March is Women’s history month. It pays tribute to all women and their impact on history. For the month of March, national organizations pay tribute.
The history:
In 1981 Congress passed Pub L 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to establish March 7th as women’s history week. After five years of petitioning from national women’s history project Congress passed PubL 100-9 which designated the month of March Women’s history month in 1987. The Library of Congress shows a compilation of the presidential proclamations made to support the monumental month.
Jillian Megna, a junior, exercise science major at Cabrini, is a advocate for women on campus. “Women’s history month is about paying tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society,” Megna said.
Jill is also involved with an on campus organization called P.i.N.K.. The organization promotes women in power, while inspiring young women to do even greater things. Despite the groups positive influence on the Cabrini community, P.I.NK was unable to solidify programming to celebrate the joyous month. “Cabrini can support women everyday by putting women and men on even playing fields,” said Megna .
Jill has been most influenced by her mother. “She is the backbone of my family and without her, I would not stand as the women I am today,” said Megna.
Sharon Schwarze, a psychology professor at Cabrini, is also a supporter of women’s history. She has been influenced by many women in her life but two in particular have made a particular impact on her life.
Betty von Klemperer taught Schwarze as a English literature professor at Smith College. “She was a scholar, a demanding teacher, and mother of two children. I babysat for the children for four years while I was there, so I got to see how she managed career and household and I got to participate in the life of the mind that buzzed through the house,” said Schwarze.
Ms. Klemperer is over 90 years old and still gives Dr. Schwarze advice and they are still in touch. She gives new perspective on being an educator and advice on how to be the best woman she can be.
Dr. Schwarze also finds inspiration from her grandmother. Her father’s mother was deaf but still found ways to communicate with her. “She read our vibes,” said Schwarze. She was connected with peoples needs and found new ways to make people happy. She even consoled Dr. Schwarze’s friends in college who were in need of support. Schwarze respects that her grandmother was so caring and tries to be like her in every way that she can.
Everyday is the great day to pay homage to women and the influence they have had on history. As Cabrini was founded by women of the church, paying homage to women and their roles in history should be of the highest importance at the college. Women’s history month is more than thirty-one days to reflect on all that women have done, but also a time to inspire even more women for their potential impact they can have on history.
