Lone Star College–CyFair will host a three-week long Women’s Conference this March to celebrate, teach and empower women.
Windows on the World, part of an effort to promote cultural activities on campus, will sponsor the Women’s Conference. All events will be held at the Barker Cypress campus.
The month long event kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 1 with The Pink Ribbons Project: “Dancers in Motion Against Breast Cancer.” Following The Pink Ribbons Dancers performance will be presentations from a breast cancer survivor and a nurse practitioner who will discuss the early warning signs of breast cancer. The event will take place in the College Center closest to the Health Science Center Building. Sponsoring this event is the Lone Star College–CyFair Phi Theta Kappa Beta Lambda Mu Chapter.
“Women don’t come with instructions, so learn how to take care of yourself, prevent disease, treat problems and live a healthy life the Women’s Health Fair, set from Monday, March 5 through Friday, March 9,” said Rose Botkin, conference committee member. “There will be information on many women’s health issues in the library. Most materials will be able to be taken home to share with friends and family. Topics will include osteoporosis, heart health, nutrition, gynecological care, pregnancy, aging, diabetes, girl’s health, exercise, insurance and more.”
Lone Star College–CyFair’s Police Department will provide a variety of safety information during “Crime and Safety Awareness Days” March 5 and March 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Commons.
Lone Star College–CyFair’s Readers Theatre will perform “The Vagina Monologues” for mature audiences only at 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 6 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 in the Recital Hall, room 102. Author Eve Ensler beckons theatre-goers to reconnect with the “unnamed, untamed and unknown” down there. The sketch topics range from mundane yet funny (menstruation, gynecological exams, thong underwear and moaning styles) to truly poignant (rape, genital mutilation and their distressing statistics).
A presentation on Relationships will be held Wednesday, March 7 at noon in the library, room 107. Psychology professor and counselor Karen Miner will discuss the ins and outs to finding and maintaining healthy relationships.
Several films will be shown as part of Women’s Conference Month including “Yesterday” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 6 in ART 102; “A League of Their Own” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8 (at the Lone Star College–Fairbanks Center) and “Osama” at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21 in ART 102, and “Iron Jawed Angels” at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 in ART 102.
There will be no events during Spring Break which is the week of March 12 through March 16.
On loan from Northwest Assistance Ministries, The Clothesline Project will be on display in the library, second floor, Monday , March 19 – Friday, March 23. The Clothesline Project originated to make people aware of domestic abuse, which is violent and often ends in murder. All T-shirts share stories of a sensitive nature and should be viewed with respect and not be handled.
A comment box for feedback will be available and questions can be referred to the Counseling Department located on the first floor of the library or call 281-290-3260. Organizers encourage parents not to bring young children to view the exhibit.
Anyone who has experienced violence in any type of relationship, as well as those affected by violence, can participate in the Clothesline Project by creating their own T-shirt in the library, room 107, next to the counseling area. Supplies and shirts will be available from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday, March 19, Tuesday March 20 and Wednesday, March 21. Anyone wanting to make shirts but who will not be on campus these three days, may contact Angelica Sutton at 281-290-3261. Shirts should not contain profanity or any identifying information of the perpetrator to preserve anonymity. These shirts will then become part of the Lone Star College–CyFair Clothesline Project.
A free Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) workshop - “to develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked” - will be held Monday, March 19 through Friday, March 23 (except Tuesday). Sandra and Jim Baylor, with R.A.D. Texas Education, Inc. will lead this training session addressing women’s safety education and personal empowerment. This free four-evening Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) class will be held 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Barker Cypress campus Conference Center, room 151. To register for this free R.AD. training, contact Sandra Harvey at 281-290-3282 or at Sandra.d.harvey@lonestar.edu or go online to www.radtexas.com.
A Women in Power series will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 21 in Conference Center Room 151. Speaking will be the Belaynesh Zevadia, Deputy Consul General of Israel to the Southwest. A native of the Gondar region of Ethiopia, Zevadia immigrated to Israel in 1984. In 1993, she joined Israel’s Foreign Ministry as the first Ethiopian woman in the Israeli Diplomatic Service. Prior to her appointment to the Southwest, she served from 1996 until 2002 as the Consul of Israel to the Midwest located in Chicago, Illinois. She has received numerous honors and awards including the prestigious Kizze Prize for being a positive role model and the Black History Month’s plaque for contributions towards race relations. She holds a bachelor’s in International Relations and African Studies and a master’s in Anthropology and African Studies.
A “Take Back the Night” rally will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, March 26 in the Amphitheater.
The rally is a time for people to come out and “take back their power.” It is a celebration of empowerment that emphasizes power over pain. It is an uplifting event designed to provide survivors of abuse an opportunity to be in control again. The event is open to the community and organizers encourage people to attend and “Take Back the Night.”
A Woman’s Symposium will be held Tuesday, March 27 at 11:30 a.m. in the Technology building, room 101. Past Women’s Symposia have discussed the women's movement, health care, economics, literature, activism, slavery, female genital mutilation, and the various permutations feminism has undergone in the last 200 years.
“Students will read original writing on women’s issues in an international context,” said Michelle Long Brown, symposium coordinator. “Furthermore, this forum provides an opportunity for students to contribute to the scholarly life of the college and the community. All are welcome.”
Dr. Victoria Van Wie will lead a presentation on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, particularly in women, Wednesday, March 28 at 1 p.m. in the library room 107. Following the presentation, Dr. Van Wie will moderate a discussion on diagnostic criteria, traumatic events often associated with the disorder, and other issues that often co-occur with PTSD.
The Women’s Conference culminates March 29 with a free concert and multi-media event with recording artist and motivational speaker Shannon Cutts. She will begin at 10 a.m. with a powerful and provocative multi-media event titled “Beauty Undressed.” A survivor of anorexia nervosa, her program highlights the difficulties she experienced with the disease and how she overcame this devastating disease. Following her presentation, there will be a at 1 p.m. concert of original music written to highlight many issues women face today. Both events are open to the community and will be held in the Recital Hall, room 102 in the Center for the Arts building.
For information on this month-long celebration, call Sandra Harvey at 281-290-3282 or go to cyfair.lonestar.edu/goto/womensconference.