Women's History Month 2020

Celebrating the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who change the world.

Friends,

It is my distinct privilege to take a few moments to recognize Women’s History Month. It began in 1980 as Women’s History Week through a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter and has been recognized in March ever since 1995. Women’s History Month is an annual opportunity to remember that the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were, in the words of President Carter, “as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”

The 2020 Women’s History Month theme, selected by the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA), is Valiant Women of the Vote. The NWHA explained this theme was chosen in order to celebrate "the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.” This of course brings to mind the powerful Women’s Suffrage movement in the early 1900s, which helped lead to the creation of the 19th Amendment securing women’s right to vote. This also brings to mind the many women who continued to fight in the 1960s for legislation such as the Voting Rights Act which ensured that the voting rights of women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds were secured and protected.

International Women’s Day is Sunday, March 8. This year’s theme is #EachforEqual, which is rooted in the pursuit of a “gender-equal” world. The theme “is drawn from a notion of 'Collective Individualism.' We are all parts of a whole. Our individual actions, conversations, behaviors and mindsets can have an impact on our larger society. Collectively, we can make change happen. Collectively, we can each help to create a gender equal world.”

During this time of heightened political activity, it would be fitting to take a moment not simply to reflect on your potential candidate of choice but rather to think about the women who have gone before us to ensure that we all have the right to express our desire for a more perfect union through our ability to vote. We should also thank all of the people who continue to fight to ensure that this right is protected so that more and more citizens are able to participate in the political process.

I would like to invite you to join our campus celebration in the following ways during this upcoming weekend:

• Friday, March 6, 7:30 p.m., Pioneer Memorial Church: Proximity Vespers, "Empower" (Speaker Rachel Arner). Co-sponsored by the Women’s Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) and the Office of Student Activities & Involvement.
• Saturday, March 7, 7:30–10:30 p.m., Howard Performing Arts Center: Women's History Month Celebration. Co-sponsored by WEAAU and the Office of Student Activities & Involvement.

Also, later in the month:

• Friday, March 27, 8 p.m., Howard Performing Arts Center: Lighthouse Vespers. Co-sponsored by AUSA and WEAAU.

Many of you will remember our Rise Up Against Abuse Rally, which was held last year during this month. During the last week of the month (March 23–30), our campus will have another opportunity to experience the Solidarity Wall. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness on issues of abuse that are largely directed toward women and to stand in solidarity with survivors who continue to carry the weight of what they endured. It is our hope that this demonstration of solidarity, empathy and compassion can help to make that load a little bit lighter as we stand alongside one another and walk forward in victory together.

I am excited about this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many contributions and achievements of all of the amazing women around us. I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite authors, the incomparable Maya Angelou:

“Seek patience and passion in equal amounts.
Patience alone will not build the temple.
Passion alone will destroy its walls.”

Michael Nixon
VP for Diversity & Inclusion
269-471-3241
andrews.edu/diversity