Wilson Hosts Speaker Series Recognizing Women's History Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Feb. 23, 2017

Chambersburg, Pa. — As part of National Women’s History Month in March, Wilson College will host a speaker series in March, beginning with a lecture by Shippensburg University Professor of Political Science Alison Dagnes at noon, Tuesday, March 7, in Wilson’s John Stewart Memorial Library’s Lenfest Learning Commons. The series is free and open to the public.

Dagnes, who has written and gives talks about American politics and the media, will present “False Equivalencies: The Contortions of Modern Political Media.” This relevant and timely presentation will discuss how, in an effort to appear fair and balanced, the modern American political media has constructed a system that gives equal time and attention to all opinions — even when the opinions may be factually incorrect or false. Dagnes will also explore the damage this practice has done to discourse, democracy and journalism itself.

Other presentations, which will be held at noon in the library, include:

• Tuesday, March 21 — “The Struggle for Racial Integration at Wilson College” by Amy Ensley, director of Wilson’s Hankey Center. Wilson College did not become racially integrated until 1951. Ensley’s talk will trace the efforts of Wilson students and alumnae, local African-American ministers and others, including national civil rights leader James Farmer, to overcome opposition to integration held by Wilson’s administration at the time.

   

• Tuesday, March 28 — “It’s All Relative: Status, Gender and Equality in the Middle Ages” by Shepherd University Associate Professor of History Sally Brasher. Brasher, who has written and published widely on the subjects of medieval, early modern and gender history, will explore how the complexity of women’s history is informed by the diversity of their experiences.

   

The Women’s History Month speaker series is sponsored by the Hankey Center and the Women’s Studies Program.

A number of other activities are planned for Women’s History Month at Wilson, which this year has the theme of “Women of Character, Courage and Commitment.” The series of events is being coordinated by Wilson’s Women’s Studies Program and the Hankey Center.

For more information, contact Amy Ensley at 717-264-4141, Ext. 3279, or amy.ensley@wilson.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT:       
Amy Ensley, Director of the Hankey Center
Phone: 717-264-4141, Ext. 3279
Email: amy.ensley@wilson.edu

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Founded in 1869, Wilson College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering bachelor’s degrees in 34 majors and master’s degrees in education, educational technology, special education, the humanities, accountancy, management, nursing, fine arts and healthcare management for sustainability. Wilson is committed to providing an affordable education that offers value to its students beyond graduation.

Located in Chambersburg, Pa., the college has a fall 2016 enrollment of 1,098, which includes students from 18 states and 16 countries. Visit www.wilson.edu for more information.