University plans Women's History Month events, activities

By: Craig Eisenberger

Posted: 3/4/05

In celebration of Women's History Month, which is traditionally held in March, the University has planned several upcoming events as part of this year's theme "Women Change America."

In an e-mail sent out to all students, faculty and staff, the University outlined several events beginning with panel discussions and ending with information tables on women's health issues and sexual assault awareness in the Korman Quad during Welcome Back Week, the first week of the Spring 2005 term.

"Women's History Month is a great opportunity for our diverse University community to celebrate the achievements of women in society yesterday and today," Undergraduate Student Government Association President John Dougherty said.

"I don't really care all that much," Dianne Bates, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering said. Bates said that she received the University e-mail, but deleted it. Commenting on the University celebrating "themed months" Bates added, "I guess for the people interested [it's important]. I'm not interested, so I don't care, but I'd imagine the people interested like them."

When asked about Women's History Month, incoming freshmen Laura Rachfalski said, "I can see it being very significant in tracking the accomplishments of women both through the history of the United States and even the world." Still Rachlfalski says that attendance may be affected because of the greater number of males on campus. As for her personal attendance, she says "it would depend on the event."

Senior Scott Park, who is majoring in Information Systems Technology, commented on the month saying, "I think it's just as important as any of those other months. However they rarely come into current social context. I think it would do women as a whole more justified if it wasn't just some sort of annotation on a calender."

Park goes on to comment that the University may not be doing its best in getting the word out.

"I know most of the advertising is done in the dorms, but that only accounts for a small portion of the students," he said.

"We all are on some sort of e-mail list. They could stop sending us spam about their A.J. Drexel Bank and direct some of that effort to student life events."

Still Park feels that as a man, there are few events held that would hold his interest. "It's really hard to find something that is directed at or for or about women and still have it appeal to a man."

Freshman student Shalija Shah, who is majoring in biology, commented on the events listed in the e-mail sent to students.

"I think that they are very well thought out and organized, but not very well advertised. The only posting I saw of the events was that single e-mail." Shah goes on to say that the events are perfect in and of themselves.

"The only suggestion I would have is to spread the word, make more people aware of what events are taking place so that they can be better informed about women's history month and what it entails." When asked what important "historical events" should be commended during this month, Shah said, "certainly the events centered around the 1840s, such as the Seneca Falls Convention as well as the huge milestones that were attained by women and the specific people that were driving factors in those achievements."

Shah added that it is also important to discuss the role abolitionists played in the initialization of the women's rights movement. Women's History Month saw its roots in 1980 with President Jimmy Carter who issued a Presidential Proclamation calling on the American people to remember the contributions of women to our society, according to the National Women's History Project. In 1987, fourteen governors declared March as Women's History Month. The same year, Congress and the President declared March as National Women's History Month.

This year's activities also recognize the 85th anniversary of women in the United States earning the right to vote.