Throughout March, the University of Rhode Island will host a series of events in recognition of Women’s History Month. Organized by various academic departments, student organizations, and university offices, these programs are designed to explore women’s contributions, experiences, and leadership across history, culture, scholarship, and the arts.
The schedule includes lectures from visiting and campus scholars, panel discussions with alumni in leadership roles, performances such as “The Vagina Monologues,” and community gatherings like open mic nights and food-centered celebrations. International themes are also present in several events.
On March 4th, the “Spill the Tea: International edition” event offers samples of tea traditions and foods from around the world. Later that day, Dalal Bajes Salem from the University of California Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies will deliver a lecture titled “Carceral Intimacies: Love, Marriage, Reproductive Resistance, and the Architecture of Control in Palestine.” The talk is presented by multiple university groups including the Muslim Student Association and the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies.
March 5th features “HERstory: Open Mic Night,” co-presented by URI alum Sara Monteiro ’08—known as Simply Sara—and organized with PINK Women and the URI Women’s Center. The event aims to honor women within the community through poetry readings and interactive activities.
A performance of “Vagina Monologues” is scheduled for March 7th at Edwards Hall. The play is based on interviews with women worldwide and addresses issues such as violence against women. This production is sponsored by the URI Women’s Center and Gender and Sexuality Center.
On March 11th, alumni will discuss their experiences as women leaders during a panel called “Unchained Voices,” sponsored by the Multicultural Student Services Center.
Rachel (Afua) Ansong, assistant professor of Africana studies at URI, will present a lecture on March 24th about her research tracing a woman transported from Anomabo, Ghana to Bristol, Rhode Island in 1971. Ansong has published three chapbooks and founded The Adinkra Projects to support emerging Ghanaian writers.
March 26th brings a special edition of Beats & Eats for students. In addition to learning about women’s history through this event hosted by Student Involvement and Rhody Connect, students can receive free ice cream from Atomic Blonde—a local women-owned food truck.
The month concludes on March 30th with Mev Miller delivering a lecture about Wanderground Lesbian Archive/Library. This nonprofit preserves lesbian life in New England through publications and artifacts dating from 1950 to 2000.
All events are free unless otherwise noted. Additional information about new speakers or programming can be found on the University Events Calendar.
