Month. The SRU Women’s Center is organizing several events and programs as well as a social media campaign to recognize women’s achievements that are lost in history.
March 7, 2019
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - March is Women's History Month and Slippery Rock University is hoping that events planned throughout the month will cause a ripple effect for women to make even more history.
"Generating Waves of Empowerment" is the Women's History Month theme selected by the staff at the SRU Women's Center, a campus advocacy and resource center for women that is helping organizations across campus host and sponsor events this month that include speakers, films and celebrations.
"The Women's Center is always trying to be empowering for women through our programming all year long, whether that means giving people a voice or making them feel that they have a voice," said Jodi Solito, director of the Women's Center. "What we do is not confined to this month, but as certain populations have dedicated months for recognition, it's still important for us, as a University, to use opportunities to spotlight women and their contributions to our society that we don't normally recognize or learn about."
Each day throughout the month, the Women's Center is sharing profiles of women's contributions through the Center's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media pages. The social media campaign celebrates the accomplishments of women, those well-known from their coverage in history books and in the media, but also unsung accounts of women that may have been lost in history.
Women's History Month events at SRU kicked off March 6 when Hanifa Nakiryowa spoke at the Smith Student Center Ballroom. Nakiryowa, a Pittsburgh resident, was a victim of an acid attack in her native country, Uganda. She was burned with a corrosive liquid after escaping an abusive marriage. She has since founded a rehabilitation center for survivors of similar acid violence in Uganda.
Additional Women's History Month events include:
• "Lifting Us Up: Thanking The Women Who Came Before Us," 12:30-1:30 p.m., March 7, SSC second floor, an opportunity for people to complete thank-you postcards dedicated to women who impacted their lives, sponsored by the Women's Center.
• "Health Equity," 6 p.m., March 7, SSC Theater, a presentation and discussion exploring the health-care gap among black and white women, co-sponsored by the Women's Center and the Office for Inclusive Excellence.
• "De-Sexualization of Women with Disabilities," 12:30 p.m., March 19, SSC Theater, a presentation sponsored by the Women's Center.
• "Together We Rise," 5 p.m., March 20, SSC Ballroom A, a celebration of women and informal reception co-sponsored by the Women's Center and OIE.
• "Don't Be Hysterical," 12:30 p.m., March 21, SSC Theater, a presentation and discussion about women and mental health, cosponsored by the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and Active Minds.
• "All In," 6 p.m., March 21, SCC Ballroom B, a viewing of a film highlighting talented, athletic female skiers, co-sponsored by the Geology, Geography and Environmental Club at SRU, the GGE department and the Women's Center.
• "The Rape of Recy Taylor," 5 p.m., March 25, Spotts Auditorium, the viewing of documentary film followed by a discussion, sponsored by FMLA.
• Speaker: Sona Kazemi, 7:30 p.m., March 25, SSC Theater, a presentation about the disablement and narratives of survivors from the Iran-Iraq War, sponsored by the Gender Studies program.
• Night Out Celebration, 5 p.m., March 27, SSC Ballroom, a dinner and awards ceremony recognizing graduates from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, sponsored by the President's Commission on Gender Identity & Expression and Sexual Orientation.
• "Building Alliances," 12:30 p.m., March 28, SSC Ballroom B, a workshop with The Rev. Irene Monroe to help organizations collaborate with one another, hosted by the Psychology Department.
• Speaker: The Rev. Irene Monroe, 7:30 p.m., March 28, SSC Theater, a presentation about the connection between spirituality, racism, sexism and homophobia, hosted by the Psychology Department.
• "Neil Berg's American Royalty: Queens of Sex, Soul and Song," 7:30 p.m., March 29, University Union, a performance celebrating female singers, part of the SRU Performing Arts Series.• Phi Alpha Honors Society is hosting a feminine product drive all month with all items collected donated to local shelters. A collection box is in the Dinger Building lobby.
• The President's Commission on Women and the Gender Studies Program is accepting nominations for its Women of Distinction award from March 6-April 22. Click here to learn more and to complete an online nomination form.
MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu