LEXINGTON, Ky.—As part of their commitment to fostering dialog about gender issues, Transylvania students have planned a variety of activities—from participating in the annual Take Back the Night rally, sponsored by the University of Kentucky, to a campus panel discussion on feminism—during the week of March 24. Events are sponsored by various campus groups, including SAGE, the Sexual Awareness and Gender Education committee, and VOICE, which encourages discourse on gender equality and justice.
“Gender Week promotes a safer campus and lets students show commitment to ending violence in our community,” said Ashley Gutshall, assistant director of residence life and coordinator for interpersonal violence prevention programming.
Students will be active participants in a number of events, including the Clothesline Project, which encourages them to paint messages relating to interpersonal violence on colorful T-shirts that are then displayed in the university’s dining hall. Students will also present a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” to raise awareness about sexual violence and sexual assault. A favorite event is the Holi Festival, a Hindu celebration of spring during which there is traditionally a loosening of social norms of gender and caste. As part of the celebration, students toss brightly colored powder into the air.
Free events of interest to the public include:
A Creative Intelligence lecture presented by Karen Tice about her book “Queens of Academe: Beauty Pageantry, Student Bodies, and College Life,” which examines the themes of class, race, beauty, body discipline and self-regulation in the contexts of higher education and student cultures. March 24 at 4:30 p.m. in Cowgill 102.
A lecture presented by Juilee Decker, associate professor of art history and museum studies at Georgetown College, titled “Enid Yandell: Sculptress, Bachelor Maid, and Pioneer,” in association with the exhibition of work by women sculptors currently in the university’s Morlan Gallery. March 25, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., in the Morlan Gallery.
For more information about Gender Week, contact Gutshall at agutshall@transy.edu or 859-233-8131.