A host of events and activities are taking place on the UW-Whitewater campus this month, in celebration of Women’s History Month.

UW-Whitewater’s Women’s Studies Department Chair Lauren Smith said campus’ Women’s Issues Committee focuses on sharing ideas on women’s issues with not only the student population, but also the Whitewater community.

According to Smith, the committee often works with Career and Leadership Development to bring events to campus.

“We make people aware of activities on campus,” Smith said. “We’ve sponsored tea discussions and we also produce the Gender Equity Report, which is available through UW-Whitewater’s website.”

Smith said she believes Women’s History Month is often overlooked.

“Most of us aren’t aware of the history of women in the U.S. It’s really inspiring but tends to be forgotten,” Smith said.

“I think it’s really important that people, guys and girls alike, are aware of the contributions and struggles that women have gone through throughout history,” junior Amanda Prellwitz said. “I think we have to be aware of our past, so not only can we make changes for the future, but also realize how far society has come in terms of women’s rights.”

Senior Ryan Anderson said it’s important that men are aware of Women’s History Month because “marginalizing womanhood’s accomplishments is a stepping stone to letting repression revive itself in an even grislier form than it exists today.”

According to the Royal Purple archives, acknowledging women’s issues and involvement on campus has been a tradition for decades.

An article written in 1968 titled “Senate passes women’s hours proposal; co-eds gain more freedom in the fall,” details the struggle women faced in relation to the freedoms they had with regards to living in co-ed residence halls.

Smith said even she learned more about UW-Whitewater’s involvement in Women’s issues through reading the Royal Purple archives.

“Women’s lives were constrained on campus,” Smith said of an archived article titled, “Special: Women’s liberation-its time has come.”

“I was pleased that campus would take up this issue because 1970 is still relatively early in the women’s movement.”

Smith said students should consider attending the Women in Leadership Reception in which a number of women working on the UW-Whitewater campus will be recognized for their achievements.  The reception will take place from 1-3 p.m. this Thursdayin the Fern Young Terrace in the Young Auditorium.

Jamie Brace, professional vocalist, songwriter and inspirational speaker, will also perform tonight at 7:15 in the University Center’s Hamilton Room.

Students who are interested in joining the Women’s Issues Committee are encouraged to contact Lauren Smith at [email protected] for more information.

Archived Articles

1970-11-3 Royal Purple page 12 Male critical of women’s lib image (1)

1970-10-27 Royal Purple page 10 Steinem tackles chauvinists

1970-09-15 Royal Purple page 14 Special. Women’s liberation-it’s time has come

1968-10-03 Royal Purple page 3 Playmate date-bait visits Whitewater

1968-05-16 Royal Purple page 8 Senate passes women’s hours proposal (1)

1966-04-27 Royal Purple Page 1 Students, Faculty, AWS Are Against Dress Code (1)