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SUNY Plattsburgh Holds Womyn's Festival Beginning March 21

PLATTSBURGH, NY __ Its name has changed, but the focus remains the same for this year's Womyn's Festival (formerly known as Women's Concerns Week). The annual weeklong celebration at the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh focuses on the social, cultural and economical struggle and success of women.

The festival, presented by the Organization of Women of Ethnicity (OWE) and the Center for Women's Concerns, will run from Monday through Saturday, March 21-26 with the theme, "Celebrating Diversity Through Culture, Love, Honor, Unity and Womynhood."

According to OWE's president, Deven Tribble, a senior criminal justice major from Brooklyn, N.Y., the celebration was started last year in an effort to encourage women to be proactive about their lives.

"The goal of the Womyn's Festival is to get a diverse group of women together," said Tribble. "We want women to feel comfortable talking to other women, and we want them to learn to understand themselves and each other."

Tribble said that the festival does not try to exclude men in any way.

"We want men to come to the festival too," she said. "We encourage them to learn about the issues that many women face in the world today."

Tribble believes that the week's events will serve as a strong example of OWE's mission on the Plattsburgh State campus.

"When OWE started, it was founded by women who were looking for ways to help their peers find answers," she said. "Our events and presentations during the Womyn's Festival go hand in hand with our goal of giving women a voice on this campus."

Some of the events planned for this year's festival include a meeting titled, "Womyn and Social Security," on Monday, March 21 at 8 p.m. in the Amnesty Room, Angell College Center. This event is free and open to the public.

On Thursday, March 24 , there will be an open discussion, "Men say this -- Womyn think that" at 8 p.m. in the Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center. This event is also free and open to the public.

On Friday, March 25 , OWE will host its annual formal, "A Night Under the Stars" in the Warren Ballrooms, Angell College Center, beginning at 7 p.m. This event costs $6 for singles and $10 for couples.

On Saturday, March 26 , at 6 p.m. in the Warren Ballrooms, there will be a concert with special guests, Ubaka Hill and Kahi King. This event is free and open to the public.

The Womyn's Festival is co-sponsored by College Auxiliary Services (CAS), the Wellness Center, the Women's Studies Department, Saturday Late Night Team, Men Increasing Awareness (MIA) and the NAACP.

For more information, contact the Plattsburgh State Student Association at 564-3200.
 
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