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EIU students portray significant females from past, present
from: jg-tc.com
by SAMANTHA BILHARZ JG-TC Staff Writer
CHARLESTON -- Four Eastern Illinois University students dressed up as influential women past and present as part of an introductory Living History performance Wednesday at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library.
During Women's History and Awareness Month in March, Eastern students speak to children at Carl Sandburg and Jefferson Elementary schools by portraying a certain female character. Eastern has been taking part in the Living History event in the Charleston school district for about 25 years, according to Melanie Mills, professor of communications and women's studies at Eastern.
"I think there is not as much in the curriculum about women in history and women's history is not required in the k-12 curriculum," Mills said. "We don't want kids to think that women weren't doing anything, and these are all women who made a difference in their times."
Ashley Samoska, a sophomore at Eastern, portrayed JOAN JETT on Wednesday, with rocker flair all her own.
"I like how JOAN JETT is unapologetic and she's more contemporary," Samoska said. "The kids have a better way of knowing who she is and I liked the idea of portraying a radical character that is more pop culture."
Jett started in the music business at age 15 in a band called The RUNAWAYS and later went on to form a band called JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS, who are still together today. She is known for her hit songs "I Love Rock ‘n' Roll" and "Crimson and Clover."
"I usually try to focus on the fact that this woman was living in a male-dominated society," Samoska said. "I explain how it was a boys' club and how it was big for her to break through."
This is the second time that Samoska has taken part in the Living History program and she said she continues to do so to educate kids about strong women in the world past and present.
"I hope they get out of the program more about women that they might not have known about from their textbooks," Samoska said.
Taylor Yangas, a junior at Eastern, took on the role of Irena Sendler. The Polish activist smuggled 2,500 children out of the Warsaw ghetto during the Holocaust.
"I found out about Irena after reading an article about how Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize over her and this person who wrote the article was so enthusiastic about her," Yangas said. "I started learning more about Irena and just became fascinated with her and what she did for the Jewish people during the Holocaust."
In order to prepare to play Sendler, Yangas said she made an outline of the important parts of Sendler's life and went from there.
"I try to tie it back to Women's History Month and the fact that they are women during this time period is extraordinary," Yangas said.
Portraying Sendler is the second time Yangas has been a part of the Living History program and she said she continues to take part in it for her love of history and children.
"I hope they will have an interest in learning more about people in different time periods and get really excited that women have done some extraordinary things," Yangas said. "I hope my story will teach them how important it is to help people even if it's hard."
Also as part of the Living History program, Amy Wywialowski portrayed Juliette Gordon Low and Cayla Wagner took on the role of Genevieve (Audrey) Wagner. |
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