In conjunction with a national celebration, West Virginia University will recognize Womens History Month in March with lectures, movies, a fireside chat and an appearance by renowned poet and author Maya Angelou.


Angelou will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, in the Mountainlair ballrooms, and is also a part of this years Festival of Ideas speakers. Admission is free, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.


“This month provides us the important occasion to recognize the significant role women have played in so many areas throughout history,”said Barbara Howe, WVUCenter for Womens Studies director.”I invite members of both the local and WVU communities to attend the many events we have scheduled.”


Other scheduled events:


  • On March 6, members of the WVU Student Activist Organization and the Female Equality Movement (FEM) will show the film The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Rhododendron Room.

  • International Womens Day will be observed on March 8 and National Womens Day on March 9.

  • On March 14, FEM will sponsor a panel discussion on women in history at 6 p.m. in G-11 Woodburn Hall.

  • FEM also will present two movies, The Women Get the Vote and The Womens Vote, beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in the Mountainlairs Blackwater Room.

  • A 4 p.m. fireside chat on Thursday, March 22, concludes the months activities. Tesfa Gebremedhin, WVU professor of agriculture, forestry and consumer science, will present Women of Eritrea: Tradition and Development in the Mountainlair Greenbrier Room. Her talk is made possible by contributions to Womens Studies.


For more information, call the Center, 304-293-2339.