Women's Week observed at UNL March 2-10

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will observe Women's Week with a series of events March 2-10.

Activities during the week will focus on the theme, "UNL Women's Leadership: From Our Past, We Will Build Our Future."

The observance begins March 2 with the first Women's History Month Banquet at the Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. in the Centennial Ballroom of the Nebraska Union. A reception at the Women's Center, 340 Nebraska Union, will begin at 5 p.m. Individual tickets for $15 and student tickets for $10 will be available at the Nebraska Union Information Desk. Department tables (eight seats) are available for $140 and registered student organization tables (eight seats) are available for ($80). For more information or to reserve a table, call (402) 472-2597 or stop by the Women's Center.

The week will also include a series of luncheons March 6-9, beginning at noon each day. The luncheons are sponsored by the UNL Women's Center in collaboration with other organizations and will feature talks by women leaders. Lunch will be provided, with the exception of the March 6 brown-bag lunch. Reservations are required for the March 7-9 luncheons and can be made by e-mailing wc_programs@yahoo.com. The schedule of luncheons:

* March 6, "The Ruff: Power Zone of the 16th Century," Barbara Trout, professor of textiles, clothing and design, 110 Love Library (sponsored by University Libraries);

* March 7, "A Transformational Journey: Women and Leadership," Gina Matkin, senior lecturer in agricultural leadership and communications, Nebraska Union (room posted, co-sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources);

* March 8, "Equality, Responsibility and the Social Spider," retired judge Jan Gradwohl, Nebraska Union (room posted, co-sponsored by the Cather Circle);

* March 9, "Fight the Power! How Women Can Change their Countries, Communities and the World," Beth Meyers of Washington, D.C., executive director of STITCH, a network of women unionists, organizers and activists that builds connections between Central American and U.S. women organizing for economic justice, Nebraska Union (room posted, co-sponsored by the Women's Studies Department).

On March 7 at 7 p.m., the Women's Folk Dance workshop in Abel Hall, 17th and Vine streets, will feature four different types of dance from around the world. The workshop is free and open to the public.

On March 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. each day, "Nebraska Next!" a theatrical look at Nebraska's struggle for women's voting rights, will be presented at the Loft at the Mill, Eighth and P streets. The performances are free and open to the public.

There will be two exhibits March 6-10 in the Nebraska Union. An exhibit featuring work from local artists will be displayed in the Rotunda Gallery of the Nebraska Union, March 6-10. Selected works express themes of women's issues and experiences, women's leadership, the feminist movements and gender identity or roles. A reception in conjunction with the exhibit will be held in the gallery at 5 p.m. March 6.

There will also be a Women's Leadership Exhibit in the Alcove of the Nebraska Union March 6-10. The exhibit will highlight women in science and the history of women's suffrage in Nebraska.

For more information, visit the Women's Center, 340 Nebraska Union, telephone (402) 472-2597 or visit the center's Web site (http://womenscenter.unl.edu).

CONTACT: Carrie Bahde, Women's Center, (402) 472-2597