A Celebration of Women

Lafayette’s Multicultural Women’s Support Group (Nia) is hosting a number of activities meant to unify the campus through a celebration of women during Phenomenal Women’s Week Nov. 27-30.

This is the campus’ first Phenomenal Women’s Week and it is an event original to Lafayette.

“Nia wants to bring awareness to the campus about the many different facets of womanhood and sisterhood, as well as what it means to be a woman, and to examine a woman’s purpose in society,” says organizer Shani Bellegarde ’08 (Brooklyn, N.Y.), a government and law major. “We hope that the college community will learn about the different roles women play in society, and the struggles they face to obtain equality.”

In addition to Nia, the week’s events are sponsored by the Association of Black Collegians, Brothers of Lafayette, Engineers Without Borders, Lafayette African Caribbean Student Association, Students For Social Justice, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Gamma Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Phi, Women Studies program, Association of Lafayette Feminists, and W.O.R.D.S (Writing Organization Reaching Dynamic Students).

The schedule of events follows:

Monday, Nov. 27

• Sisterhood and Womanhood Panel discussion: noon in Farinon College Center Marlo Room West. A panel comprised of women from the Greek community, the Women’s Studies program and the general Lafayette community will give their experiences and perspectives on the subject of sisterhood and womanhood. This discussion is designed to analyze whether sisterhood and womanhood are interrelated and whether the experiences vary across different cultures and environments. Lunch will be provided.

Wednesday, Nov. 29

• Phenomenal Images: all day in Farinon Atrium. An interactive event where students and faculty are able to submit artwork, poetry, and images focusing on their perspectives of what makes a “Phenomenal Woman.”

Thursday, Nov. 30

• Nia meeting and Dinner Discussion on the “Career Woman:” 7:30 p.m. in Farinon Marlo Room West. A dinner discussion of an article entitled “Career Women,” which appeared in Forbes Magazine. This article provides both the positive and negative aspects of marrying a career woman.

Also being held will be the lecture “Women in Religion” by Kristina Davis, wife of Pastor Phillip Davis of the Greater Shiloh Church, and a presentation of the film Women of Brewster’s Place. The time and location of these two events are to be announced.

For more information, contact Bellegarde.