Support Women’s History Month

Editor’s note: The following is submitted by a member of an organization that is making a… Editor’s note: The following is submitted by a member of an organization that is making a difference on campus. Newsmaker columns appear periodically in The Pitt News.

During these crucial, formative, and oh, so memorable times that are our college years, have you ever – amidst crying over spilt milk, exams, sex, alcohol and pondering the future of humanity – stopped to think about the little things? I mean the really little things, such as chocolate chips, liquid paper, paper bags or windshield wipers? Imagine how different life would be without these necessities. Too hard to picture? Well what about life without child labor laws, radium, Kevlar, kindergarten (in the United States) or even Rhode Island? Well none of the aforementioned would exist had it not been for the women who invented them, discovered them, or were instrumental in their development.

Women play a much bigger role in history than many people realize, which is why March has been named Women’s History Month. Women petitioned for the month back in 1987 in hopes that with implementation, educators, as well as the general public would not only be more aware of women’s contributions but also celebrate and encourage their past and future success.

Pitt will be taking an active role in the celebration of “Womyn’s Herstory Month,” as Student Government Board member La’Tasha Mayes has coined it. Campus Women’s Organization and Rainbow Alliance, along with other campus groups, are planning activities, and the women of SGB are planning events as well as setting long-term goals to address female concerns on campus.

While events have been going on since the beginning of the month, because of spring break, the official kickoff will take place today. SGB will host a marketplace in the Assembly Room of the William Pitt Union from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. where numerous women’s organizations will have tables set up with information. There will also be an Equal Pay Day Bake sale and a game of JeopHERdy that contains questions about women’s history.

On Wednesday, SGB will hold a brainstorming session to get ideas from students for long-term goals to set because, although March is the designated month to celebrate women’s history, SGB wants to continue the celebration all year. Existing ideas include a women’s resource center, a safety escort service, and better sexual assault support.

The monthly celebration will culminate with a banquet March 24. Women are invited to come and enjoy each other’s company while being served by male campus leaders.

A calendar with further information on all events can be found on SGB’s Web site at www.pitt.edu/~sgb.