The UCCS Feminist Club, History Club and Speech & Debate Club are collaborating to host “Glass Ceilings & Ivory Towers,” a panel meant to shed light on ongoing issues of sexism and racism in institutions of higher education.
The event will take place on 1-5 p.m. April 25 in Hybl 225. Participants will include members from each club, SGA President and Vice President-elect Aidan Burke and Isabella Polombo, as well as a diverse group of female panelists.
Club leaders are set to deliver speeches to open the event, followed by a panel discussion and opportunities for attendees to connect with the host clubs.
According to Sanjana Pandey, president of the Speech & Debate club, the event is significant because it addresses social problems that women still face in universities. “Something we don’t acknowledge is that, historically, women have been oppressed when it comes to education. I think sometimes it’s easy for people to forget that this is still a reality people go through,” she said.
“It’s important to shed light on the fact that there are a bunch of minority groups, including women, that are still disadvantaged in our system,” Pandey said. “It’s not just something we can leave in the past.”
Panelists were selected from multiple academic fields at UCCS and beyond. Three panel members are active UCCS faculty members. Pandey said that the clubs’ goal in selecting the panelists was to curate a diverse range of perspectives across different areas of study.
The panel members will discuss their personal experiences and share advice with audience members on how to navigate higher education as women. “We wanted to focus on: how did they break through the glass ceiling? How are they still grappling with the glass ceiling?” Pandey said.
Pandey encouraged people who want to know more about how society works or those who have experienced glass ceilings firsthand to attend the event. “If you want to know more about what it’s like to have a woman’s experience, I think our event is the perfect way to have a preview,” she said.
Beyond raising awareness about misogyny in higher education, the event serves as an opportunity for students to become familiar with how the Feminist Club, History Club and Speech & Debate Club function.
After the panel discussion, attendees will have an opportunity to network by meeting with club leaders, panelists and other audience members.
“It gives you a hands-on experience and allows you to look at the intricate ways sexism and misogyny and racism are still involved in the way we look at academia,” Pandey said.
Panelists
- Tess Kyner, MA in communication, director of the UCCS Multiliteracy Center.
- Becca Attridge, principal for Pharmacotherapy on the Medication Solutions Team at the Craneware Group.
- Ilaheva Tua’one, PhD in American and British literature, assistant professor in women’s and ethnic studies at UCCS.
- Jessica Lee, PhD in anthropology, CEO of 413.
- Melody Pugh, PhD in philosophy, English and education, assistant professor of English and fine arts at the United States Air Force Academy.
- Janel Owens, PhD in agricultural and environmental chemistry, professor and associate chair of chemistry and biochemistry at UCCS.
The event is open to the public. The host clubs will provide free pizza for attendees.
Graphic courtesy of Inc. Magazine.