February 28, 2012
University to celebrate Women’s History Month
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale celebrates women and their achievements with an assortment of special activities throughout the month of March.
“Women’s Education, Women’s Empowerment” is the theme of the 2012 Women’s History Month observance. Special films, guest speakers, theatrical performances, self-defense training, a scholarship event and much more are on tap in coming weeks.
Hear from someone who has really lived war journalism up close and personal during the keynote address by Jackie Spinner on March 5. Spinner earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at SIU Carbondale and has had a long and successful career in journalism as well as working in altruistic endeavors. A Fulbright Scholar and assistant professor of journalism at Columbia College Chicago, she was a longtime Washington Post staff writer who covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and traveled around the world, reporting news where it happened.
“Women’s History Month will provide students and others with experiences, challenges and opportunities leading to a more complete education, enhancing their cultural competence and preparing them to thrive in an ever-changing, globalized society. The activities of Women’s History Month highlight an awareness of influence, power, gender and identity. It is an experience not to be missed,” said Carl Ervin, coordinator of the Black Resource Center.
The University Museum will feature works from contemporary women artists month and the GLBT Resource Center will offer Safe Zone Training sessions each Wednesday in March at 5 p.m. at the center, located in Woody Hall. For details about the training, contact the center at glbtrc@siu.edu or by calling 618/453-5627. The Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest is happening during March as well. For more information, contact Allison Joseph at 618/453-6813 or by emailing aljoseph@siu.edu.
The schedule of events for Women’s History Month 2012, with all free and open to the public unless otherwise noted, includes:
Thursday, March 1
• “Women of Today: Winning Against the Odds,” 2:30-4 p.m., Faner Hall Auditorium. The Office of Institutional Diversity hosts this presentation by Crystal Kuykendall, author, attorney, founder of Kreative and Innovative Resources for Kids and popular motivational speaker. A Chicago native, Kuykendall earned her bachelor’s degree in government from SIU Carbondale and also holds a master’s in sociology from Montclair State University in New Jersey and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She will offer a historical perspective on how women have overcome and sometimes been overwhelmed by social mores, institutional bias and individual problems and setbacks. Her presentation will look at equity, education and empowerment for contemporary women who want to thrive and succeed.
• “Bystander Culture: How Good Men Hurt Good Women,” 7 p.m., Student Health Center Auditorium. The Progressive Masculinities Mentors is hosting this panel discussion.
Friday, March 2
• Film Fridays at The Varsity: “!Women Art Revolution,” 4:30 p.m., Varsity Theatre, 418 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale. This film looks at interviews, art and rarely seen film and video footage to show how the Feminist Art Movement combined free speech and politics into works that transformed art and culture.
Monday, March 5
• Jackie Spinner presents the keynote address, “It’s What We Do! Women and War Reporting,” 11:30 a.m., Morris Library’s John C Guyon Auditorium. Spinner is a distinguished alumna (1992 bachelor’s in journalism), Fulbright Scholar, journalist and assistant professor of journalism at Columbia College Chicago. She was a staff writer for The Washington Post for 14 years, covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and serving in numerous countries around the world. She is the founder of “Angel Says: Read,” an international literacy program based in Belize and has also worked in other efforts helping people.
Tuesday, March 6
• Empowering Others: Panhellenic Association Campus-wide Undergarment and Toiletry Drive to benefit The Women’s Center. Bring donations of undergarments and toiletries to the special tables at the Student Center and Grinnell and Trueblood halls between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.. For details, contact Brianna Hayes at bjhayes6@siu.edu.
• International Women’s Night, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Morris Library, Hall of Presidents and Chancellors. International female faculty and graduate students from various countries and academic disciplines will share their personal insights about living, studying, teaching and conducting research in America during this event that celebrates the achievements of international women. International Programs and Services will provide refreshments following the discussion.
Wednesday, March 7
• Film Series: Women and the Law in American Cinema, 3-6 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. Carl Bloom, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Council, will introduce the film “Paid,” starring Joan Crawford, and lead the discussion. A reception will follow in the Hall of Presidents and Chancellors.
Thursday, March 8
• International Women’s Day, 11:30- 5 p.m., Student Center Ballrooms A and B. The Celebrating Scholarship By and About Women Luncheon is set for 11:30-1 p.m. and serves as a scholarship fundraiser with a portion of the proceeds going to Women’s Studies scholarships. The cost is $25 per ticket for the soup and salad luncheon and reservations are due March 1. To purchase tickets email uwpa@siu.edu or call 618/453-1099. Recipients of the 2011 Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Awards will speak from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and afterward, there will be an awards ceremony with the presentation of the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) and American Association of University Women Scholarships (AAUW) and recognition of recipients of the University Women of Distinction Awards. A reception in Corker Lounge follows.
• MCMA Hosts Carolyn M. Byerly, journalism professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C., 6 p.m., Communications Building, Room 1032. She will present “Gender, Power and Journalism: New Research on Women in Newsrooms Around the World.”
