BINGHAMTON, NY – In celebration of International Women’s Day, Binghamton University organizations, departments and student groups will host a variety of programs. All events are free and open to the public. The schedule includes: 

Thursday, March 7

Guest Speaker Consul General Koula Sophianou
Student group Dorm Room Diplomacy will host a talk with guest speaker, Consul General Koula Sophianou from the Republic of Cyprus at 6:30 pm in the Mandela Room of the University Union, with a reception to follow. This event is free and open to the public. Sophianou will speak about the positive impacts the economic recession of 2008 has had on women in the Cyprus workforce. In 2009, she assumed the post of Consul-General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York. Today, she continues to advocate for women’s rights in Cyprus and around the world.

Friday, March 8

Domestic Violence Tabling
Tabling by members of Omega Phi Beta Sorority Inc. will be held from noon-4 p.m. in the Tillman Lobby. The chapter will distribute lollipops with facts about domestic violence. As part of a "Why I Need Feminism" campaign, members will ask passers-by to write a message about why they need feminism.

Panel Discussion – “Violence Against Women: International Perspectives”
A panel discussion titled,  “Violence Against Women: International Perspectives” will begin at 3:30 p.m. in LH-8. The Binghamton University Globalistas (BUGs) and the Center for Civic Engagement have organized the panel, which will be moderated by David Cingranelli, professor of political science. Faculty speakers will include F. Sonia Arellano-López of Binghamton University’s Institute of Global Cultural Studies; Joshua Price, associate professor of sociology; and Mahua Sarkar, associate professor of sociology, Asian and Asian-American studies and women’s studies.

Each year on this date, events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future with events ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Learn more about International Women’s Day online at www.internationalwomensday.com.