Saint Xavier University hosted numerous events for the whole month of March in celebration of Women’s History Month and are calling it HERstory Month.
A donation drive to collect the everyday necessities and non-perishable food items for Pillars Community Health, a domestic violence shelter, was held February 15 through March 8 for students to donate items to.
On Tuesday, March 5, SXU Speaks hosted a discussion in the Wisman student lounge on the black women titled ‘Not Your Mammie” to bring to light the countless ways that black women are oppressed in their education, society, family, and identity. The discussion also talked about the cultural beliefs surrounding black womanhood.
SXU Speaks also held a discussion in the Wisman Student Lounge on Wednesday, March 6, to talk about the new wave of feminism, and what the future holds for feminism.
Another event hosted by SXU Speaks was held in the Wiseman Student Lounge and let students casually talk about issues like sexual assault, pay wage gaps, reproductive health rights, mental health, and many more other topics that affect everyday life on and off of campus.
Wednesday, March 20, was a day where a discussion about women in sports was held in the Wisman Student Lounge. This discussion talked about women who broke the barriers of a historically male-dominated industry and helped shape the world of sports for other women.
The SXU Health Fair was held in the Shannon Center on Friday, March 22, for female students to go and see vendors that were there to talk about women’s health and wellness.
The History Club sponsored a visit to the Hull-House Museum on Sunday, March 24, for students to go and learn about women’s history in Chicago.
There were two events hosted on Monday, March 25. The first event was with the featured speaker, state representative of the 21st District, Celina Villanueva, from 1 p.m. through 2 p.m. in Mcguire hall. Celina Villanueva was born in Chicago and raised in Little Village and formally served as the civic and youth engagement manager of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR).
The second event on Monday, March 25, was a discussion from 8:30 p.m. through 10:30 p.m. in the Pacelli Hall Lounge. This discussion focused on the connection of history to women’s issues and struggles they face in everyday life. In the Butler Reception Room on
Tuesday, March 26, the Women of Distinction Awards hosted an event to honor all of the marvelous women at SXU for their mentorship, leadership, and contributions to the empowerment of women.
There are two more events to be held for Women’s History Month and they are on Thursday, March 28 and Friday, March 29.
On Thursday, Zachary Draves an outreach advocate at Pillars Community Health’s Constance Morris House will be giving a presentation to address domestic violence in the LGBTQ community. This will be held in Room S-101 at 5 pm. in the Warde Academic Center.
The last event is on Friday, March 29, and is going to be held in the Wiseman Student Lounge from noon to 1 p.m. This event is hosted by SXU Speaks and is about lifting the veil of silence on the experiences of Muslim women. It includes a short video production and discussion that depicts insightful Muslim women.
Through the whole month of March, the Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library had a selection of works done by women for HERstory Month.
Women’s prayer groups were held twice a week by campus ministry on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesdays and 9 a.m. for students to gather and worship together while celebrating SXU’s core values.
Women History Month is an important month dedicated to celebrating all of the amazing women who have opened and are currently opening doors for the future generations of women to come.
Kylee Rus
News Reporter