International Women’s Day, March 8, is a day designated by the United Nations since 1911 to celebrate women’s achievements, struggles, and influence. All students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to celebrate all week, March 6-10, and honor the women who have influenced you. Highlights for the week include the annual Women’s Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, March 8; a visit by Hungarian artist Ildiko Kalapacs on Friday, March 10; and a food, hygiene supplies, and baby supplies drive all week.
The premiere event of the week, the Women’s Recognition Luncheon featuring the Women of Distinction awards, will take place Wednesday, March 8 at 11:30 am – 1 pm in the CUB Senior Ballroom. Tickets will be on sale at women.wsu.edu for $15 through February 27. This event is held by the Women’s Resource Center and the President’s Commission on the Status of Women.
On Friday, March 10, Hungarian artist Ildiko Kalapacs will be available for conversation in CUB L46 from 11 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 2 pm. Her art will then be the topic of IP International Center’s Coffee Hour from 3 pm – 4 pm in CUB L46. Much of Kalapacs’ work focuses on gender roles and the human condition, and she is the executive director and artist of The Bearing Public Sculpture Project, which is working to place a life-size bronze sculpture in Spokane examining the human costs of war.
From Monday, March 6 through Friday, March 10, organizations across campus will be collecting nonperishable food, feminine and general hygiene supplies, diapers, and baby clothes for children aged 0-5 years. Food and supply donations will support Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse’s emergency shelter, while baby clothes will support the WSU Rosario’s Place, a resource for student-parents. Donation bins will be available in CUB L45, CUB 308, Wilson-Short 8, Bryan 105, Washington 217, ADBF by the first floor elevator, and several other locations. Visit cce.wsu.edu/womensday for a list of suggested donations and the full list donation locations.
Daily activities will include tables on the CUB first floor, a Women Empower activity, community service projects, the documentary Half the Sky, an ally training and an allyship panel, the In Her Shoes domestic violence workshop offered in English and in Spanish, a Gender in STEM forum, a speech by businesswoman Kara Tokita, and the annual Global Learning Fair. A video series created by the Center for Civic Engagement and featuring women across WSU will premiere during this week on youtube.com/wsucce. Sponsors for these events include the Center for Civic Engagement, IP Global Learning, Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse, International Students’ Council, GIESORC, the Access Center, the Professional Development Initiative, Save the Children, the Young Democrats, the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and ADVANCE at WSU. For a complete list of events and sponsors, visit cce.wsu.edu/womensday.
