Women’s History Month activities set at Idaho State University; conference, film screening, LUNAFEST among events

A variety of events are scheduled for Women’s History Month at Idaho State University including the XI annual Gender and Sexuality in Everyday Life Conference March 5-6, a film screening on service women March 9, LUNAFEST film festival on March 11 and theatrical/musical performances on March 13.

These events are sponsored by the ISU Janet C. Anderson Gender Resource Center with cooperation from other ISU departments. For more information on these events, contact Stephanie Richardson, assistant director of programming at the Anderson Center, 282-2805 or richstep@isu.edu, or visit the website www.isu.edu/womenctr.

• XI Annual Gender & Sexuality in Everyday Life Conference: This will run March 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Salmon River Suites of the Pond Student Union.

The Gender and Sexuality in Everyday Life Conference focuses on how ideas and stereotypes concerning gender and sexuality roles shape and influence various aspects of the daily lives of women. By acknowledging these roles, women can begin to break down some of the barriers they constitute and move towards awareness and open dialogue, according to event organizers.

This year the conference will present a great combination of local ISU faculty and student presenters as well as guests from all over the country and internationally. ISU students of all levels, as well as interested community members, are invited to attend this professional conference. This year’s keynote speaker is Audrey Giles.

• Film Screening and Speakers: The screening of the film “Service: When Women Come Marching Home” and the accompanying presentation by speakers will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. March 9 in the Pond Student Union Little Wood River Room.

Women make up 15 percent of today’s military. That number is expected to double in 10 years. This film highlights the resourcefulness of seven women who represent the first wave of mothers, daughters and sisters returning home from the frontless wars of Iraq and Afghanistan. Portraying the courage of women veterans as they transition from active duty to their civilian lives, this powerful film describes the horrific traumas they have faced, the inadequate care they often receive on return, and the large and small accomplishments they work mightily to achieve.

Speakers at this event are Laura L. Hill, retired Lt. Col., U.S. Army, and Vicki Marti, a licensed clinical professional counselor from Boise.

• LUNAFEST Film Festival: LUNAFEST, short films by, for and about women, will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 6 p.m. March 11 at the Pond Student Union Little Wood River Room.

Established in 2000 by LUNA, the makers of the Whole Nutrition Bar for Women, LUNAFEST connects women, their stories and their causes through film. This traveling film festival spotlights the work of a diverse array of talented women filmmakers with intelligent, funny and thought-provoking themes. For more information on the film festival visit www.lunafest.org.

• “La voix humaine” a One-Woman Opera and “The Telephone” a One-Act Dramatic Monologue: These presentations will be held from 7:30 to 10 p.m. March 13 in Goranson Hall in the ISU Fine Arts Building.

Idaho State University’s Diana Livingston Friedley, Kathleen Lane, Sherri Dienstfrey and Mark Neiwirth will bring their talents to life for these special presentations for Women’s History Month.