Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 18, 1993 TAG: 9303180314
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BECKY HEPLER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
NOW LEADER TO BE WOMEN'S WEEK SPEAKER
This year's 12th annual Women's Week is a galaxy of feminist stars and the brightest is featured speaker Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women.Women's Week is organized by the Women's Program Office at Virginia Tech and sponsored by several organizations.
"It's a weeklong celebration of the diversity of women, with a particular focus on feminism," said Molly McClintock, a Tech information officer and one of the organizers.
This year's event will touch on such issues as homophobia, environmental action, the image of women in popular culture and how men fit into the feminist movement.
The celebration includes a film festival, panel discussions and a "Take Back the Night" march and rally. There also will be performances by musician Holly Near, comedian Janice Perry, The Guerilla Girls and several local talents.
Ireland's address, "Motivating Women to Stay Active in the Clinton Climate," begins Monday night at 8 in Haymarket Theater on Squires Student Center.
"We gave her that topic," McClintock said. "We wanted to reinforce the theme that there is still lots of work to be done, and we want to keep our members focused on the issues facing women."
Naomi Wolf, author of the book "The Beauty Myth," will wrap up the conference with a speech March 27 on "The Beauty Backlash."
Other speakers include Debbie Cornelius, an Oneida Indian; and Claudine Schneider, director of the Artemis Project and a former congresswoman from Rhode Island.
Cornelius will address issues that affect women of Native American communities, and Schneider will talk about environmental issues.
The environment also is the focus of a panel on March 27 featuring local women leaders who have worked to organize their communities against ecological problems.
There is a film festival Sunday at Squires that will include several documentaries, along with Academy Award-winning director Cynthia Scott's story about eight elderly women and their bus driver being stranded in the country.
There are programs on sexual harassment, eating disorders, menopause, multiculturalism, women in the military and age discrimination. There will be a workshop on personal finances, an international panel on reproductive health and a road race, including a 5-kilometer run and a 1-mile run and walk.
"We've tried to address a variety of issues," McClintock said. "Every woman should be able to find at least one event" that will be of interest.
All of the events except the Holly Near concert are free; though some, like the run and walk and the financial workshop, require advance registration.
Child care is available for many of the events and will be free, though advance registration is necessary. Call 231-7615 to make arrangements.
Check the Current Events calendar in the coming Sunday's New River Current for a complete list of events.