Speakers and Panels Scheduled to Honor Women's History Month

March is a month devoted to Irish-American heritage, peanut product lovers and nutrition. It is also a month devoted to women.

At Edinboro University, women’s history month is recognized through a series of oncampus panels and presentations.

“Every year we put in a call for proposals and invite outside speakers, as well,” chairman of the women’s studies and women’s history month committee, Nina Thumser said. “We try to offer a variety of things.”

Women’s history month grew from a small California school event. It wasn’t, however, a month long at that time. In 1978, it became a week-long celebration. Two years later, it expanded further when then president Jimmy Carter declared “National Women’s History Week” to be held the week of March 8. That date would later become the international women’s day.

Several years later, the celebration of women’s accomplishments was extended further, becoming the entire month of March.

When proposals are submitted to the women’s history month committee, the members sit down and schedule them throughout the month. Thumser has been chair of the committee for eight years now and says the arrangement of events helps to avoid overlap.

“The Legacy of Jane Goodall: Human Responsibility as Stewards of the Natural World” will be held on Thursday, March 24 from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. in Wiley 107. This presentation will outline the life of Jane Goodall, a behavioral scientist.

“The Leading Ladies of Social Work” will be held later from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. at Butterfield 101. This will include a presentation with a Ted Talk and a discussion afterwards.

“Nip. Tuck. Clip.” will be presented by the Northwestern Pennsylvania chapter of National Organizational Women (NOW) on Monday, March 28, beginning at 6 p.m. in Compton 107A. This event will begin with a film discussing eating disorders, their causes, and their consequences, focusing especially on women and girls with such disorders. A panel will follow it.

The final event of the month, “Beat Women’s Life-Writing” will be held on Wednesday, March 30 at 11 a.m. in Cooper 131.

“It is to inspire female students to accomplish,” Thumser said. “And to recognize what’s been done and what they can do.”

Tracy Geibel is the Executive Editor for The Spectator and she can be reached at edinboro.spectator@gmail.com.

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