In honor of Women’s History Month, the Women’s Student Center at UMass Boston is offering several activities throughout March. Bridget Shaughnessy, coordinator of the Women’s Center, described the events, which are open to the entire UMass Boston community, as “extremely interesting. The speakers keep your interest by being dynamic and inspirational.”
The Women’s Center and University Health Services jointly began celebrating Women’s History Month on March 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the McCormack Theater with One Night, a play put on by Equalogy, a professional theater company. Shaughnessy explained that the play focuses on acquaintance date rape, “also a part of history and recognized as a huge problem.”
On March 14, the Women’s Center, along with other student centers will sponsor “Safe Sex,” a “sex awareness talk.” This will be held from 11:00 to 1:00 in the Wheatley fourth floor Student Lounge.
Shaughnessy noted, “Other issues being addressed will be choice, natural mothering, black feminism, empowerment of Latino women and many other’s will be talked about in our poetry writing workshop.” On March 25 from 1:30 to 4:30 in the Wheatley fourth floor Student Lounge, several speakers will cover these topics. Sandra Alvarado will discuss “Women as Ethical Community Leaders,” Judy Smith of the UMB American Studies department will cover “Lorraine Hansberry and Black Feminism in the 1950s,” and Shoshanna Ehlirich and Chris Boble will speak on “Abortion and Choice.” This program will end with a panel discussion.
A “She Rave” will be held on March 26 at 6:30 in the Wheatley fourth floor Student Lounge. This will give participants a chance to express, through poems, music, pictures, or discussion, how a woman has influenced their lives.
UMB alumni and women poets Jacky Cuagnog and Dellana Diovisalvo will host a poetry writing and reading workshop on March 27 from 12:00 to 1:30 in the Harbor Art Gallery. This event will give participants, ranging from novice to expert poets, a chance to experience writing poetry on a variety of topics.
Lorna Rivera, from the Gorton Institute, will wrap up the Women’s Center celebration of Women’s History Month. She will discuss the history, education, and empowerment of Latino women. The date and time for this program will be determined at a later date. Call the Women’s Center at 7-7986 for details on this or any of the other events.
Shaughnessy concluded, “Women’s History Month is to remind us all of the accomplishments that women in the past have made for this world. By having Women’s History Month we become aware that anything can be accomplished and to never stop fighting for a better world. The center would like to give students an opportunity to enjoy Women’s History Month in an educational way. I’m hoping that we will get a great turn out.”