A HerCampus writer holding a vision board
Claire Fisher/ The Bona Venture
BY: MORGAN KILGER, STAFF WRITER
March is Women’s History Month, and St. Bonaventure University club leaders and faculty have plans to celebrate and raise awareness for women’s history throughout the month.
“On our campus, there have been efforts to highlight women’s history, but men’s basketball tends to dominate the agenda in March,” said Mary Rose Kubal, an international relations professor. “This is why Dr. Pauline Hoffman’s work creating the women’s bracket has been a welcome addition to the women’s history lineup.”
This bracket is made up of what Hoffman considers extraordinary women. It’s similar to the March Madness bracket. Instead of basketball teams, the bracket is made up of women and their accomplishments. This year, it’s more focused on issues women are facing. Issues on the bracket include: reproductive rights, maternal mortality, fear and many more. The bracket was started in 2008 in efforts to highlight Women’s History Month, since many overlook it in favor of the annual NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The bracket is available online at marchintowomenshistory.com
Alongside the bracket, clubs on campus are participating in the celebration of Women’s History Month.
HerCampus is a multinational, online magazine targeting college-aged women. Bonaventure’s chapter is celebrating Women’s History Month by publishing an edition of themed articles celebrating women who tell the stories of women’s struggles, successes and experiences
“We will be celebrating women’s voices,” Marnique Olivieri-Panepento, chapter board member, said. “I’m excited to see who everyone writes about.”
SBU For Equality is another club that is participating in celebrating Women’s History Month. SBU For Equality is dedicated to exploring and advocating for social, economic and political equality for all genders. It is hosting its own event and co-hosting another event with SBU College Democrats.
On March 10, SBU for Equality will co-host a panel with the SBU College Democrats about gender-related issues. The panel will take place in the Walsh Auditorium at 4 p.m.
On March 23, SBU for Equality will host its own event at the Damietta Center, and the topic of discussion will be released shortly. The event is set for 5:30 p.m.
Alongside the clubs, the Women’s Studies department is also participating in the celebration. The Women’s Studies department doesn’t have any specific plans to celebrate, but they are in full support of all the activism and activities that are happening on campus. The department has been advocating for women, alongside the courses provided.
An example of the advocacy would be fighting for women’s hygiene products in the bathroom.
“In the past, my colleague, Dr. Athena Kaminski, and I tried to get women’s hygiene products in all the women’s bathrooms on campus,” said Kubal.
Kubal isn’t directly part of the women’s studies program, but actively participates in activism and activities that occur year round and during Women’s History Month. This includes teaching courses based around women and trying to get feminine products in bathrooms around campus.
Bonaventure’s clubs and professors have events lined up for the entirety of March featuring different speakers, panels, and more.
kilgermi22@bonaventure.edu
