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| L-R: Jessica Mark, Natalie Ennis, Dior Manning, Dr. Penny Messinger, Ehlimana Imamovic, and Sonam Sherpa at the AAUW-NYS Convention on April 18, 2015 |
Daemen's new American Association of University Women (AAUW) Student Organization has had a busy and productive year. In fall 2014, AAUW student leaders worked on bylaws and plans for programs, setting the stage for a busy spring semester. In February, the college's Student Association (SA) granted official recognition to the AAUW Student Organization (an application for recognition by the national AAUW is pending). Members of our AAUW affiliate have held a number of successful on-campus events this semester, and were also active in some of the many events sponsored by the AAUW Buffalo chapter over the past year. Here are some of the highlights:
AAUW's International Women's Day: "Declaring Equality: Renewing a Legacy" (March 8)
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| Dior Manning (President of Daemen's AAUW Student Organization, at left ) and AAUW member Keyla Marte (4th from left) pose with Nadia Shahram, Dr. Melinda Grube, and Coline Jenkins. |
Dior Manning (President of Daemen's AAUW Student Organization), Keyla Marte (AAUW member and president of Daemen's Sister-2-Sister organization), and Dr. Penny Messinger attended the AAUW Buffalo Chapter's program to commemorate International Women's Day on March 8.
The program featured a conversation about women's rights--past and present--between Nadia Shahram and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (represented by historical reenactor Dr. Melinda Grube). Shahram is a Buffalo attorney and activist who advocates for Moslim women's rights; she is also president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Moslem Women. Shahram discussed women's rights as human rights and talked about the status and treatment of women in Iran and several other countries in the Middle East today. Melinda Grube, who is an adjunct professor of history at Cayuga Community College, appeared in costume as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, organizer of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention and a major figure in the American woman's rights movement of the 19th century.
Women's History Month @ Daemen
The AAUW held and co-sponsored several events for Women's History Month, supporting the Women's Studies Program's active Women's History Month program. March is Women's History Month, but this year's program began in February and extended into late April.
On February 25, the AAUW sponsored a screening of Miss Representation, a documentary film that connects the distorted portrayal of women in the media with women's under-representation in political institutions.
The theme of women's empowerment continued during March with an event centering on the documentary, Girl Rising on March 4 (co-sponored by the AAUW and Sister-2-Sister). Girl Rising emphasizes the transformative impact of educating girls to end poverty. The two groups (AAUW & Sister-2-Sister) also collaborated on a Women on the Move! TGIF event held on campus on March 6.
Continuing with analysis of women's image in the media, the club held a well-attended forum on "Women's Sexuality in the Media" on March 18.
On April 2, the AAUW co-sponsored the Gender & Careers Panel Discussion/Mixer event (held in conjunction with the Daemen College/Rosary Hill Alumni Association, the Eaglette faculty women's group, and the Women's Studies Program). You can read more about this event at the story on the H&P Departmental blog linked here. The event was also marked by the conferral of the SOS Award, given to recognize female students who have demonstrated leadership on behalf of women. This is a new award (initiated 2015). At the event, Dr. Shirley Peterson, Dean of Arts & Sciences, conferred the SOS Award on behalf of the Eaglettes to two students who have distinguished themselves through campus leadership: Dior Manning and Annie Marie Rose.
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| L-R: Dr. Penny Messinger, Dior Manning, Annie Marie Rose,
and Dr. Shirley Peterson.
Manning and Rose received the SOS Award
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| L-R: Jessica Mark (AAUW VP for Programs), Stephanie Foreman (Daemen '06, alumni panel member), Emily Kraft (AAUW member), and Dr. Penny Messinger at the mixer. |
The AAUW also collaborated on two successful events held in mid-April: the AAUW-NYS Convention and a bus trip to Seneca Falls (April 19).
@ the AAUW-NYS Convention
This year's AAUW-NYS Convention was held on Grand Island on April 18. Five students from Daemen attended the convention at sessions that comprised the Student Leadership Track.
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Daemen students met Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul at the AAUW-NYS convention.
(L-R): Ehlimana Imamovic, Dior Manning, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul,
Natalie Ennis, Sonam Sherpa, and Jessica Mark
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Along with the keynote address by Dr. Donna Hernandez, President/CEO of the Buffalo Zoo, students met New York Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul after listening to her talk about the Women's Equality Agenda being considered by the NY State Legislature.
Students participated in workshop sessions on "Managing One's Digital Image," "Internships 101," and "Promoting Equality and Social Justice--Building your Career through Advocacy, Education, Philanthropy, and Research." They met student leaders from SUNY-Brockport and St. Bonventure University, and were able to meet and talk to state AAUW leaders in a networking session at the end of the day.
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| "All in!" Jessica Mark (L) joins AAUW leaders, students from SUNY-Brockort, and AAUW college/university regional liaison Kimberly Pollard (3rd from left) in this group photo featured on the AAUW-NY facebook page as "the face of AAUW" |
The final major event of the semester was an April 19 Field Trip to Seneca Falls, which was co-sponsored by the AAUW, the History & Government Club, and the Pre-Law Student Association. On April 19, the National Park Service held a "Find Your Park" Instameet event that we took part in. The group also visited several historic sites in Seneca Falls, with several students also entering photos in the "Selfies with Stanton" social media competition afterwards.
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| Daemen group members at the Women's Rights National Historical Park at Seneca Falls, NY |
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| Daemen group in front, left, and center at the "Find Your Park" InstaMeet event. The bronze figures represent founders of the Woman's Rights Movement who participated in the 1848 convention |
Are you interested in becoming part of the AAUW Student Organization?
Membership in the AAUW Student Organization is open to all students at Daemen College (female and male). Daemen students are also eligible to become e-members of the national AAUW at no cost because Daemen has an institutional membership in the AAUW.
- Learn more about the Daemen College AAAUW Student Organization at our website
- Learn about the AAUW's benefits for students by visiting the AAUW's "For Students" page and the AAUW's "6 Reasons Why You Should Become an E-Student Affiliate" page
- Join the AAUW as a student member by filling out the form at this link E-membership is free for Daemen students and includes one-year free membership after graduation
- Or -- contact Dr. Penny Messinger, faculty advisor for the club and AAUW liaison for Daemen College at pmessing @ daemen.edu
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