University of Akron hosts Women’s History Month events

02/23/2010

Women's History Month 2010The University of Akron Women’s Studies Program will present a series of speakers and performers in March in honor of Women’s History Month.

Catie Curtis, the “out” Boston folk singer known for her songs about homelessness and social problems, will kick off Women’s History Month at UA with a performance at the E.J. Thomas Stage Door venue on Tuesday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. Her performance is sponsored by UA’s Women’s Studies Program and E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, with support from the Gay Endowment Fund.

The University will host a Women’s Wellness Fair on Thursday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on the third floor of UA’s Polsky Building. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy demonstrations, booths and displays focusing on women’s health issues. The fair is sponsored by UA’s Women’s Studies Program, Student Life at Summit College, Multicultural Student Nurses Association and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Rosa Githoria, a UA doctoral candidate, will present, “Women’s International Day: Female Genital Mutilation in the U.S.” on Monday, March 8, at 7 p.m. in the Martin University Center. Her free talk is sponsored by UA’s Women’s Studies Program.

UA’s Bliss Institute for Applied Politics will honor Sen. Grace Drake at the “Women in Politics” luncheon on Wednesday, March 10, at 11:30 a.m. at the Martin University Center. For more information about this luncheon, call 330-972-5479.

Lilly Ledbetter, the woman behind the legislation that changed the triggering period for equal work discrimination litigation, will speak on Wednesday, March 10, at UA’s Student Union Theatre at 7 p.m. Ledbetter, who worked for Goodyear for 19 years, sued the company and won after she was paid less than her male colleagues. The ruling was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, which brought about the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill signed by President Barack Obama. Her free talk is sponsored by UA’s Women’s Studies Program and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

A panel of experts will discuss, “Disposable Women: The Imperial Avenue, Cleveland Murders” on Tuesday, March 23, at 4 p.m. in UA’s Student Union, Room 308. The experts will examine the murders of at least 11 Cleveland-area women and how their disappearances were handled by their families and the justice system. This free panel presentation is sponsored by UA’s Women’s Studies Program and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

National Public Radio Talk Show Host Diane Rehm will deliver a UA Forum Series lecture on Wednesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall. Her lecture is sponsored by UA’s College of Creative and Professional Arts’ Mary Schiller Myers Lecture Series, in partnership with WCPN-FM. Tickets cost $8 each for the public, $6 for UA faculty and staff, and $4 for students. For tickets, call the E.J. Thomas ticket office at 330-972-7570. Details.

"Women and the Military: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," an open discussion for and about women who are currently in or who have served in the U.S. military, will take place on Tuesday, March 30, at 4 p.m. in UA’s Student Union, Room 308. This free discussion is sponsored by UA’s Women’s Studies and Adult Focus programs.

Pacifist and three-time Nobel Prize nominee Kathy Kelly will discuss her campaign for creative non-violence in her presentation, “Voices of Creative Non-Violence” on Wednesday, March 31, at 5 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Theatre. Her free lecture is sponsored by UA’s Graduate CROW.

Staceyann Chin, New York poet and performer, will perform on Wednesday, March 31, at 7 p.m. in UA’s Student Union Theatre. This free event is sponsored by UA’s Women’s Studies Program and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

The Third Biannual Graduate Gender Symposium on Wednesday, March 31, and Thursday, April 1, will wrap up UA’s Women’s History Month activities. The free symposium, which will showcase graduate scholarship in all fields of women’s studies and research on gender, is sponsored by UA’s Graduate CROW.

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Media contact: Sarah Lane, 330-972-7429 or slane@uakron.edu.