2009 Women's Month

	Week of March 1st	Week of March 15th
	Week of March 22rd/29th

WOMEN’S MONTH EVENT INFORMATION

March 1
2 pm - Women’s Month KICKOFF: Stop the Abuse Run & Walk
GLC Lobby
You are invited to join graduate students and their families to run or walk a portion of the Huckleberry Trail. Informational materials, refreshments and giveaways will be provided. Contact Lindsay Moss, lcmoss@vt.edu

March 2-6
12-4pm - Gender Matters Quilting Project
Women’s Center Library
Create a quilt square around the theme "Gender Matters". Individual squares will be pieced together into a community quilt and displayed at the Women’s Center. Contact Anna LoMascolo, alomasco@vt.edu

March 2
7:00 pm - Quilting Together a Career in Science
Torgersen 3100
Multi-award winning professor Geraldine Richmond from the University of Oregon will speak about celebrating the lives and careers of women in science. Contact Peggy Layne, playne@vt.edu

March 3
12pm - Sustainable, Just, and Disaster Resilient: Can We Get There Without Gender Equality?
GLC Meeting Room B
Dr. Elaine Enarson will discuss the need to link sustainable development and women’s empowerment in the global effort to reduce hazards and the risk of disasters. Contact Maria Elisa Christie, mechristie@vt.edu

7pm - FEATURED EVENT: Building Safer Communities: Women, Gender & Disaster Risk Reduction
Torgersen 3100
Consultant, sociologist and independent scholar, Dr. Elaine Enarson will talk about how the aftermath of disasters poses unique issues for women (in their diversity), such as increased sexual violence and problems related to reproductive health, pregnancy and infant care. Contact Suchitra Samanta, ssamanta@vt.edu

March 4
7 pm - Women’s Month Film Festival: Cargo, Innocence Lost
GLC Auditorium
This documentary unveils the dark underworld of sex trafficking in the United States. Following the screening, a representative from International Justice Mission (IJM), a human rights agency, will speak on the complex issues surrounding sex trafficking and how concerned individuals can join counter-trafficking efforts. For more info on the Life Project visit: www.thelife-project.com. Light refreshments will be served. WARNING: This film contains adult content. Counselors will be available on-site. Contact Leah Wickham, leahw@vt.edu

March 16
12 pm - Women’s Month Film Festival: What’s Your Point, Honey?
Women’s Center Conference Room
This clever and inspiring film puts a new face on political leadership by introducing seven possible contenders coming through the pipeline while revealing inequalities that exist today. Contact Jessie Meltsner, jmelts@vt.edu

March 17 & 19
12-1 pm - HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERIES: Relax and Rejuvenate: Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Techniques
Women's Center Conference Room
Back by popular demand! In this workshop, Melissa Lind, Coordinator for Counseling and Advocacy, will introduce participants to basic mindfulness-based techniques for relaxation and stress management. Techniques will include yoga postures, basic meditation, and breathing techniques that participants can use at the office or at home. Please register at https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1234534239056. For more information, contact Jessica Stallard at jesss07@vt.edu.

March 17
7-9 pm - JESSICA HALEM: SOLAR-POWERED
Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires Student Center
Jessica is a radical feminist, Jewish, queer comic. She was recently nominated for best female comic for the Chicago Comedy awards. Replete with explicit language and palpable irreverence, her comedy act explores the role identity, social justice and their relationship to comedic narrative play in our collective social consciousness and imagination. She will be doing her stand-up comedy followed by Q&A. Co-sponsors are Womanspace, Hillel, The Malcolm and Diane Rosenberg program in Judaic Studies, and the Women's Center.

March 18
12 pm - Post-Tenure Career Issues: Retention, Mentoring, Networking
GLC Meeting Room F
A working lunch and brainstorming session with representatives from across the VT campus. The target audience for this program is all post-tenure women faculty. Contact Debra Salbador, salbador@vt.edu

3 pm - Diversity in the Workplace
Holtzman Alumni Center, Assembly Hall
This program will describe a student’s transition from college life to a diverse work environment. The speakers will present on sensitive cultural issues with an emphasis on gender matters such as inequality in pay and work/life balance. Contact Gwen Harrington, gwenh@vt.edu

7 pm - FEATURED EVENT: Gloria Reuben
Squires Old Dominion Ballroom
Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actress, singer, and activist, Gloria Reuben speaks about AIDS, diversity and women. Reuben shares an enlightening and thought-provoking presentation with audiences that is destined to heighten awareness of these issues. Contact Ramla Brown, brownri@vt.edu

