Key events mark wrap-up of Women's History Month Celebration at RU

Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle will conclude the celebration of Women's History Month at the closing reception on Thursday, April 3, at 4 p.m. in the foyer of the Covington Center of the Performing and Visual Arts.

Kyle, RU's sixth, and first female, president, will host the reception and speak about the significance of Women's History Month, a campus wide commemoration of the accomplishments of women around the world and throughout history, organized by the Women’s Studies Committee. The theme for the 2014 Women's History Month amplifies the Women’s Studies Program motto: "Know Your History/Know Yourself: Build the Future."

"I have been pleased with the level of student engagement and at the topics that have been added this year," said Mary Ferrari, professor of history and chair of the 2014 Women' History Month committee.

Ferrari cited a Math Club presentation on women mathematicians and a panel discussion on women in the CIA as unique, new events from the month-long celebration so far. Other featured events from the 2014 celebration included Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues directed by Lucinda McDermott, a dance performance of original choreography by emerging female choreographers called "Paradigm Shift" and three "Circle of Life, Intergenerational Dialogues" in which women of one generation shared lifetime experiences and reflections with another generation. 

"I have been surprised by the diversity of offerings that come from all parts of the RU community: students, faculty and staff," said Ferrari. "There is plenty more to come."

A key upcoming event in the celebration will be the "Are Women Worth Less? Why Is There a Gender Pay Gap?" symposium/workshop on Monday, March 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Muse Banquet room. 

Sponsored by the Center for Gender Studies, Center for Social and Cultural Research, the RU Departments of Psychology and Sociology and the Scholar-Citizen Initiative, the event will feature a series of lectures and interactive workshops devoted to examining the issue of pay inequity for working women.