19th & Counting Celebrates Centennial of Women Voting

logo with words

August 21, 2019

Across the nation, programs are underway to recognize the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. At Gonzaga, an interdisciplinary team is planning activities to educate, celebrate and advocate.

» Educate

What does it take to create an amendment? Who benefited from the 19th Amendment initially?

» Celebrate

In the last 100 years, women have become surgeons, executives, astronauts, political leaders, soldiers and more, and continue to pursue opportunities previously limited to men.

» Advocate

While progress has been good, there is still work to do. Equal pay and equal access have yet to be achieved in many circles.

 

“19th & Counting” implies a number of meanings, says Heather Crandall, a faculty representative from the College of Arts and Sciences. “Counting refers to the fact that women count, and we mean that inclusively. We want to count the progress that began with the 19th Amendment.”

Many annual lectures across the schools – whether in history, English, engineering, business or religious studies – will feature speakers or topics that relate to 19th & Counting in the 2019-20 academic year. Student activities will include a major focus on voter registration and education. Faculty members are submitting personal and academic reflections on various aspects of the theme, which will be published online and potentially in print. A parade is in the works as well – a march featuring the attire of the Suffragettes and the messages they proclaimed a century ago.

 

Read what’s happening and watch the calendar for upcoming events: gonzaga.edu/womenvote.

Want to support the effort or be involved?
Email committee chair Angela Ruff.