The event was taken place on April 12, 2022, in Kansas Memorial Union, featuring a representative from History Department, KU Info, Watkins Student Health Services, Health Education Resource Office, and Hilltop Child Development Center.
The event was to celebrate 40 years of the February sister. In 1972, on this day, there was a group of 35 women and their children occupied the East Asian Studies building at the University of Kansas for thirteen hours to demand “a means of obtaining the resources to meet the pressing needs of women.” The 1972 event was inspired by national feminist activist Robin Morgan, author of Sisterhood is Powerful, who had a speech on campus two days earlier. Some significant changes has been made after the demand, including: +) the establishment of Hilltop Day Care Center, +) the development of a Women’s Studies program and major, +) the accessibility of birth control pills and gynecological exams through Student Health Services, +) the appointment of more women administrators, and +) the implementation of a federally mandated affirmative action program.
In 2020, the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity; and Hall Center for the Humanities for a series of events honoring the 50th anniversary of the February Sisters protest are advocating for 6 main demands regarding healthcare, childcare, Affirmative Action & Leadership Reforms in KU campus through a series of events honoring the 50th anniversary of the February Sisters protest.
In the meeting, the panel members featured various interesting information about the history of the February sister during its 40 years regarding (1) Remind the feminism movement in the past along with the anti-Vietnam war, transgender rights movement; the difficulties of female professors, and students in advocating for a fair and adequated working environment, and the comparison of healthcare, especially women care in Watkins Health Service center in the past and now as the result of long term advocates.
From the interesting discussion during the meeting, I found that we need to appreciate the results of long-term advocating for better healthcare and working environment. These basic rights are not granted, women have to work together to fight for this. This advocacy is not only needed to be taken place in the US but also for women worldwide. Also, the advocacy needed to be continued so that more women will have more access to better care, especially in academic environments.
Sources:
+) February Sisters, a Historical Summary
+) Sister act
Nhung Nguyen 
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