Women's History Month Celebrations at The University of Akron
Akron, Ohio, Feb. 6, 2006 — Winona LaDuke, Native American rights activist and former vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, will be the keynote speaker during The University of Akron Women's History Month celebration in March — “Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams.” The monthlong series of events, coordinated by the university's Women's Studies Program, will include workshops, panel discussions, a Wellness Fair and a Women's Arts Festival featuring musical performances and original poetry readings. Other notable speakers include writers Leona Williams, Signithia Fordham and Connie Schultz. Patricia Millhoff, director of UA's Women's Studies Program, says the programs will address the multitude of ways that today's women interact with society. “From ‘Women in the Military' to ‘Queer Women Make History, Too,' the programs examine the diversity of modern women's experiences, while at the same time celebrating their contributions,” she says. All events are open to the public. Programs will be held on The University of Akron campus and are free of charge, unless otherwise noted. For more information, call Women's Studies at 330-972-7008. Events March 1 Women in the Military panel discussion, 3 to 5 p.m., Student Union Room 314. Women, both active duty and veterans, will discuss their experiences in the U.S. military, with a focus on issues of gender discrimination and opportunities. “Iron Jawed Angels,” 7 to 9 p.m., Student Union Theatre. This HBO films tells the true stories of suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns as they risked their lives to gain the right to vote for women. (Repeat showings on March 13, 3 to 5 p.m.; and March 22, 7 to 9 p.m.) March 2 Sacred Fiction performance, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Wayne College Cafeteria. A women's rock/folk band will perform selections of its music. Women's Studies Faculty Research Panel, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Wayne College Community Room. Women's studies faculty and staff will discuss their current research on issues of contemporary feminist scholarship in a variety of academic disciplines. For Beauty's Sake, 7 to 9 p.m., Simmons Hall Auditorium. A one-woman play about women's love/hate relationships with their bodies. March 6 Connie Schultz, 7 to 9 p.m., Akron-Summit County Public Library, main branch. Pulitzer Prize-winning, Plain Dealer columnist will discuss women's rights and the importance of such organizations as the Association for Women in Communications. March 8 Women and Peace panel discussion, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Student Union Room 316. Women peace activists will discuss their efforts and analyze the links among women's rights, feminist movements and the peace movement. March 9 Winona LaDuke, 7 to 9 p.m., Student Union Theatre. Native American rights and environmental activist LaDuke will deliver the keynote address for Women's History Month. March 10 It's a Women's World Conference, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Student Union Theatre, $75 general registration, $15 for UA students. Naomi Tutu, daughter of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will speak at 9 a.m. at this all-day conference that focuses on international women's issues. Continuing education credits will be offered to attending professionals who work with immigrant and refugee women. For more information, call 330-376-5106. Holly Near, 7 to 9 p.m., Student Union Theatre, $15 general admission, free to UA students with valid UA ID. Singer, songwriter and social activist will perform and discuss the issues of social justice she promotes. March 14 Women in the Holocaust, 7 to 9 p.m., Student Union Room 312. The daughter of a Holocaust survivor will discuss her experiences and share her extensive research on women who were victims and survivors. Deidre McCalla, 7:17 to 10 p.m., Student Union Starbucks. Urban pop singer/songwriter provides social commentary in her storytelling and music. March 15 Women in Politics panel, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Student Union Room 312. Local women politicians will discuss their experiences, focusing on gender discrimination and opportunities in public service. Leona Williams, 7 to 9 p.m., Student Union Ballroom A. The author of “It's the Little Things: Everyday Interactions That Anger, Annoy and Divide the Races” will discuss her work. March 16 Women's Arts Festival Musical Performance, noon to 2 p.m., Student Union Mosaic Wall. Women students and supporters will perform songs with feminist themes. Women's Arts Festival Poetry Reading, 2 to 4 p.m., Student Union Bookstore. Women students and supporters will read original poetry with feminist themes. Signithia Fordham, 7 to 9 p.m., Student Union Theatre. This African-American writer will discuss issues of race, gender and the educational environment. March 20 Queer Women Make History, Too; 2 to 4:30 p.m., Student Union Room 316. Guest speakers will discuss their experiences negotiating the identities of race and sexual orientation as well as gender expression in the gay and heterosexual communities. March 21 Queer Women Make History, Too; 7 to 9 p.m., Student Union Room 314. Discussion topics include the LGBT rights movement and efforts to build alliances between it and other social justice movements. March 22 Women and Crime: Unique Issues, Problems and Solutions panel discussion, 3 to 5 p.m., Student Union, Room 316. Veteran women in the criminal justice system will discuss their observations. March 23 Feminist Public Policy Issues, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Student Union Ballroom E. National Organization for Women representatives will discuss current public policy issues affecting the lives of women in the United States and abroad. Women's Wellness Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Student Union, second floor. 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