WSU celebrates Women’s History Month

PULLMAN, WASH – Those walking around the Compton Union Building Monday and Tuesday might have been handed a rose, which the WSU Women*s Center passed out in honor of International Women’s Day. 

Emily Straling, senior psychology major, said she was not expecting the act of kindness and appreciated the thoughtfulness of the gesture. 

“That was really nice,” she said. 

The flowers are part of a greater initiative by the Women*s Center and other student groups to bring awareness to Women’s History Month. Program coordinator Jackie Sedano said tabling is a good way to teach people how the month is commemorated globally. 

Not only is Women’s History Month a time to celebrate yourself, it is also a time to honor and respect those who came before, said Sajeena Jebanathan, Association of Pacific and Asian Women president. 

The two-day event is just one aspect of this month’s celebrations. Groups started planning for Women’s History Month in early January, Sedano said. This year’s theme is Break the Bias. 

“Bias against, you know, folks of color in the workplace, bias against you know women in certain industries … people’s own implicit biases,” she said.

Sedano said one example is challenging oneself to watch movies that are directed by women or produced by women this month.