March 19
5:30 pm - Gender and Leadership: Is there a difference between men and women?
Squires 341/345
This event is part of the annual Leadership Seminar Series, a large group seminar/forum for students to come together and learn about various aspects of leadership. Specifically, this program looks at the relationship between gender and leadership. Do we have different expectations for male and female leaders? Contact Allison Dunn, adunn@vt.edu

7 pm - Health & Wellness Series: Laughter Yoga
Blacksburg Library
Tod Whitehurst, Certified LaughterYoga Instructor, demonstrates how Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with yogic meditation. The benefits of laugher include lowering blood pressure, increasing T cell production, reducing the effects of depression, and releasing endorphins. A full laughter yoga session will be demonstrated during the presentation and everyone is encouraged to join in. Contact Tod Whitehurst, tod@laugh4u.org

March 19 & 20
7:30 pm - FEATURED EVENT: "Homebody",
Studio Theater, Squires
The one-woman play by Tony Kushner, a British housewife, obsessed with Afghanistan and fascinated by her encounter with an Afghan man, takes the audience on a journey through the country’s history and its capital city of Kabul. Contact Barbara Ellen Smith, smithbe@vt.edu

March 20
1:30-2:30 pm - The Race, Class, and Gender Politics of the Presidential Election and Inauguration
Black Student Cultural Center
This roundtable discussion (comprised of Women’s Studies students) will be an analysis of the ways in which race, class, gender, and age have been used in the recent presidential election through the media coverage and cultural expressions as a basis for praising or scrutinizing the candidates. Contact Anisa Ali, ajali05@vt.edu

3 pm - Panel: International Women’s Reflections on Leadership
Cranwell International Center
Join international women, both faculty and students, as they reflect on leadership. Panelists will draw upon their own experiences, perspectives, and perceptions of leadership in the United States as well as in the countries and cultures with which they identify. Following the panel, there will be a Q & A session. Contact Rachel Christensen, rachrist@vt.edu

March 21
9:30 am - My Sister’s Keeper Breakfast GLC Multipurpose Room
Please join the Annual MSK Breakfast. My Sister’s Keeper was formed to promote networking and professional development opportunities among graduate and faculty women of color, and to enhance scholarship, positive thinking, and social and academic adjustment within the Virginia Tech community. Contact Inga S. Adams, isadams@vt.edu

March 23-27
ALL DAY - The White Ribbon Campaign, Campuswide
Virginia Tech is participating in the White Ribbon Campaign during the week of March 23rd. Crimes of violence impact the lives of women and girls on our campus and throughout the world. This year's campaign is being held to aknowledge the recent murder of Xin Yang and to recognize the unfortunate prevalence of violence against women on our campus and throughout the world. This effort is an opportunity for men to speak out and work to end men's violence against women. Men are asked to wear white ribbons and to sign pledges that they will never commit, condone, or remain silent about men's violence against women. This campaign is being held in conjunction with the Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night, both of which honor survivors of violence. Contact Christine Dennis Smith, cdennis@vt.edu

8 am - 5 pm - Clothesline Project Women’s Center Library
Individuals can create t-shirts to describe their own experiences as survivors of sexual assault or share the story of a murdered friend or family member. Shirts are displayed on clotheslines on March 25-26 on the Drillfield to raise awareness of the violence that occurs in our own community. Contact Susan Anderson, anderson@math.vt.edu

March 23
7 pm - Women’s Month Film Festival: Meet the Filmmaker of Never Perfect
Torgersen 3100
Regina Park is an independent filmmaker and her first documentary feature focuses on eye-lid surgery among Asian American women, exploring the embodied racial/gender politics through cosmetic surgery, racialized beauty ideals in U.S. society, cultural perceptions of cosmetic surgery, and the limits of elective uses of medical technology. The film also features prominent Asian American scholars, including Elaine H. Kim and Nadia Kim. Contact Minjeong Kim, mjkim@vt.edu

March 24
3 pm - Obama and the Shifting of Reproductive Priorities
Women’s Center Conference Room
After eight years of restrictive reproductive policies, the Obama administration has the ability to transform reproductive policy at the federal and international levels. David Nova, Vice President of Planned Parenthood Health Systems will review possible changes and expectations under an Obama administration. Contact Jessie Meltsner at jmelts@vt.edu

