HSU Commemorates International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

(ABILENE, Texas)–Hardin-Simmons will commemorate International Women’s Day with their second annual celebration, which will be followed by a series of events that address Women’s History Month. During March, HSU will host these events in different locations around campus. They will be free and open to the public, and will include discussion panels, artwork, monologues, and perspectives from HSU faculty and staff.

The schedule for the month focuses on celebrating and honoring all women while acknowledging and recognizing Abilene women, specifically. Those involved in different areas at HSU will have the chance to be part of conferences and panels to discuss various topics, ranging from literature, feminism, art, and more. The International Women’s Day theme this year is “Balance for Better.”

HSU professor Tiffany Fink referred to the history of International Women’s Day, and how it impacts the community.

“For 100 years, March 8 has been the day around the world where women and men who care about women’s issues, freedom, and rights, come together and they advocate for a change in certain areas,” Fink says.

During March, HSU will have a feminine hygiene product drive to give to local organizations who support women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and transitional home living. Donations may include tampons, pads, liners, adult diapers, women’s underwear (sizes 5-12), and toiletry items such as shampoo, body wash, bars of soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant. Not only HSU is encouraging the campus to participate, but they are also encouraging people from other universities. Locations to drop off the items are Women’s Residence Halls, Richardson Library, and the Office of Academic Advising (Sandefer Memorial Building).

From March 1-7, HSU professor Linda Fawcett was in charge of the art show ‘Balancing Act: Student Art Show in honor of International Women’s Day.’ At the Logsdon Reception Room, the work made by students from Drawing II was exhibited.

March 7 was the big celebration of International Women’s Day at Hardin-Simmons, where students could take a group picture at the pond, and Logsdon Chapel offered a prayer time for women and girls around the world. Also, HSU encouraged students, faculty, and staff to use the hashtag #HSUCelebratesWomen2019. The same day, Logsdon Chapel hosted HSU’s A capella group, pledging, student performances, and the winners of the Creative Expression Contest exposed their work.

Different discussion panels took place already, and some others will take place soon. Last Tuesday, ‘The Other “F” Word: A Faculty/Student Panel Discussion on Feminism’ happened at the Sid Richardson Library. Faculty, alumni, and students could participate. HSU faculty and staff participated in the literature discussions ‘What’s on Your Nightstand?: Female Voices in Literature’ on March 1, 4, and 7.

“We had some really good discussions. One thing that kept coming up was that students started to say ‘I believe that women and men are equal, they should have equal opportunities,'” Fink says. “I’m hoping that students are meeting faculty and staff, and identify them as people who they can come and sit down with, explore those ideas, or may be introduced to topics that they may not discuss before,” she says.

“This is a moment to say as a campus, as a Christian community, and modeling of the life of Jesus Christ who sat down, listened and offered comfort to the most marginalized women, that Jesus loves women,” Fink says.

Here’s a breakdown of the rest of the schedule for the month:

HSU Greek Life celebrates International Women’s Day
Mar. 8, 12 p.m. at Anderson Lawn

An open event where everyone is welcome to prayer time and fellowship acknowledging International Women’s Day in the form of unity among the women in HSU Greek Life. Those present can contribute to the Noah Project by buying a t-shirt.

“Love, Loss, and What I Wore” by Nora and Delia Ephron
Mar. 20, 12 p.m. at Johnson Building

Love, Loss and What I Wore is a beautiful play about women, their lives, their clothes, and the memories that tie them together. Written by Nora and Delia Ephron, the play is a series of monologues and ensemble pieces that use clothing, accessories, and the memories they evoke to tell hilariously funny and often poignant stories in which all audiences can connect. Featuring Charlene Strickland, Melody Rich, Lynnette Chambers, Nancy Kucinski, Laura Pogue, Tiffany Fink, Linda Fawcett, Loryn Peace, Molly Warren.

Guy Caldwell Western Heritage Lecture “Lone Star Humor and the Battle of the Sexes in the 1970s.”
Mar. 21, 7:30 p.m. at Johnson Building

Featured speaker, Dr. Julie Willett of Texas Tech University, will address Texas Western Heritage, how men and women in the 1970s used language for the opposite sex, and how to confront that together as a society.

#YesAllWomen? Examining the Intersections of Race, Class, and Gender in Church and Culture
Mar. 25, 3 p.m. at Moody Center

Featured speaker, Ms. Kerri Fisher, Baylor University; HSU faculty Nikki Rhodes and Tiffany Fink will present about diversity and intersectionality followed by a workshop.