Each year since 1987, the United States Congress has adopted a resolution declaring March National Women’s History Month. The Louisiana Center for Women and Government partners with the National Women’s History Project in sponsoring National Women’s History Month at Nicholls. The theme for the celebration this year is “Women Change America, Women Change Louisiana.””Our main event is the Women’s History Month luncheon,” Rose Harris, director of the Louisiana Center for Women and Government, said. “At the luncheon we will honor a Nicholls faculty/staff member and student with the ‘Women of Achievement’ award.”
The keynote speaker is the Honorable Paulette Irons, civil district court judge and former state senator. “Irons has organized programs that help women and children and has been awarded the Good Housekeeping Award by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP),” Harris said. “We will be giving away 10 free tickets for the luncheon to the first 10 Nicholls students that call our office.” The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. on March 15 in the Student Union Ballroom.
Other annual events include the Susan Komen Coffee at 2 p.m. on March 18 at The Coffee Table on Audubon Avenue. The speaker will be Kim Brannagan, assistant professor of teacher education, who will talk about women’s health. The Susan Komen Grant sponsors this event.
The Bonnie J. Bourg lecture series will take place at 10:45 a.m. on March 24 in Gouaux Hall Auditorium. Maura Schreier-Fleming, author and consultant, will be the keynote speaker. The topic is “Leadership Lessons for Business and Life.” Both events are free and open to the public.
A new event this year is the “Vagina Monologues,” which will be performed at 7 p.m. on March 2-4 in Peltier Auditorium. “The play is a benefit performance made possible by the V-Day College Campaign, which is a national organization that raises awareness and money to stop violence against women,” Harris said. “The play will be performed by Nicholls students.”
The cost of attendance is $5 for Nicholls students and $7 for non-students, if the ticket is purchased before March 2. After March 2, it will cost $7 per person to attend. All proceeds will be donated to local non-profit organizations and campus efforts that work to stop violence against women.
An exhibit will be on display throughout March on the first floor of the Ellender Memorial Library. The exhibit, sponsored by the Louisiana Center for Women and Government, will feature Louisiana women in politics, business, education and sports. Student Services will also have a display in Elkins Hall during the entire month, which will feature women who have contributed to the field of mental health. Also, the University bookstore will have books on women in American history and politics available.
For more information and a complete list of events, contact the Louisiana Center for Women and Government at (985) 448-4770.
