A spa day, fashion show and guest speakers highlight the month.
By Wally Perez
gperez239@student.alamo.edu
This college will kick off Women’s History Month with events such as documentary screenings, a fashion show and a book discussion, throughout March, beginning with an opening ceremony 9:30-10:40 a.m. Wednesday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center.
Dr. Jothany Blackwood, vice president of academic success, will speak on the importance of women’s leadership in higher education and society during the opening session.
Dr. Lisa Zottarelli is the chair of the Women’s History Month Committee this year.
“The month is a great time for us to celebrate the contributions that women have made to society and appreciate them,” Zottarelli said.
“It’s important that students have the opportunity to learn outside of their classes; they have a chance to learn about a lot of things outside as a community, such as events like women’s history,” Zottarelli said. “Women’s stories need to be told.”
Three documentary films will be played in rotation 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday in the craft room of Loftin.
The films are “Abuelas: Grandmothers on a Mission,” a Spanish documentary about Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a human rights organization looking to find children who were stolen and illegally adopted during the Argentine Dirty War; “Rights & Wrongs: The Story of Women in Islam,” a documentary exploring the past and present conditions of Muslim women and the myths and misunderstandings about their roles in Islam; and “Saving Face,” a documentary about acid attacks on women in Pakistan and their fight for justice against their attackers.
These documentaries were picked because of the subject matter and the representation of women and hardships that they face all over the world, Zottarelli said.
Pamper Our Women Day brings free massages, nail polish stations, smoothies and more the following week from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 9 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin.
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of Texas A&M San Antonio, will speak on women in leadership roles 9:25-10:40 a.m. March 10 in Room 218 of the nursing complex.
During the event, the recipients of the 2016 Women-In-History Month Ann Richards Endowed Scholarship also will be announced.
Two documentaries will be showing on rotation 8 a.m.-4 p.m. the same day in the craft room of Loftin.
The films are “Mothers of Bedford,” a documentary about mothers in prison and their life with their families while inside, and “Service: When Women Come Marching Home,” a documentary about the hardships that some women in service face after leaving the military.
The Magic Closet will be sponsoring a fashion show noon-1 p.m. March 23 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin titled “Women Helping Women Succeed.”
Students will model clothes donated to the Magic Closet, which provides students with professional business attire for job interviews.
The Women’s History Month SAC Book Club will be discussing Rebecca Skloot’s “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” 9:30-10:40 a.m. March 24 in Loftin.
“We’re hoping that those who attend have read the book and we can have a discussion over it. If people haven’t read it, then they have a chance to learn a bit about it and see if they want to pick it up for themselves,” Zottarelli said.
The month will end with a Women’s Health Fair 10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 31 in the Fiesta Room of Loftin.
For more information, call 210-486-0998 or student life at 210-486-0128.