CCNY Undergrads to Speak at UN Event

Highlights Women’s History Month Observance

Five outstanding City College of New York undergraduates will participate in a UN-hosted global analysis of gender-based violence, highlighting CCNY's 2013 Women's History Month observance. The event March 9, will be at the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and is free and open to the public.

From CCNY's Women's Studies and International Studies programs, co-sponsors of the meeting, the students and their topics are: 

  • Janee Aiken, "A Culture of Silence: Rape and Black Women"
  • Shannon Finucane, "The Power of Female Protestors in Egypt"
  • Alice Mills Mai, "Rape as a Weapon of War: The Conflict in Eastern Congo"
  • Nancy Romero, "Ciudad Juarez: The Women of Mexico's Drug War"
  • Yexenia Vanegas, "Disgusting Images of Food and Women"  

 Patricia Ackerman, director of the Women's Studies Program at City College, praised the students for their efforts to analyze contemporary problems of gender-based violence. 

"This is cutting edge work by these young feminist activist /scholars on the violence facing women across the globe and I urge everyone to come out and support them," she said.

Along with Professor Ackerman, Shaniqua Gaylord, program associate in the Women's Studies Program, and Griselda Rodriguez, associate director, international studies, will be the other CCNY faculty members at the UN event.

CCNY's co-sponsor is the Fellowship of Reconciliation. For more information, call Professor Ackerman at (917) 488-9929.

Other Women's History Month Activities at CCNY include:  

Writers Series
March 4 – May 6, "Windows on Writers Series," featuring three prominent CCNY female faculty members discussing three celebrated female writers whose work and lives have had profound literary, intellectual, and social impacts. At 4 p.m. Monday, March 4, Pamela Laskin, poet/author and director, CCNY Poetry Outreach Program, discusses the award-winning young adult author Jacqueline Woodson. 

 At 4 p.m. Thursday, April 4, Linsey Abrams, novelist and director, CCNY MFA in Creative Writing Program, reflects on her mentor, the renowned American writer and social activist Grace Paley. 

At 4 p.m. Monday, May 6, Dr. Renata Miller, chair, CCNY English Department and Victorian scholar, speaks about leading feminist scholar, memoirist and CCNY alumna, Susan Gubar. All three events will be at CCNY's Windows on Amsterdam Gallery, 136th St. & Amsterdam Ave.

Exhibits
March 5 – 29, "CCNY Women Make Art." An exhibition of artwork by students, faculty and staff of the City College who self-identify as women. Cohen Library Archives Gallery. Reception 5 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5.

March 12 – April 19, "Mothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Scholars II: Women Under Thirty." Curated by Dr. Myrah Brown Green, this exhibition celebrates the artistic works of women artists under the age of 30. These women present works in a number of art mediums that pay tribute to those who inspire them. Reception 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, Aaron Davis Hall Gallery. 

March 14 – April 12, "Women Dream, Women Inspire." Works by several artists with City College ties including Dr. Barbara E. Johnson, an alumna and anthropology professor at CCNY, art majors Vickie De Jesus and Bahar Tabaei, and noted community artist Aleathia Brown. This exhibit is curated by Charnae Betton, a junior at CCNY majoring in business. Reception 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, Aaron Davis Hall Gallery. 

MEDIA CONTACT

Jay Mwamba
p: 212.650.7580
e: jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu