Colleges Plan First Rochester Women’s History Events

By Edie Grossfield, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

Feb. 29–Rochester Community and Technical College and Winona State University Rochester are celebrating Women’s History Month with films, art, music, poetry and discussions.

Winona State has celebrated Women’s History Month for about 15 years, but this is the first year the university has expanded events to its Rochester campus and collaborated with RCTC, said Tamara Berg, Winona State professor and director of the Women’s and Gender Studies program.

Berg is developing a women’s studies minor program for Rochester, and the Women’s History Month events are part of that development, she said.

Two events in February kicked off the celebration, but there are seven events ahead.

RCTC student Patricia Dunn-Walker will display her artwork in a show beginning Monday in the University Center Rochester Learning Center. Also, on March 26, there will be a roundtable discussion about women in math and science. It will begin at 11 a.m. in the Charter Room at UCR.

The range of events is impressive, Berg said.

“I think the final event on the last day of the month, “Venus of Mars,” is going to be very interesting,” she said. “That is a film looking at constructions of gender that are really outside of what we consider the norm. … And that is a fabulous film.”

The film begins at 7 p.m. in Room 110 of Singley Hall at UCR. A discussion about the film’s subjects will follow the screening, Berg said.

2008 Women’s History Month

Co-sponsored by Winona State University at Rochester and Rochester Community and Technical College.

All events are free, open to the public and take place at the University Center Rochester. For more information contact Tamara Berg at tberg@winona.edu or call the RCTC campus at 285-7210.

–Women’s History Month Art Installation: Runs Monday-March 14, opening reception 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday at Learning Center, Atrium 306. Meet Patricia Dunn-Walker, an RCTC student, exhibiting original art.

–Midnight Cowgirl: Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Quiet Lounge. Bluegrass and blues music.

–”Real Women Have Curves” (film): 7 p.m. March 12, Coffman Hall 202. Winner of the Dramatic Audience Award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. Discussion afterward led by professor Annie Clement from RCTC.

–What Can You Do With a Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies?: 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. March 25 in the University Center Rochester Atrium.

–Roundtable Discussion: Women in Math and Science: 11 a.m. March 26 in the Charter Room.

–Women Poets Reading: 3 p.m. March 27 in the Learning Center, Atrium 306.

–”Venus of Mars” (film): 7 p.m. March 31 in Singley 110.

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