Women Involved in Self Empowerment (W.I.S.E.) and the Louisiana Center for Women and Government will celebrate National Women’s History Month, themed women’s education—women’s empowerment, by hosting a series of informational and interactive events throughout March.

W.I.S.E., a student organization that holds weekly meetings about women’s protection and women’s portrayal in the media, will host the First Annual Empowerment Week March 5 through March 9, which will consist of different activities to help empower and educate women.

W.I.S.E. members have named Monday “Love Your Tree Day,” named from an inspirational story Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues, told after a trip to South Africa. The South African women told Ensler to “love your tree” in reference to her body.

“It is a positive body image day,” Alicia Kozak sociology senior from Denham Springs and W.I.S.E. president, said.

There also will be an expo in the Student Union from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m Monday where campus and community organizations will host information tables. Some organizations will provide chances for volunteer work. University Police, University Health and the Counseling Center will host tables, along with representatives from Habitat for Humanity and The Haven.

W.I.S.E. will be hosting two free sessions of Zumba in the Plantation Suites Tuesday, open to the University. The first session will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the second session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

W.I.S.E. will host “Car Workshop 101” in the Ellender Hall parking lot at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. A local mechanic will demonstrate different car mechanical skills, such as changing a tire and checking oil levels and transmission.

There will be two showings of “Miss Representation” in Le Bijou on Thursday. This film is a documentary of how women are portrayed in the media. The showings will be at 3T and 5T. This day is also “International Women’s Day.”

There will be a showing of “A League of Their Own” at 7 p.m. Friday in Le Bijou Theater. This movie is about two sisters joining the first female professional baseball league and their struggles.

Kozak said her main goal for National Women’s History Month is to show women that they are unique individuals.

“I would like to say that each woman is unique in her own way, and W.I.S.E. wants everyone to recognize how amazing she is just being the person she is, and that no matter where you are in your life, what you have done, or where you want to go in the future, empowerment is key,” Kozak said.

Kozak said she thought W.I.S.E.’s many events would help her with this goal.

“I cannot wait to show other women how amazing they are being the people they are,” Kozak said.

The Louisiana Center for Women and Government, a grant-funded center housed at the University that promotes women leadership, has two events for National Women’s History Month.

The first event, “Mad Hatters”, is March 11 at 11 a.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom of the Student Union. “Mad Hatters” is a design competition to raise money for scholarships for women and the center-sponsored Louisiana Girls Leadership Academy held every summer at the University. Tickets for the competition are $40 per person.

On March 17, the center will host its 19th annual Hall of Fame to honor women who have contributed to public service. The event will take place at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. The luncheon will start at noon. Four women will be honored into the Hall of Fame, Senator Diana E. Bajoie will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, former broadcast anchor Connie Chuna will be the keynote speaker. The luncheon costs $60 per person or $500 for a 10 person table.

As reported by womenshistorymonth.gov, “commission on the Status of Women initiated a Women’s History Week celebration in 1978 and chose the week of March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day.”

In 1978, Women’s History Week got a tremendous response from schools that joined in the celebration. Since the week received such great attention, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to expand the celebration to the entire month of March in 1987.