Candace Chambers
Blue & White Flash / News Editor
The women of Jackson State University have been celebrated during the week of March 18-22, 2013.
The Women’s Emphasis Week’s special guest will be Susan L. Taylor, editor emeritus of Essence Magazine, who will speak on Friday, March 22 in the Student Center Ballroom from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Th e event is free and open to the public.
On Saturday, March 23, Taylor will give the keynote address during the 2013 Emerging Leaders Leadership Summit. The luncheon will be held at 12:15 p.m. in the Student Center. Taylor’s address is entitled: “Bold, Visionary Leadership: From the Inside Out.”
“I’m Every Woman” is the theme commemorating Women’s Emphasis Week which is held in recognition of Women’s History Month. This celebratory occasion, sponsored by the Division of Student Life and the Student Government Association, has been filled with empowering activities to emphasize women and the true power embedded within.
Lori Jackson, associate director for Cam-pus Life, said organizers were excited about the opportunity to have Taylor’s discussion be the culmination of the week.
“She’s an iconic female figure, not only in the journalism world, but to women period. She brings a wealth of inspiration, knowledge and encouragement for all women,” Jackson said.
Taylor worked at Essence, a magazine for African-American women, for 37 years, including serving as its editor-in-chief. She is the author of four books and founder of the National Cares Mentoring Program, which was founded in 2005. The organization works to connect mentors with local youth-serving and mentoring organizations.
Taylor began working at Essence Magazine as a beauty editor and helped to change the face of the magazine through her work as editor in chief for 19 years. She was the first and only African-American to receive the highest award by the Magazine Publishers of America.
Prior to Taylor’s visit on March 22, other activities took place on campus for women. On Monday, March 18, massages for women to relax, relate, and release, were provided in the Student Center.
A Sisterhood Summit took place on Tuesday, March 19 in the Student Center theatre with Judge Patricia Wise and Maxine Simpson as speakers. On Wednesday, March 20, women learned self-defense techniques.
A Zumba Extravaganza will be held tonight in the Walter Payton Recreation & Wellness Center at 7:00 p.m. to further promote healthy lifestyles of women.
JSU students, men and women, believe that it is essential for women to be celebrated because of the struggles and hardships they have had to endure throughout history.
“Women should be celebrated during this week to remind them how far they have come along. We have our first [female] president, Dr. Carolyn Meyers, and we should recognize her. Throughout history, JSU women have played a key role in Jackson State’s success, such as Dr. Dollye Robinson and Dr. Jane Ellen McAllister,” said Dexter Smiley, a senior English education major from Greenville, Miss.
Thomas Watson, a senior therapeutic recreation major from Jackson, Miss, said, “This week will help a vast majority of women with their identity. They will be able to prosper and get ideas.”
Whitney Blanchard, a senior psychology major from Jackson, Miss, said, “We’ve come a long way. There was a time when we couldn’t go to school. Now, there are many women on campus. We need to place emphasis on where we are today.”
The idea for using Women’s Emphasis Week as a celebration of women’s accomplishments throughout history began in 1979 at a women’s institute at Sarah Lawrence College.
