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Lafayette’s celebration of Women’s History Month features a keynote talk by author and activist Anna Rosmus, performances, films, and a variety of other events.
The celebration continues 8 p.m. today with the second performance of the acclaimed play The Vagina Monologues in the Farinon Center Marlo Room. The play will also be performed Sunday. Tickets cost $5 for students and $10 for others. They will be on sale today in the Farinon Center atrium from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Proceeds will benefit August Survivors Center and Turning Point, two local charities that help victims of sexual and physical abuse, as well as Rawa Charity, which promotes equality for women in Afghanistan.
Rosmus will speak on her experiences of documenting the anti-Semitism and Nazi history of her hometown 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the auditorium of Kirby Hall of Civil Rights. An internationally renowned author, Rosmus grew up in Passau, Germany, and dedicated 13 years to uncovering and documenting the anti-Semitism and Nazi history there. She has written several books as a result of her discovery, was the subject of a “60 Minutes” interview, and has received numerous awards.
Claudia Stevens, assistant professor of music at the College of William and Mary, will present “An Evening with Madame F,” a one-woman dramatization of the life of Fania Fenelon. In the presentation, the elderly character reflects on her disturbing past as a member of an all-woman orchestra at the Auschwitz death camp, relating how she survived by performing for Nazi camp officials while fellow prisoners were sent to their deaths. The compelling dramatization includes vocal, piano, and drum performances. The vocal material was performed at the Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen camps.
Women’s History Month is sponsored by the Women’s Studies program, NIA, and Association for Lafayette Women in conjunction with the following:
Student organizations: Panhellenic Council, QUEST, Hillel Society, Lafayette Activities Forum, and German Club;
Academic departments, programs, and institutes: Skillman Library, Williams Center for the Arts, Jewish Studies program, Herman C. Kissiah Endowment for the Enrichment of Student Life, and the departments of English, government and law, foreign languages and literatures, and International Affairs;
Administrative offices: Counseling Center, Office of Intercultural Development, and Office of the President.
For more information, call Terese A. Heidenwolf, head of information services for libraries and coordinator of women’s studies, (610) 330-5153.
Here is the full calendar of events for Women’s History Month at Lafayette:
February 28-March 2, 8 p.m. — The Vagina Monologues, Farinon Center Marlo Room.
Sunday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. – “Take Back the Night” march and “speak-out” event, leaving from Farinon Center steps and finishing at Easton Centre Square.
Monday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. — Film: The Nasty Girl, based on the experiences of author and German activist Anna Rosmus, Jaqua Auditorium, Hugel Science Center. Post-film discussion will be led by Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, and Bill Donahue, associate professor of German at Rutgers University.
Friday, March 8, 10 p.m. – Concert: Shari Richards, Gilbert’s.
Monday, March 11, 8 p.m. – Performance: “Echoes of the Past,” Maxine Maxwell, Farinon Center Marlo Room. Dramatic portrayals of five African and African-American women will be presented by Maxwell, who is on the roster of the New York Foundation of the Arts, Young Audiences, and Arts Connection in the New York area.
Tuesday, March 12, 8 p.m. – Lecture: “The Art and Life of Jacob Lawrence,” Elizabeth Hutton Turner, senior curator of the Phillips Collection, Kirby Hall of Civil Rights auditorium. Sponsored by Presidential Speaker Series on Diversity.
Thursday, March 14, 7:30 p.m. — Keynote speaker: author and German activist Anna Rosmus, Kirby Hall of Civil Rights auditorium.
Friday, March 15, 12:10 p.m. — Brown bag discussion: “Civil Liberties in the Wake of 9/11,” Helena Silverstein, associate professor of government and law, Interfaith Chapel, Hogg Hall.
Monday, March 18, 7 p.m. — Interactive slide show: “How Can We Feel Beautiful?” Susan Pollack, Interfaith Chapel, Hogg Hall.
Tuesday, March 19, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. — AIDS Symposium: Brown bag, dinner, and information booths, Farinon Center Marlo Room and Hogg Hall.
Tuesday, March 19, 8 p.m. – Performance: Philadanco: “Messages from the Heart,” Williams Center for the Arts. Dances by four of America’s leading choreographers will be presented.
Wednesday, March 20, 7:30 p.m. — Performance: “An Evening with Madame F” by Claudia Stevens, assistant professor of music at the College of William and Mary, Williams Center for the Arts.