With March comes Women’s History month, a tradition that was established in 1987 and continues with events like Tuesday’s kickoff Women’s Empowerment Award Ceremony in Fulton Chapel.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Melinda Sutton played a key role in organizing the event on campus.
“March remains the month each year that we highlight these accomplishments made by women,” Sutton said.
Jasmine Guy speaks to a crowd at Fulton Chapel Tuesday for the second annual Women’s Empowerment event to celebrate the contributions of women on campus. (Photo by: Aleea Burge)
Student Housing, Ole Miss Athletics, E.S.T.E.E.M., Sigma Gamma Rho and the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement hosted the second annual event.
Actress Jasmine Guy, the keynote speaker for the event, is best known for her role as Whitley Gilbert on “The Cosby Show” and its spinoff “A Different World.” She has traveled throughout the U.S. and appeared at more than 100 speaking engagements at various colleges, high schools and fundraising events.
Guy said she has been faced with multiple acts of discrimination based on her gender and the color of her skin in her lifetime and she would not be in the position she is today without the influence of multiple women in her life. Guy encouraged everyone in the room to take time to recognize those who have helped them along the way.
“Celebrate the women in your life,” Guy said. “Don’t wait until it’s too late, and remember those that came before you.”
Guy said she has seen women doubt themselves to the point that they lose who they are or aspire to be. She said she believes the media has played an integral role in that self-doubt and she has seen the way that pressure affects her own daughter.
“The entertainment business can be a very powerful tool,” Guy said. “But with that power comes manipulation”.
She said she believes the key to success for women is working together rather than competing against one another.
During the question and answer portion after her speech, Guy said she was not shocked issues like date rape, venereal diseases, bullying and racism that were addressed in the show, “A Different World” are still relevant today.
“I’m not surprised”, Guy said. “I’m just troubled that 30 years haven’t eliminated these problems”.
Guy’s presentation was followed by an award presentation from the UM Division of Student Affairs. The awards were centered around the division’s core values: students first, everyone speaks, embrace differences, and lead with learning. At the end of the event the Women’s Inspirational Award was given to health educator and health Advocate adviser, T Davis.
– Dawn Boddie
