Donut Diaries event promotes equality
Gabe Montesanti Staff Writer
Members of the Kalamazoo College Living Learning House “Women’s Voice” opened several boxes of Sweetwater’s Doughnuts and set them in the lobby of Stetson Chapel on Thursday, Oct. 4. When students and a few faculty members sat down with their food, an honest dialogue about gender equality began.
Women’s Voice members created this event, called “Doughnut Diaries,” to educate the community about the biases still present against women today and about how to combat gender discrimination. LLHU resident Abby Keizer ’15 said the event grew out of a passion for women’s advocacy and feminism shared by all members of the house.
“We wanted to do something open to the entire community,” Keizer said. “Many of the girls in the house are enrolled in Intro to Creative Writing, so we had a lot of resources. We also wanted to show off the amazing talent of fellow students and faculty on this campus.”
Speakers at the event ranged from members of the house to K College staff members to student attendees. Charlene Boyer Lewis, associate professor of history, shared two historical documents that were incredibly significant to her personal journey in the study of women’s history. The first was a primary document written by Abigail Adams on March 31, 1776, urging her husband John Adams to “Remember the ladies.” The second was the trial of Susan B. Anthony, who was arrested in 1872 for casting her vote.
“We all get really motivated by these events,” Women’s Voice member Laura Manardo ’15 said. “We are all into women’s advocacy and this event really evolved from that. It is a theme all of us are interested in, and this was an easy way to communicate that theme.”
Manardo also acknowledged the serious undertones of the event.
“It’s about equality. It’s important that every person is treated in the same manner regardless of skin color, sexual orientation or gender,” she added.
The next Women’s Voice event, called “Love your Body,” will take place during eighth week. It will involve creating a large, collage-style poster featuring photographs of various favorite body parts to promote the idea that everyone should be comfortable in their body.
“If people stand united,” Manardo explained, “then that will be an empowering message we can bring to campus.”
