Campus Community Celebrates International Women’s Day
BY STEFANIE EGGLESTON
STAFF WRITER AND SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, an event was held at the Columns where people of any gender could come to celebrate women. Everyone in attendance wore something red, as people across the country were encouraged to wear red in support of the cause. Sidewalk chalk was available for people to write quotes or draw pictures, and there was a microphone available to anyone who wanted to share a story, poem or experience.
International Women’s Day sparked a camaraderie among women across the country. The most advertised movement was “A Day Without a Woman,” where women would, if possible, not go to work or go shopping, to show how different our world would be without women. The women of Westminster, however, felt that it was important to show up on Wednesday. Instead of a demonstration of what would happen without women, they held an event to show what women have done.
Event coordinator Dr. Cinnamon Brown, associate professor of history at Westminster and co-adviser of the Remly REST Center, said that she wanted to do something to show the campus community how much it relies on women.
“When people shared, they shared their most personal feelings, fears, hopes, and aspirations,” Brown said. “They read poems that captured the trials and triumphs facing women today. Just the sea of red on campus illustrates that women’s issues, struggles, and successes are society’s issues, struggles, and successes.”
Although the crowd at the Columns consisted primarily of women, some men showed up wearing red in support of the celebration.
One of those men, first-year student David Sissac said that it “[felt] good to be an ally of such a cause.”
“Although I’m disappointed by the lack of guys in attendance, I feel it is my duty to inform them of the things shared here today,” he said.
Senior Erin Perry, who participated in the Women’s March on Washington in January, said that the presence of faculty members at Wednesday’s event made it “powerful.”
“Seeing women that I love and respect talk[ing] about their experiences, reading poetry and showing up to celebrate one another was powerful and reminded me the community women at Westminster find in one another,” she said.
In addition to Brown, female faculty members involved in planning the event included Sara Leonard, visiting instructor of Westminster seminar and theater; Maeba Jonas, chaplain resident, coordinator of community engagement and instructor of religion; Dr. Maureen Tuthill, associate professor of English; and Dr. Kali Wright-Smith, assistant professor of political science.
The Columns 