February 2013

In order to prepare for our event "Bad Ass Women in Literature," the Iris staff has been doing some brainstorming about fictional women who are, well, badass. Obviously, this topic is hugely contentious, and I admit that the English major in me fluttered with both excitement and anxiety at the thought of trying to pick just one-do I go with a classic (Lizzy Bennet, don’t worry, you are the original badass!) or do I go with something a little more true to my time, a modern woman with just as much spirit? In the end, I think I found a female character that stays true to both.

Presidents' Day has come and left again for another year. Celebrating the birthday of George Washington, Presidents' Day gives us a chance to show our appreciation to the 44 men who have led this country since its inception. Of all the articles and books written about these influential men how many take the time to remember the women who have graced the hallways of the White House? We all know that 'behind every great man there is a greater woman,' so here is a small tribute to some of the iconic women who have left their mark as First Lady.

This is National Girls and Women in Sports week, culminating in an event on Sunday to honor Lauren Purdue, so we thought we'd have a sporty BAWW. We did not have to look far to find one; Catherine White was an immediate obvious choice. Recently made a captain of the women's track team, White, enjoying her last season as a graduate student in kinesiology here at U.Va, has a long and decorated history in track.

What does it mean to be black at U.Va? This the kind of question that immediately raises concern, that provokes thoughts, and that spawns long necessary-yet-draining discussions about race. The problem with this question, or at least one of the problems, is that it assumes that there is one black identity, one black experience. This is not at all black-specific; the same issues rise when we question what it means to be a woman here, to be gay here, to be African here, to be a graduate student here, to be an athlete here...

It is often said that you meet your best friends in college - your future bridesmaids, the godmothers to your future children, the ones you will meet up with time and again post graduation for cocktails and to relive the wild days of staying up way too late, partying way too much, and having more fun than your high school self ever thought possible. If you have found this not to be your experience in college, I sincerely hope that you find this kind of friend-love somewhere in your future.

There are so many different kinds of bada** women because, let’s face it, women are awesome. Our next BAWW happens to be a close friend of mine, Ms. Anna Boynton, but it will become clear when I describe her achievements that most anyone would agree she is bada**.

What does it mean to be someone's friend? What does it mean to be their best friend? I adore my friends; they are some of the most important people to me. Then I started to really think about why I am friends with them; I lived on the same dorm floor as some of them...

National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebrates our Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer