Spring 2011
We have SO many great events this semester! Check out our calendar, and print your own copy!
Wednesday, January 26
Man Up: Rethinking Masculinity in the Military
“Man up!” “Don’t be a sissy!” “Be a man’s man!” The understanding and expression of masculinity in the military is very different than masculine identity in general society…or is it? The WRC and Military Services are raising questions about the defining characteristics of a “man’s man.” Do these conceptions vary between the military and non-military communities? What does it mean for men and women who embody a different form of masculine identity or none at all?
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Illinois Room, Holmes Student Center
Co-Sponsors: Military Student Services, Department of Military Science
Tuesday, February 1
HollaBack! Combating Street Harassment
“Hey, sexy!” “’Sup, Mama? How you doin’?” Some people might perceive these phrases as flattering, but others believe such behavior constitutes harassment. Anti-harassment expert Holly Kearl will discuss whether there should be legal repercussions for street harassment and how being cat-called affects women’s experience in public spaces.
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Heritage Room, Holmes Student Center
Co-Sponsors: Greek Affairs, Campus Activities Board, Health Enhancement
Saturday, February 5
Elect Her – Campus Women Win
The 2010 election season was heralded another “The Year of the Woman,” yet, women now hold less than 20% of the seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. These disappointing numbers are mirrored at NIU in terms of women’s underrepresentation in campus executive leadership positions. NIU has been selected by the American Association of University Women as one of eleven colleges from across the nation that will host Elect Her – a campus-based program that trains women how to run for campus-based elective office. Participants in the program will be provided with the tools and support to run for campus office and to take on other leadership positions in their communities and in their professional lives.
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Regency Room, Holmes Student Center
Co-Sponsors: Department of Political Science, Student Involvement & Leadership Development, Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, Women’s Studies Program
Saturday, February 5
Demystifying the Female Super Lawyer: Perspectives on Managing a Career, Family, and Life
Join the Office of Admissions for the College of Law, the Women’s Law Caucus, and the WRC as we consider what life is really like for women pursuing legal careers. Sessions will include panel discussions by current law students and alumni, as well as a keynote speech by a female judge. This event is a great opportunity for women considering law school—whether you’re already admitted or just starting to think about the LSAT.
Time: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Location: Swen Parson 170
Co-Sponsors: Office of Admissions for the College of Law, Women’s Law Caucus
Tuesday, February 8
Too Much Love to Go Around? Reconsidering Polygamy
Not all relationships fall into the monogamous or closed-relationship variety. Our society permits people to have multiple platonic loves, so why are there so many restrictions on having multiple romantic loves? While Big Love and Sister Wives are hot TV shows this season, the media continues to portray non-monogamous relationships as scandalous and abnormal. Join the WRC as we talk about non-misogynistic and non-monogamous relationships and how our society, media, and government regulate non-traditional expressions of love.
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: WRC
Co-Sponsors: Women’s Right Alliance, Department of Sociology, FCNS, Alpha Phi Gamma
Wednesday, February 16
Let Your Green Thumb Shine: WRC’s Community Garden
Don’t let apartment or residence hall living hinder your passion for gardening. Join the WRC as we get down and dirty to create a community garden! We will be preparing container gardens with herbs and seeds, and learning other cool tricks to growing and maintaining eco-friendly container herb gardens. Experienced gardeners and newbies—and everyone in between—are welcome as we show off our green thumbs and learn to cultivate container goods for all to enjoy. We’ll work indoors during this program, allowing our seedlings to grow inside during early spring. Be sure to join us for part two on April 16th (Selfless Saturdays) when we transplant our seedlings outdoors!
Time: 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: WRC
Co-Sponsor: Off-Campus and Non-Traditional Student Services
Saturday, February 19
Selfless Saturdays
Jump-start your weekend with a Saturday morning volunteer project! Join the WRC on the third Saturday of every month for a little dose of do-goodyness while we support the DeKalb area community. We provide a light breakfast, and all of the supplies; you bring a good attitude and a willingness to help. For more information or to RSVP, contact Joe at the WRC at 815-753-0320.
Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Location: Meet at the WRC (105 Normal)
Dates and Causes: February 19—Northern IL Food Bank
March 19—Chicago Books for Women in Prison Project
April 16—NIU Cares Day (Women’s Center Community Garden)
Co-Sponsors: APO, BMI, SOL, Muslim Student Association, Deaf Pride
Breakfast provided by Lincoln Highway Starbucks
Saturday, February 19 & Sunday, February 20
Project Prom
Did your prom dress only get one wear? Well here’s your chance to give that glamorous gown another use! We want to be sure that every girl has a chance to go to Prom in a dress that makes her feel beautiful - and you can help by donating your old prom dress! The Women’s Resource Center and the NIU Honors Program are teaming up to collect formal gowns from now until February 17. On February 19, we will transform Conexión Comunidad into a boutique and invite girls from the DeKalb community to come and get formal gowns for free! Do your part in
making a girl feel as lovely as you did for prom! For information on volunteering during boutique hours, please call Marina at 753-0320.
