The Multicultural Center and GIS Research and Map Collection came together to host “Women of Ball State,” not only to honor memorable women in the Delaware County community, but to also raise awareness about community resources for women.
Ball State hosts Women’s Week each year at the end of March and this year’s theme is “Grow Locally, Think Globally.” It consists of lectures, discussions, film screenings, music performances and art that celebrates the accomplishments and experiences of women.
The event was organized and hosted by Tatyana Jordan, graduate assistant of the Multicultural Center. Jordan said she wanted to host an event to honor Women’s History Month.
“I kind of curated and created the name of ‘Women [of] Ball State’ to recognize women of either Delaware County or at Ball State that have contributed to our community and how it is today,” Jordan said. “And so, I really wanted to hone in on what these women of our community have done for us, even if it’s something minor, but made a really big power move on us.”
Jordan said she wanted to have attendees have something tangible to take away from the event to remind them of what they learned. Items such as stickers, books, goodie bags, lanyards and pens were available to people who came to the event. The Office of Victim Services was also present, where staff members had a booth explaining resources available to women, alongside items to pick up and share.
“I’m a big, big, big person of tangible items — and to be able to come here and hear something and take it with them is really cool,” Jordan said.
Casey Gargano, graduate student in the Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education program, said she found herself attending “Women of Ball State” solely for the purpose of promoting the importance of women’s recognition and the injustices women face.
“Specifically, I’m tabling for the Multicultural Center and we have book resources available for students,” Gargano said. “The first one is ‘Period Power,’ which talks about the menstruating experience of women, and then ‘My Beautiful Black Hair,’ and we’re also giving out ‘I Am’ statements for women to provide testimonials about their experience as a woman or even allies and supporters of women.”
Gargano said the purpose of her booth is to create a sense of belonging and connectivity, especially for female-identifying students on campus.
On March 28 at 6 p.m., the Multicultural Center is hosting a facilitated discussion regarding the stigmas associated with periods and period poverty in its multipurpose room.
Contact Jamie Strouts with comments at jdstrouts@bsu.edu.
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