Cynthia
Phinney, the
business
manager of
the
International
Brotherhood
of
Electrical
Workers,
presented a
talk on
women in
economics
entitled
"More than
Consumers:
Women
Shaping the
Global
Community."
Photographer
Lauren Shaw
presented an
exhibit of
Maine women
living on
the land,
which is
still
available
for viewing
in the
Hudson
Museum.
The exhibit
is intended
to remain on
display
through the
month of
May.
Maureen
Elgersman
Lee, the
author of
the book
"Black
Bangor,"
which
explores the
history of
African
Americans in
Bangor from
1880 to
1950, a
distinguished
historian
from the
University
of Southern
Maine
presented a
lecture
discussing
the roles of
women in
that area
and time
period, and
a discussion
and book
signing
followed her
lecture.
Other
highlights
of the month
included a
performance
by
nationally
acclaimed
folk music
duo "Emma's
Revolution,"
By far
the most
exciting
addition to
the events
of this
year's
celebration,
said Hough,
was the
inclusion of
a
student-organized
international
women's day
celebration.
This
celebration
was
primarily
the
brainchild
of two
international
students at
the
University
of Maine,
Nadiya
Dragan and
Ion Iepure.
"It just
felt odd
that this
holiday does
not exist in
the U.S.,"
said Dragan,
a first-year
communications
graduate
student.
"Women in
the U.S.
deserve to
have this
holiday."
It is
traditional
in eastern
Europe to
hold a
celebration
in honor of
women all
over the
world, and
these two
students
wished to
bring that
celebration
to the
United
States and
to the
UMaine
campus.
The events,
which
included
poetry
readings,
classical
and modern
music,
dancing and
a
performance
by the Maine
Steiners,
were well
received by
the
students.
"We had
crowds of
people
approaching
us after the
concert to
tell us how
much they
enjoyed the
concert,"
Dragan said.
She and
Ieupure both
emphasized
the unique
European
flavor of
the
festivities.
"I believe
people would
remember
this event
as something
different
from what
they have
seen
before,"
Dragan said.
Iepure, a
business
major,
echoed her
sentiments,
saying he
hoped
everyone who
participated
"had a
special and
nice
European
celebration,
and took
with them
nice
memories."
The
university
has held
celebrations
of one kind
or another
during the
month of
March in
honor of
women's
rights and
women's
history
since the
1970s.
The vast
majority of
these events
have been
sponsored by
the women's
studies
program or,
more
recently, by
the women in
the
curriculum
program.
The goal of
the events,
according to
Hough, is
"to honor
all women's
achievements."
She went on
to say that
she hoped
the events
would also
honor
diversity
among women.
"We really
emphasize
the
importance
of diversity
in women's
experiences."
