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 Forum
commemorates, seeks original February Sisters
Thirty years ago this month, a group of more than 70 women,
inspired by a speech by a leading feminist poet, occupied
a classroom near KU's Corbin Hall for 13 hours.
Among their demands for better conditions for women on campus
was a day care and a women's studies department.
In less than a year after the peaceful Feb. 4 demonstration
ended, Hillop Child Care Development Center opened, a women's
studies program was created and annual February Sisters educational
forums on women's issues were begun.
To commemorate the actions and impact of the sit-in, February
Sisters Association, a student organization, is sponsoring
the 30th annual February Sisters Forum this month and inviting
all of the original "sisters," many of whom chose
to remain anonymous, to the anniversary event. The forum will
feature Robin Morgan, the author and former editor-in-chief
of Ms. Magazine whose speech on campus spurred the "sisters"
to action, and performances of "The Vagina Monologues".
Scheduled events include
-"Honor Crimes and Crimes of Passion," 7 p.m. Thursday,
Feb. 28, in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Speakers
included Robin Morgan, international women's rights expert
and author and editor of several books, including "Sisterhood
Is Powerful" and "The Demon Lover: The Roots of
Terrorism," and Pamela Shifman, co-executive director
of Equality Now, a New York-based international human rights
organization for women. Panel discussion with Morgan, Shifman
and the original February Sisters will follow. A reception
for the panelists and a book signing with Morgan is set for
at 9:15 p.m. in the Big 12 Room of the Kansas Union. Open
to the public.
- A staged reading of "I, Unseen" by Marika Mashburn
from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Plymouth Congregational
Church. The KU Department of Theatre and Film co-sponsors
the event, which is free and open to the public. Mashburn
depicts the struggles of Afghan women living under the Taliban
rule. In their efforts to find dignity and justice for themselves
and their families, they must confront not only the government
but also their own husbands.
- Three performances of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues"
will take place in Lawrence at 8 p.m. Feb. 21, 22, and 23
in the Kansas Union ballroom as part of the V-Day 2002 College
Campaign to end violence against women. A V-Day festival will
begin at 7 p.m. before the Feb. 22 and 23 performances. Sign
language interpreters will be provided for the Feb. 23 performance.
Washburn University sponsors two more performances, March
8 and 9. Contact Murphy Hall box office, (785) 864-3982, for
tickets and locations for all of these performances, which
are $6 each. All proceeds will be donated to women's organizations
in Douglas and Shawnee counties.
Sponsors for these events include the KU Student Senate,
Student Union Activities, the women's studies program, the
Department of Theatre and Film, Coca-Cola, the dean of students
office, the office of the vice chancellor for student affairs,
the provost's office, KU Greens, Hillel Foundation, Womyn's
Empowerment Action Coalition, the Emily Taylor Women's Resource
Center, University Theatre, the Murphy Hall box office and
Queers & Allies: LesBiGayTrans Services of Kansas.
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