Dress Drop Off Locations: WRC, 105 Normal Road
Honors Program Office, Campus Life Building, Room 100
Donation Times: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday, February 21
Gender, Sex and Relationships for People with Disabilities
Our society holds a number of preconceived notions about sex, including how people express desire and “conventional” ways of engaging in emotional and physical relationships. Yet, not every person fits in these readily accepted parameters. This is particularly true of people who live with a physical, cognitive, or developmental disability. In fact, many people likely question how those labeled as “different” actually engage in sexual relationships. Join the WRC as we uncover how factors such as gender and ability impact cultural understandings of sex and desire in this community.
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Capitol Room, Holmes Student Center
Co-Sponsors: College of Health and Human Services & CAAR
Wednesday, March 2
Women in Black
The link between global militarization and violence targeted at females threatens women’s lives and safety worldwide. While many governments and news outlets merely acknowledge this growing problem, women are taking action and “banding together” to make real change. Join us as we learn about the efforts of Women in Black, an international network of women committed to peace with justice who actively oppose all forms of injustice, war, militarism, and other forms of violence.
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Heritage Room, HSC
Co-Sponsors: Women’s Studies, Women’s Rights Alliance
Friday, March 4
Women in Black Vigil
Wear black and join us in the MLK Commons as we connect with a world-wide network of women in holding a vigil to end the cycle of violence against women. All NIU students, staff, faculty, and community members are welcome to attend this event, regardless of gender identity.
Time: 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Location: MLK Commons
Co-Sponsors: Women’s Studies, Women’s Rights Alliance
Thursday, March 24
Good Vibes
Few things are as controversial as the female orgasm. Women owning their sexual pleasure can make some feel uneasy. In fact, various states have (or have tried to) ban the sale of vibrators. Join the WRC for a viewing of the film Passion and Power: The Technology of Orgasm, a documentary exploring the history of the vibrator as well as its current status in U.S. popular, political, and medical cultures. You won’t want to miss this behind-the-scenes look at a pleasurable, fun, and effective stress-reliever.
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: WRC
Co-Sponsors: Women’s Studies, Women’s Rights Alliance, Alpha Phi Gamma, School of Nursing & Health Studies
Thursday, March 31
Rock Against Rape
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which means it’s time for the second annual Rock Against Rape! The WRC and The House Café, in conjunction with several local bands, are raising awareness of sexual assault by hosting a benefit concert. So come out and enjoy some great music by socially conscious musicians and support a good cause! All proceeds will go to area sexual assault service providers.
Time: 6:00–10:00 p.m.
Location: The House, 263 E. Lincoln Highway
Cost: $5.00
Co-sponsors: PAVE, Alpha Phi Gamma
Monday, April 4
Forgotten Girls: The Legal Limbo of Trafficked Girls in the United States
Discussion of human trafficking often invokes images of women from faraway lands forced into the sex trade. Trafficking affects women and children worldwide, including here in the United States, with the average age of entry into prostitution between 12 and 14. Yet instead of receiving the legal, medical, or social assistance, many of these children are instead arrested for prostitution before they are even old enough to legally consent to sex. Join the WRC for a screening of the film Very Young Girls and a discussion of the issues that children in the United States face when they are forced into modern-day slavery.
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: WRC
Wednesday, April 6
Lesbian? Biebier? Lesbieber?!
What came first – Justin Bieber or the combed-forward lesbian-identified coif? Join the LGBT Resource Center and the WRC as we team up to untangle the politics of hair. Is a woman’s hairstyle the primary indicator of gender identity or sexual orientation? Do other people judge our gender identity or sexual orientation by our hair whether we like it or not? We’ll delve into these dilemmas and the entire lesbieiber phenomenon in this intellectual discussion that you won’t want to miss! (Lesbiebers welcome – you know who you are.)
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: Holmes Student Center, Heritage Room
Co-sponsors: LGBT Resource Center
Wednesday, April 13
Everybody’s Doing It…or Are They?
Asexuality? Isn’t that for single cell organisms? Not according to AVEN, the Asexual Visibility and Education Network, which describes an asexual as someone who does not experience sexual attraction. Sounds like a health problem, right? Perhaps popular culture has become so saturated with sexuality that the idea of someone defining themselves outside the realm of sexual desire is unfathomable. Join the WRC for an engaging discussion about this often overlooked and devalued form of sexuality.
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: WRC
Co-sponsors: LGBT Resource Center
Tuesday, April 19
Feminist Seder Dinner
In celebration of Passover and in recognizing the importance of community, the WRC is hosting a feminist vegetarian Seder dinner! People of all denominations are invited to learn how women have reinterpreted this religious event to make it women-oriented and feminist. Join the WRC for a vegetarian potluck and a discussion of how women across the world are using this religious holiday as a grassroots way to call attention to various women’s issues. Be sure to bring your favorite vegetarian dish and an open mind for the first WRC-sponsored feminist Seder!
Time: 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: WRC
Co-sponsors: NIU Vegetarian Education Group, Women’s Studies Program