WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 14, 2023 — West Liberty University marks Women’s History Month with an empowerment theme and a variety of activities. It began with a tip-off event in February at the Feb. 25 women’s basketball game as female athletes were recognized at halftime.
Today’s event is a Paint-n-Sit for campus held at 6 p.m., in the Campus Union Ballroom. Mocktails will be served and all supplies are provided for created a guided painting with the assistance of Creative Arts Therapy Instructor Terri Giller and Creative Art Therapy Student Manuela Hoffman.
The work that is the inspiration of the activity is the piece called “The Eclipse” by Alma Thomas. Thomas is an African-American artist and teacher who died in 1978 and is considered a major American painter of the 20th century.
Also happening now is the Panhellenic Women’s Empowerment Week, March 13 – 17, that offers events celebrated by the sororities on campus. Sororities will be collecting donations all month for the Y-Boutique, sponsored and housed at the YWCA, Wheeling.
At noon on March 23, Looming with Creative Arts Therapy is planned and will take place at the Student Leadership Center in the College Union. This free program will be led by Dr. Susan Ridley instructing participants on a special looming project focused on women. Ridley is the assistant professor of Creative Arts Therapy.
Also, during the weekend from March 20 – 24, the Creative Arts Therapy program will be present in the Union with pop-up looming instruction.
Coming up on noon, March 29, a special Empowerment Panel will meet at the Student Leadership Center that is open to all. This panel discussion will include a reception afterwards.
Students are invited to sign-up now for a special event as free transportation and admission will be provided to the TRUTHSayers: Nikki Giovanni, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 30.
This event takes place at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, 980 Liberty Ave. in Downtown Pittsburgh and is planned by Student Activities. The time of departure is 5 p.m.
Giovanni is an award-winning writer, poet and recently retired from Virginia Tech Distinguished Professor Emerita. She has written more than 30 volumes of poetry and prose, including several children’s books.
Among the latter is “Rosa,” awarded the coveted Caldecott Medal. Her adult poetry books range from such early volumes as “Black Feeling Black Talk/Black Judgement “and “My House” to more recent ones such as “Bicycles,” “Quilting the Black-Eyed Pea,” and “Make Me Rain.”
Finally, the month ends with a Trans Day of Visibility, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Friday, March 31 in the Union Ballroom. This is a tabling event that will offer information and support. Trans Day of Visibility is an annual awareness day celebrated around the world. The day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people.
For more information on the events of Women’s Empowerment Month or any activities planned and coordinated by the Campus and Community Diversity Committee, please visit westliberty.edu/diversity.