The Future is Female: Stetson Law celebrates Women’s Week
Members of Stetson’s FAWLS group: (L-R): Brittany Showalter, Kim Lopater, Kate Konecny, Julia Alley, Michelle Moretz spearheaded this year’s Women’s Week. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
By Bianca Lopez
(L-R): Joann Grages Burnett, Brittany Maxey, Bobbi-Sue Doyle Hazard, Erica Bartimmo and Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
Small black buttons, reading: “The Future is Female,” circulated through campus during March, Women’s History Month. The buttons were being sold by FAWLS (Florida Association for Women Lawyers at Stetson) to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Fund Alliance, in conjunction with Women’s Week.
FAWLS founded Women’s Week at Stetson last year with four events centered on topics of concern to women. This year, FAWLS added a fifth event: The Superhero 1K. FAWLS collaborated with other school organizations such as NOW (National Organization of Women), LELA (Labor and Employment Law Association), Phi Delta Phi, and Public Service Fellows, as well as, community organizations including HAWL (Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers), PFAWL (Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers), and Women Lawyers of Pasco.
Dr. Davis spoke in the Mann Lounge for Women’s Week.
CASA representative and bureau volunteer Julie Cline. Photo by Merve Ozcan.
Women’s Week kicked off with a Superhero 1K. Pictured is first-year student Rebecca Klonel. Photo courtesy Kate Konecny.
“It’s important to us as an organization to raise money for women’s issues and women’s organizations,” said Kate Konecny, student and FAWLS president. “I think it’s important for students to get involved with the community and advocating for issues that are important to them. Women’s Week is a whole week that we can reflect on these issues, and decide what we’re going to do about them. Whether it’s through advocacy, or having tools to face discrimination day to day, it’s a way to get conversation started.”
The week began with the Superhero 1k fun run on Sunday, March 25. Local sponsors donated prizes for best Superhero costumes and the participants who won the race. The event raised $250 for the Ovarian Cancer Fund Alliance. On Monday, March 26, a panel consisting of Stetson Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox, Attorney Erica Bartimmo, Attorney Bobbi-Sue Doyle Hazard, and Attorney Brittany Maxey-Fisher empowered students by inspiring them to be confident and giving advice on workplace scenarios at the event “What to Do When?”. On Tuesday, March 27, a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” was held in the Great Hall. A supply drive and pro-bono event to support CASA took place on Wednesday, March 28. Finally, on Thursday, March 29, FAWLS hosted a networking and impression management event with local attorneys, featuring a speech by Dr. Kirsten Davis, a Stetson Law professor.
“In my opinion, our most successful event was the Superhero 1K,” Konecny said. “It was a fun weekend event that had great student turn out and also raised money for a great cause.”
Post date: April 5, 2018
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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