Throughout March, students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to pack up their lunch and migrate to the nearest Women’s History Month event to learn about immigration issues.

The NIU Women’s Studies Program will host a variety of events during March to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women, said Rebekah Kohli, program coordinator for the Women’s Studies Program.

The educational events also attempt to “supplement the reality that women’s accomplishments have been and continue to be absent from many school curriculums,” said Sheena Warren, director of the Women’s Resource Center. The WRC is cosponsoring several of the events.

Kohli said migration and immigration were chosen as this year’s theme because of the prevalence of stories about immigration in the news.

Many events will take place during the early afternoon so that students, faculty and staff can attend them on their lunch breaks, Kohli said. Attendees can bring their lunches to these events.

NIU started celebrating Women’s History Month in 1986, one year before Congress designated March as the official Women’s History Month in 1987.

The celebration grows each year, Kohli said.

“Every year there are more events on the calendar, and different units across the university are getting involved, putting on some sort of lecture or film screening…to honor Women’s History Month,” Kohli said.

This year, there are 23 events and 14 cosponsoring organizations and departments across campus.

Warren said this year also marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8.