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March 8 is International Women’s Day, the entire month of March is Women’s History Month, and Millersville University is planning events to celebrate.
This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, and the celebrations will begin on Thursday, March 2. The President’s Commission on the Status of Women will host an International Women’s Day student celebration in the Atrium of the SMC, featuring food, games and several on-campus organizations, departments and programs that will highlight what their group does to promote equity on campus. The event begins at 11 a.m. and will continue until 1 p.m.
“International Women’s Day was started more than one hundred years ago and remains an important moment for working to advance women’s equality,” explains Dr. Christine Filippone, chair of the PCSW. “As early as 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding better working conditions: shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.”
On March 8, the annual International Women’s Day Theodora Talks will be held at the Ware Center. Guest speakers will include Dr. Amaka Nnamani, a board-certified general pediatrician and breastfeeding advocate, artist Keisha Finnie and Church World Services speakers along with Millersville University student leaders Samickshya Subedi and Apsara Uprety. There will be performances throughout the evening as well by VilleHarmonics, Marauder Music and Aayusha Chapagain, who will perform two traditional dances, one Nepali and the other Hindi.
The event begins at 5 p.m., where local women-owned businesses will be selling items, and community organizations will share resources. The Theodora Talks event begins at 7 p.m. Free babysitting will be provided from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. by an MU student organization.
“There is significant overlap between the aims of International Women’s Day and the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, historically and today,” says Filippone. “The PCSW in the U.S. was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to advise the president on issues concerning the status of women. Today, Millersville’s PCSW advises President Wubah on the progress of its mission: to foster a University climate that promotes full and equal opportunity for women to study, work, and live in an environment free of discrimination and harassment.”
Other celebrations on campus include “Empowered Women Empower Women,” sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The event will take place in the SMC Atrium on March 20 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature free food, t-shirts, and local women-owned businesses. On March 24, Her Campus Millersville will host the Her Carnival, a women’s empowerment event concentrated on celebrating diverse women and speaking on current women’s issues. Located in the MPR of the SMC, this event will last from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Some other events at the Ware Center include:
- “All Things Equal – The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” The play sees Supreme Court Justice “RBG” sharing tales of her life and all its trials and successes with her granddaughter. MU students can receive a free ticket and a free shuttle right with a valid ID. The event takes place on March 2, and doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. show.
- We The People First Fridays Presents: “Thunda N Mimosas: This One’s for The Girls.” This event is a poetry showcase of six women-identifying poets that local writer Thunda Khatt met over the last two years. The showcase includes J Rose from Brooklyn, NY; A Glowing Poet from Baltimore, MD; Baby The Poet of Bethlehem, PA, Lady Syren and Mary Mance both from Philly; and opening the show is Lancaster’s own Aniah Heaven. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with all women entertainers, venders, and crew.
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On Screen/In Person Film Series: Warrior Women. On Screen/In Person Film Series: “Warrior Women.” This film follows the story of Madonna Thunder Hawk, who shaped a kindred group of activists’ children into the “We Will Remember” Survival School as a Native alternative to government-run education. The screening begins on Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. A Q&A with co-director Dr. Elizabeth Castle will follow.
For a full list of events on and around campus to celebrate Women’s History Month, visit the events calendar for more information.
