Celebrating Women: Leaders On and Off gave recognition to women leaders on campus and allowed them to connect.
After the buzzer signified the end of the first half at the Bobcat’s women’s basketball game in The Convo on Wednesday evening, more than 70 women flooded the court.
Those coming on the court came from different organizations, some came from Student Senate while others came from the Organization of Latin America, but they all had one thing in common — they’re female leaders on campus.
The congregation was part of the sixth year of “Celebrating Women: Leaders On and Off the Court” hosted by the Ohio University Women’s Center. Prior to the game, the leaders gathered in the Women’s Center to mingle.
“(The event) is to network and to kind of see strength in numbers,” said Susanne Dietzel, the director of the Women’s Center. “Sometimes when you’re leading a student organization, you might feel rather isolated because you’re focusing so very hard on your organization. This gives a bigger picture.”
The event was aimed toward recognizing female leadership on campus regardless of organization affiliation. Academic, political and athletic leaders were all recognized.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="dc9633de-bd40-11e4-9e2c-23a17c4acb4d"}}
Although the announcer requested the audience to “save the applause,” people were up on their feet cheering and clapping for different women.
Among those honored were: Madison Koenig, Women’s Affair Commissioner on Student Senate; Adrienne Green, president of the Black Student Union and previous Post reporter; and Margaret Clark, interim vice president of legislative affairs on Graduate Student Senate.
“That was something, in the past we have obviously seen that, but it was something that was super noticeable and heartwarming today,” said Kim Little, the associate director of women’s, gender and sexuality studies.
Joan Nkansah, a senior studying Latin American studies, stood on the court at halftime and said it was a fulfilling and encouraging experience to have women honored in front of a crowd of people.
The event exposed the audience to the different opportunities for women on campus, said Mara Diaz, a freshman studying Spanish and communication studies and a Margaret Boyd Scholar.
“I think it’s also important because a lot of times younger girls don’t see women leaders, and I think it’s important that you show them someone to look up to,” Diaz added.
Because women’s basketball is stereotyped as not drawing as many spectators as the men’s, having the event at a women’s basketball game made a statement that not only are the games exciting, but women athletes are leaders too, Little said.
“It’s a good thing to be honored for accomplishments and it definitely inspires other people to not be afraid to voice their opinions on campus about women’s issues because you see a lot of people are being rewarded for it,” said Hannah Britton, a freshman studying journalism and a Margaret Boyd Scholar.
Little said education is the first step to break down boundaries and misconceptions about women; an event like this is a step in the right direction.
“We are saying that women are not just invisible and secondary to what’s going on on campus,” she said. “They’re right in the thick of it.”
@liz_backo
eb823313@ohio.edu
