Women’s in Sports kick off event
On April 4, Daemen College entered its week of “Women in Sports”. For the past six years, Daemen has celebrated “Women in Sports” week by acknowledging all women who are or have been a part of a sport. The event kicked off with former Boston College basketball player Kathy Sweet.
The former basketball player expressed her interest in sports began at an early age and continued into her young adulthood. Sweet expressed that as a result of her being involved in sports, it helped her to learn life lessons that she would always think back to once she became an adult. The former Boston College basketball player advised young adult women who are in currently in a sport that they are very fortunate to be able to have opportunities that she was not offered to her when she used to play college basketball.
Kathy Sweet gave a brief discussion of how if it had not been for portion of the education amendment known as ‘Title IX’ gave her the ability to be able to participate in college sports. She also shared personal stories of how her past prepared her for bigger and better things for the future. Sweet concluded her speech by answering questions from the audience and giving on how to stay motivated throughout college and in the work force.
Acknowledgement of World Hijab Day
As a conclusion to Women’s history month events, the history department hosted its event during Academic Festival. This is a time where students get to display their research-based topics. Provided by different departments, the campus-wide event raises awareness towards different topics and presents projects students have worked on to represent their department.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) at Daemen College organized the event of “Acknowledgement of World Hijab Day”. This centralized on how Muslim and Islamic women wear a hijab and what it symbolizes to them. The presentation addressed questions such as: “what does it really mean to wear a hijab,” “how to put on a hijab,” and “what do you look like covered?”
Attendees had the choice of picking a veil and learning how to put it on and looking themselves in the mirror to see how they look with it on. Even though many believe the hijab is only associated with religion the veil represents more to Muslim women. Within the Islamic community, women wear the hijab as a symbol of modesty.
In the event, the AAUW gave a brief discussion of how Muslim women still are criticized for wearing a hijab because of the association it has with terrorism. Since September 11, many view Muslim women as a threat to society and make them feel unwelcomed.
Acknowledgement of World Hijab Day helps to raise awareness of what women in the community of Islam represent to their culture by wearing a hijab.