While March may be nearing its end, Women’s History Month celebrations and events are still underway on campus in the coming week.
Throughout the month, students have been able to attend the HERWorld Energy forum, where speakers and attendees came together to address key issues impacting women in the energy industry, and an undergraduate research presentation by mass communication senior Brittany Clark and professor Angeletta Gourdine. On the entertainment side, the University welcomed comedian Nicole Byer and hosted an Inspiration Open Mic Night.
Now, students will have the opportunity to attend a few more events— Closing the Gaps: Exploring the Climate for LGBTQ Students, Faculty and Staff, Start Smart workshop for graduate women and the culminating event, Esprit de Femme.
The remaining Women’s History Month events provide opportunities to learn and be inspired by members of the community.
The University Council on Gender Equity is hosting its second installment of the Closing the Gaps panel discussions Friday at 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m. at the Studio Theatre in the Music and Dramatic Arts Building. Summer Steib, director of the Women’s Center, said the panel and discussion will be moderated by Executive Director of University Recreation Laurie Braden.
Steib said the panel will act as an opportunity to hear the concerns of LGBTQ students and faculty and begin the discussion on how those concerns can be reconciled.
“I think it’s an opportunity for students who identify as LGBTQ to share with faculty, staff and other students what their experiences are like at LSU and what some opportunities we have to improve the campus climate and better support LGBTQ students,” Steib said.
The Women’s Center will host its annual capstone event, Esprit de Femme, at Boudreaux’s banquet hall on March 30 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The event will honor women and one man who have made “exceptional efforts towards the advancement of women,” according to the Women’s Center website.
“We definitely want folks to be inspired by what our honorees have accomplished. Maybe challenge themselves to look at some of the areas our honorees represent and ways that you can make an impact,” Steib said.
The hosts attempt to honor both well-known names and faces throughout the Baton Rouge community and the lesser known women who have impacted the community. This year, Esprit de Femme honors a very well known woman throughout the city — Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome.
Broome, the first African-American woman to be elected to the Louisiana State Senate and the new mayor-president office in Baton Rouge, will be honored this year for her commitment to supporting women through key pieces of legislation which focus on issues such as domestic abuse and providing subsidies for grandparents raising their grandchildren.