Graduate Student Senate: Members approve funds for festival's festive refreshments

Coffee, tea and vagina-shaped cookies will now be on the list of refreshments for this year’s International Women’s Day festival, thanks to a resolution passed at Monday night’s Graduate Student Senate meeting.

GSS will provide $200 for the funding of refreshments for the International Women’s Day festival.

At Monday night’s GSS meeting, Elizabeth Chinn, a graduate assistant at OU’s Women’s Center, presented the plans for this year’s festival and asked the GSS body for the funding.

Other grants being used to fund the event could not be used for refreshments, Chinn said.

"We really don’t have a lot of money for extras, although food is a crucial part of the program,” she said.

The Women’s Center has been hosting the festival since its opening in 2007. This year, the event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. March 11 in the Baker University Center Ballroom. Attendees can expect to enjoy a variety of events such as dance performances, spoken word and research presentations.

“This gives women a space to showcase their talents, and that’s very important on campus, especially for the international student population,” said Tynita White, GSS commissioner for African American Affairs.

“This is a great opportunity for grads, undergrads and honors tutorial students to present their research,” Chinn said.

There will also be a fashion show displaying traditional and contemporary garments from around the world. Several vendors from around the community will also be in attendance, offering a variety of products such as henna tattoos and jewelry.

“This is a great opportunity for community members to come out and show their products,” Chinn said.

hm156809@ohiou.edu