During Women’s History Month, students, faculty and staff at Iowa Wesleyan College will be honoring notable women graduates, as well as focusing on a variety of issues affecting all women. Women of Wesleyan Week, slated for March 28-April 1, includes a full schedule of activities.
“Iowa Wesleyan College has a long history of empowering women to achieve excellence,” said Meara Habashi, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology. “We wanted to create an event that raised awareness of women’s issues but also celebrates women in Iowa Wesleyan’s history.”
This is the second year for the Women of Wesleyan event. Student organizations and classes have organized and sponsored the week’s activities.
Events include:
Monday, March 28 – Self-defense class at 7 p.m. in the old Gym. Open to the first 25 females to register. Free.
Tuesday, March 29 – Walk A Mile in Her Shoes at 11 a.m. on the campus lawn. Males will compete in races, while wearing women’s high heel shoes.
Tuesday, March 29 – The movie “Enough,” starring Jennifer Lopez, will be shown in the Social Hall at 7:30 p.m. Free
Wednesday, March 30 – Breast Cancer Awareness booth, sponsored by the IWC Student Nurses Association.
Wednesday, March 30 – Performance of “That Takes Ovaries,” selected readings from the book by the same name. It is a collection of real-life stories from women and girls about gutsy, outrageous, courageous things they have done. There will also be a discussion led by Bobbi Ausubel, workshop leader, theater director, playwright, drama therapist and a leader in the women's movement. The evening will include an open mike session in which the audience will be able to tell their own bold stories, or stories of someone they love. Program will be in the Iowa Wesleyan College Social Hall and is open to the public. Begins at 7 p.m.
The event, sponsored by the Haselmayer Endowment for the Arts, is free, but donations will be accepted for the Women's Resource Center in Burlington. The Iowa Wesleyan College bookstore will have the books on display and for sale at the event. (www.thattakesovaries.org)
Thursday, March 31 – Presentation by Bobbi Ausubel on Sex Trafficking in India. Iowa Wesleyan College Chapel at 11 a.m.; free and open to the public.
Thursday, March 31 - Take Back the Night March. Women and men are encouraged to participate in this effort to reclaim the nighttime hours from acts of violence against women. Begins on the campus lawn; rain location will be the Social Hall.
Friday, April 1 – The Iowa Wesleyan College Democrats have invited a number of female IWC alumni to talk about life on campus when they were students and life after IWC. Program begins at 11 a.m. in the Chapel Auditorium. Free.
Sunday, April 3 – Fundraising walk for Autism Speaks, sponsored by the Alpha Xi Delta chapter at Iowa Wesleyan. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Howe Student Activity Center.
