[NEWS BRIEF] Student activists host Women’s History Month Forum

Ariana Castañeda, Photography Editor|Mar 12, 2022

Rilina Tran

Several students gather in the LGI 1 to voice concerns and express their feelings over issues involving women. Junior Sarai Garcia takes the mic and questions the school’s hall sweep system and tardy passes.

This Friday, Student Council, Feminist Club and Period Club hosted the Women’s ‘Her-Story’ Month in the LGI during Cardinal Hour.

In the forum, students spoke about the stigma surrounding menstruation and intersectionality within feminism. Guest speaker Januari Fox spoke about her experience as a feminist and LGBTQ+ activist in her community.

Student forums are relatively new to Bellaire and were initiated by Student Council last year via Microsoft Teams. Student Council hopes to provide a safe space for students to discuss issues that directly affect them.

Director of Policy, Advocacy and Community Engagement for Prism Health North Texas, Januari Fox speaks to students over her experience in social work and activism. She chose social work because she loves politics and community organizing. (Rilina Tran)

“I really love hearing all the different perspectives of the students because there’s so much to learn from everybody,” junior and Student Council Co-Vice President Amy He said. “I love the diversity and thought of our student body.”

Januari Fox is the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Community Engagement for Prism Health North Texas. In her career, she has focused on federal policy issues concerning HIV, the Affordable Care Act and proper care for the LGBTQ+ community.

“I’m what we call a macro social worker,” Fox said. “I look at big-picture communities and organizations. We need to find what’s working in a community and try to replicate that and build on that instead of looking for just the problems.”

The Period Club led the discussion over the taboo culture surrounding menstruation and womens’ bodies in school. Sophomore and Period Club Historian Ariana Izaddoost said she hopes to bring more awareness to these issues.

“Speaking on it can be overwhelming simply because I know I’m speaking on issues that are a problem all over the world,” Izaddoost said. “However, all the speakers at the forum are trying to make a change in our corner of the world.”

Junior and Communications Officer of the Feminist Club Ria Nanjundan said she was glad to be able to contribute to this forum and explained her experience before activism.

Principal Michael McDonough makes an appearance in the LGI 1 during Cardinal Hour. He responds to concerns issued by students on how they should approach hall sweeps if they are dealing with a heavy period or other bodily functions. (Rilina Tran)

“Before, I used to think that feminism was that women were better than men,” Nanjundan said. “Once I cleared up that misconception, it made me angry that the myth was used to discredit feminism. I used my anger to fuel my need for change.”

The turnout at the forum exceeded maximum capacity, as students in World Geography, AP World History and AP US History were offered extra credit to attend. Amy He said she felt thankful to lead the forum.

“I really enjoy being able to lead and host these conversations,” He said. “These conversations matter because I want students to feel they have a voice and a say in what happens at school.