5:30 pm - Health & Wellness Series: Learn to Waltz
Y Center, Stuart Event Room (1000 North Main St.)
This beginner class will introduce you to the simple style of Folk Waltzing. Learn a bit about the history of waltz, practice basic steps, learn a few moves and focus on the nonverbal communication involved in this beautiful language of dance. No partner necessary, just a willingness to dance with everyone. Contact Jen Pollard, jenp@vtymca.org

March 25
Back Up Your Birth Control Day
At Planned Parenthood. Contact Noelani Rossi, 540.951.5184

6 pm - Strength Training for Women
War Memorial Hall, Hokie Gym
The female Recreational Sports certified personal trainers will be available in War Memorial Hokie Gym to assist women who want to learn how to use the weights and machines. The Hokie Gym will be open to women only during this one-time special session. Event will include door prizes and giveaways. Contact Cathy Kropff, ckropff@vt.edu

March 26
7 pm - FEATURED EVENT: Take Back the Night Rally & March
Drillfield Rally on the Drillfield to raise awareness of violence against women, to share resources, and to give individuals the tools they need to create positive change. March through campus and downtown Blacksburg. Contact Susan Anderson, anderson@math.vt.edu

March 27
4:30 pm - Marketing the Un-Marketable: Making the Fine Arts a Part of Everyday Life Using Marketing Strategy
Squires Recital Salon
As President of Amy Blum Publicity which she founded in 1985, Amy has been a music and entertainment publicist for soloists, composers, ensembles, record labels, orchestras, web magazines, festivals, multi-cultural and multi-media performance pieces. Contact Ashley Tomisek, atomisek@vt.edu

March 29
4 pm - Health and Wellness Series: Loving, Laughing, Living More
Y Center, (1000 N. Main St.)
Certified laugh-yoga instructor, Dr. Lauren encourages laughing to lighten up your life. Contact Lauren Scott Jones, laurenscottjones@yahoo.com

7 pm - FEATURED EVENT: MUSE: A Celebration of Women in the Arts
Lyric Theatre (135 College Ave.)
Celebrate Women’s Month and get inspired by some of our local muses in the New River Valley. This performing arts showcase will feature several talented women artists representing dance, music, poetry, theatre and the visual arts. You will be graced by their artistry and moved by their creativity as we come together to support the Community Arts Office and Information Center which serves to foster and promote arts and culture in the NRV. Contact Jen Pollard, jenp@vtymca.org

March 30
12 pm - Informal Discussion: Women’s Success in Graduate School
GLC Meeting Room C
Join us and share your experiences as a woman in graduate school. Why did you decide on graduate school? What obstacles have you faced? How can VT help? What advice do you have for incoming graduate women? Join us for an informal conversation about the climate for graduate women at VT. An RSVP is requested. Contact Manuel A. Perez-Quinones, perez@cs.vt.edu

3 pm - Female Genital Mutilation: Cutting in Somali Communities
GLC Meeting Room B
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a human rights issue that encroaches on women’s personal freedom. Approximately two million girls are cut every year. In Djibouti and Somalia, 98% of girls are cut. Why does female genital mutilation continue despite set legislation and advocacy aimed at curbing this practice? Rosa Githiora will present her research examining the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Africa along with a discussion of its health, administrative, educational and policy implications. Contact Kathy Lokale, klokale@vt.edu

5:30 pm - A Gathering of Feminist Readers
Cranwell International Center
In honor of Women’s Month we will spend the month reading Toni Morrison’s 2008 novel, A Mercy. This novel reveals what lies beneath the surface of slavery. At its heart, like Beloved, it is the story of a mother who casts off her daughter in order to save her and a daughter who may never exorcise that abandonment. It made the New York Times Book Review list of the ’10 Best Books of 2008.’ On March 30th we will gather for a wine/cheese reception and a discussion facilitated by Dr. Virginia Fowler. This activity is open to graduate students, faculty, & staff. Registration is requested. Contact Kathy Lokale, klokale@vt.edu

March 31
7 pm - Women’s Month Film Festival: Who Wants to Be a Porn Star? and The Price of Pleasure
30 Pamplin Hall
Stop Porn Culture, a group dedicated to fighting against the harms of pornography, produces these media presentations, which expose the harsh realities of the porn industry and analyze it with profound and disturbing examples. Both of these films can be previewed by going to the web page: myspace.com/stoppornculture. These presentations contain adult material. Contact Sharon Kearns, sharoncorinne@gmail.com

April 4
8 am - Service Day
Wallace Atrium
Join members of the community and campus organizations in a volunteer effort around the New River Valley. Projects range from landscaping to painting playground equipment. Contact Lindsey Grier, lgrier16@vt.edu

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