Various offices and Registered Student Organizations(RSOs) on campus will be hosting events throughout the month of March in honor of Women’s History Month(HERstory).
Ashley Jackson, the Director of Campus Life, stated that “There are a variety of events coming from various offices and RSOs”.
Jackson continued to list some of the events taking place, stating that “Shavonn Nowlin will be hosting a discussion on the unrealistic societal norms that are placed on women along with another discussion on women’s health. Black Student Union will host their annual women business expo to highlight women entrepreneurs. Women Entering Business will host a women empowerment workshop and Center for SUCCESS will host a panel to amplify the women in Chicago”.
Other organizations involved with the Women’s HERstory Month events include: “discussions, workshops, business expo, and a panel presentation”, according to Jackson.
Evelyn Martinez, President of Women Entering Business(WEB), stated that “Women Entering Business is hosting an event in collaboration with The Political Science Forum and Start by Believing”.
Matinez added that the event is titled “Women’s History Month: Empowerment Workshop”.
The Empowerment Workshop, similar to many of the events planned for the month, is “all about educating people and helping people be safe in environments they might not feel comfortable in” Martinez continued.
Students received an email on February 16 regarding the submission of events for the Women’s HERstory Month calendar.
The email called for any RSOs, classes, academic departments, or student service departments that wished to submit a form that included: “Program/event title, Program/event description, and Sponsoring department/RSO name”.
The original deadline for event submissions was Wednesday, Feb. 22 at noon but was subsequently extended to the following Friday, Feb. 24 at noon for all submissions and necessary funding requests.
This collaboration between Campus Life and staff/faculty/student groups is not a new thing. Jackson stated that “Campus Life always sends out a call for programs to provide the opportunity for collaboration”.
Jackson also added that “For all diversity celebration months, Campus Life sends out a request for programs that departments, RSOs, and various campus members can share”.
Women’s History Month started off as a single week starting March 7 in 1981 following the passing of Pub. L. 97-28 into law by Congress, according to the official Women’s History Month website.
In the wake of Congress’ decision to pass Pub. L. 97-28 into law, joint resolutions in support of the law were passed for the subsequent five years.
In 1987, Pub. L. 100-9 was passed by Congress which designated the entire month of March as Women’s History Month.
Between the years of 1988 and 1994, Congress “passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month” according to the Women’s History Month website.
The website continued to state, “Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women’s History Month”.
Since its beginning, Women’s History Month and its supporting proclamations have served as a way to “celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields”, the website continued.
Jackson added that the significance of hosting events in honor of Women’s History Month is “to highlight the accomplishments that have often been overlooked”.
More details about events being held for Women’s History Month can be found on the Women’s HERstory Month calendar or on TheDen.