Monday, March 19
• “Any Way You Need Her: Blues Performance as Empowerment and Transformation,” featuring Maria Johnson, associate professor of music, 7-9 p.m., Student Center Auditorium. Through audio, video and live performance, the audience will experience the expressive power of women’s blues and how it can reflect diversity, challenge the status quo and transform personally and as a society.
Tuesday, March 20
• Dialoguing Dissertations and Social, panel discussion from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Morris Library’s John C. Guyon Auditorium, followed by reception and social, 8:30-9:30 p.m. in first floor rotunda. Women in various stages of the graduate school and dissertation experience and female professionals working in the field will discuss their experiences. The Higher Education Student Association is sponsoring the reception.
Wednesday, March 21
• Film Series: Women and the Law in American Cinema, 3-6 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. Tony Williams, English professor, will introduce the Gene Hackman film “Class Action” and lead the accompanying discussion.
• Student Center Special Programs Coffeehouse Series: “Dialogues and Performance: Women’s Education, Women’s Empowerment,” 7-9 p.m., Student Center, Roman Room.
Thursday, March 22
• “Real Women Have Curves,” an Hispanic Student Council presentation, 7-9 p.m., Student Center, Thebes Room.
March 22 and 23
• A twin bill from Kleinau Theater featuring “Where’s Queerdo? Disabling Perceptions!” and “The Real Housewives of Heather’s Head,” 8 p.m., Kleinau Theater, Communications Building, second floor. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for the general public. Call 618/453-5618 for reservations.
Friday, March 23
• Film Fridays at the Varsity: “Kid on Hip, Camera in Hand,” 4:30 p.m., Varsity Theater, 418 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale. It’s a program of short films by women, exploring the world through the eyes of motherhood. Curators are Enie Vaisburd, assistant professor of media arts, and Jennifer Hardacker, associate professor of media arts, both from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.
Monday, March 26
• Women’s Self-Defense Session from Residence Halls Association, 3:30 p.m., outside Lentz Hall. In case of rain, the self-defense training moves to Lentz Dining Room 5.
• “Cultural Criticism and Transformation,” 5 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. The Women’s Center is presenting the bell hooks film and accompanying discussion.
Tuesday, March 27
• Film Series: Women and the Law in American Cinema, 3-6 p.m., Morris Library, John C. Guyon Auditorium. Susan Felleman, associate professor of cinema and photography, will introduce the Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn film “Adam’s Rib,” and lead the discussion following the movie.
• “Solidarity and Schism in the National Organization for Women,” 7:30-9 p.m., Grinnell Hall, Lower Level. The Black Togetherness Organization is hosting this panel discussion with Kelsy Kretschmer, assistant professor of sociology, as the leader.
Wednesday, March 28
• “The Representation of College Women in Film” by Saran Donahoo, associate professor of educational administration and higher education, 2 p.m., Morris Library, fourth floor conference room. It is a Higher Education Student Association presentation.
• Bystander Intervention Training: Sexism, 5-7 p.m., Carbondale Civic Center, 200 W. Illinois Ave. The Women’s Center and Nonviolent Carbondale are presenting this training session.
• “Snap, Crackle, Pop Exercises for Women,” 7 p.m., Student Center, Mississippi Room. Wear comfy clothing for this active learning session with leaders including Beverly Love, assistant professor of radio-television. The session highlights holistic exercise programs for women to bring about positive changes for overall physical, emotional and mental health improvements to help them become strong and successful.
Thursday, March 29
• Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest Awards Ceremony. Time and place TBA. For details contact Allison Joseph, associate professor of English, at aljoseph@siu.edu or 618/453-6813.
Saturday, March 31
• Works by Women at SIU, a Girls Make Movies fundraiser, 7 p.m., Communications building, CP Soundstage/Room 1116. Viewers will get to see a selection of film and videos created by University female faculty, students, alumna and summer campers. There will be an admission charge. For details, contact Susan Felleman at felleman@siu.edu.
“I am very excited about Women’s History Month this year because it is providing some of the students I advise a chance to get involved in a University-wide event. The students of RHA are putting on the Women’s Self Defense event and it is a great opportunity for the entire campus to learn what can be done in the case of an emergency,” said Rexann Whorton, University Housing graduate assistant-education and outreach/RHA adviser.
Women’s History Month sponsors include: Women Gender and Sexuality Studies, Office of the Associate Chancellor for Institutional Diversity, SIU Alumni Association, Student Center Special Programs, College of Mass Communication and Media Arts, AAUW, GLBT Resource Center, Black Togetherness Organization, Progressive Masculinities Mentors, The Varsity Theater, Office of International Programs and Services, Panhellenic Association, Higher Education Student Association, Hispanic Student Council, Kleinau Theater, Residence Halls Association, The Women’s Center, Creative Writing Program and Department of English, Black Resource Center, Center for Inclusive Excellence and WSIU Broadcasting.
For more information, visit the Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/whmatsiu or check the official Twitter at #WHMatSIU.