The ladies of community service organization A Few Good Men are starting a lecture series for female students.
Juniors Julie Finke and Bridget Ervin were inspired by A Few Good Men’s lecture series, “The Man in the Arena.”
Finke explained that last semester, teachers and coaches addressed male students on how to combat our culture’s war against manhood. She said if something is happening to manhood, it must also be affecting womanhood.
“We wanted someone to address how we can pursue true womanhood,” Finke said. “How to we strike a balance between someday being a career women and domestic wives and mothers.”
“We want to appeal to a ton of women,” Finke said.
Working together, they are contacting different professors and their wives to come in and talk to the women.
Whalen will be giving the first speech on virtuous womanhood.
Patricia Bart, assistant professor of English, will be speaking later in the semester.
“I think the parable of the talents applies to women equally,” Bart said. “If you have a talent and you do not use it, I don’t think God is very happy with you.”
Bart explains that she has meditated on our role as women.
“What makes us masculine or feminine?” Bart said. “I want to answer that question in my speech, but I can’t give it all away.”
She said her experiences of growing up with a family firmly entrenched in 19th and 20th century English ideals in a time when women were burning their underwear in public definitely formed her view of womanhood.
“I am a widow without children,” Bart said. “In a very unsentimental way, my students are my children and you will leave my legacy.”
Because of this, Bart said she is delighted to participate in this lecture series.
Finke said the men all wore suits to their speeches, so dressing up would be wonderful.
“There will be snacks and tea,” Finke said. “It is going to be really great. You will meet different women and learn how to become better people—who God created us to be.”
The first lecture will be in Mauck on Monday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. All women are welcome.
