The women of RIT celebrated at events honoring Women’s History Month

The President’s Commission on Women (PCW) is coordinating and showcasing a collection of events to celebrate Women’s History Month and women in the RIT community.

Since its creation in 2004, the PCW has worked to support and prioritize the recruitment and retention of women faculty, staff, and students at RIT. The commission proposes initiatives that ensure a supportive and welcoming environment, while educating the community about issues impacting women. PCW members include faculty, staff, students, and alumni who work to create an environment where women can embrace their identities, develop skills, and thrive.

Celebrations kick off with the Women’s Resource Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, March 4, in the Fireside Lounge, where attendees can explore opportunities, connect with clubs and organizations, discover resources, obtain giveaways, and find community. Later in the month, join PCW for Speed Networking from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, in the Bamboo Room to meet people from all backgrounds and areas of the RIT community, making connections to last a lifetime.

Other events throughout March include:

March 2-3

• Noon Saturday through 3 p.m. Sunday: WiCHacks. The Women in Computing Hackathon (WiCHacks) enhances opportunities for students who identify as women or gender minorities in the tech industry with a day of dynamic inclusion. Student participants will create an app, website, game, or other piece of software in 24 -hours. Explore the full schedule.

March 7

• 5 to 6 p.m.: Career Connect with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Virtual Event. Students and alumni can learn about career opportunities and be part of a transformative conversation contributing to building a more inclusive and equitable future. Organized by the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education.
• 6 to 8 p.m.: We@RIT Pop-Up Lounge. Get cozy with hot chocolate, snacks, conversations, games, and a craft. Organized by Women in Engineering (We@RIT).

March 8: International Women’s Day

• 6 to 9 p.m.: RIT Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Her Voice, Her Home.” Celebrate the rich cultural heritage and artistic achievements of Asian women in music as part of the Asian Music Initiative. The evening features a pre-concert panel discussion and a world premiere of “Wrath of the Winged Dance” by Yi-Ning Lo. Organized by the School of Performing Arts.

March 19

• 3 to 3:30 p.m.: RIT Libraries Resource of the Month. Join College of Liberal Arts Liaison Librarian, Cami Goldowitz, to learn more about the highlighted resource for March: Women and Social Movements in the United States 1600–2000.

March 22

• 2 to 5 p.m.: WISe Women’s History Month Film Screening: Woman in Motion. Join Women in Science (WISe) for a screening of the award-winning documentary Woman in Motion, which follows the efforts of Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek’s Lt. Uhura, to recruit a new generation of astronauts. An optional discussion after the viewing will allow for reflection on the movie and own experiences in STEM.

March 25

• 6 to 7 p.m.: Asserting Yourself in the Workplace. Examine the most effective ways to handle harassment or discrimination, including workshopping responses to example scenarios and available campus resources. Organized by Women in Engineering (We@RIT).
• 7 to 9:30 p.m.: WGSS Movie Screening and Discussion of She Said. Based on the book of the same title, She Said follows the New York Times investigation that exposed Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women in a shocking story that served as the launching pad for the #MeToo movement. Organized by the College of Liberal Arts Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program.

March 27

• Noon to 2 p.m.: Cinema Sabaya. Discover the story of a group of Arab and Jewish women who participate in a workshop on documentary filmmaking, with each person sharing footage from their home life with the others. Their beliefs and preconceptions are challenged, and barriers are broken down as the group comes together as mothers, daughters, wives, and women living in a world designed to keep them apart. Organized by the Division of Diversity and Inclusion.

March 29

• Noon to 4 p.m.: RIT Libraries Wikipedia Edit-a-thon 2024: Edit for Equity. Boost the inclusion of traditionally underrepresented communities and take part in writing or editing articles about notable women, LGBTQIA+ communities and people, or any related topic. Training, resources, and support will be available to empower participants. Organized by RIT Libraries, the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center.

Cheer on RIT women athletes at games and competitions throughout Women’s History Month:

Explore the schedules for swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, rowing, lacrosse, and softball.