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The Changing Role of Females in the Military


Lionesses Cynthia Espinoza, Ranie Ruthig, Shannon Morgan, and Michelle Perry in Ramadi, Iraq in July 2004.

Feb. 26, 2013 – The documentary film “Lioness: There for the Action. Missing from the Story” will be featured, along with a panel discussion composed of female veterans, at the University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library on the evening of Thursday Feb. 28. The library is co-sponsoring this event with the U’s Veterans Support Center. It is free and open to the public.

Directed by Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers, the awarding-winning film “Lioness” follows female combat veterans in Iraq – illustrating their heightened involvement, challenges and new-found issues that are now arising. With the Pentagon’s recent lift of the women in combat ban, this film provides a timely and relevant examination of the changing role of women in the military.

University-affiliated women veterans will form the panel to discuss their experiences in the military. Panelists include Jennifer “Jing” Marcos, US Army; Chris Gedney, U.S. Air Force; Janine Smith, U.S. Air Force; and Kim Adamson, U.S. Marine Corps.

Sarah LeMire, research and information services librarian and a veteran of the Iraq War, spearheaded this event to bring female veterans together and to educate people about the increasingly active role that women are playing in the military. Sarah, an Army Sergeant, served between 2002 and 2007 and was deployed in Iraq from 2005 to 2006.

“Women veterans tend to be easily overlooked, because there are so few of us and because we blend easily into the civilian populations, once we take off the uniform,” notes Sarah. “Hopefully this event will give some of our women veterans here at the U a chance to be recognized for their service and to share their experiences with the larger community.”

EVENT DETAILS:

Date: Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013

Time: Panel discussion 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. “Lioness” showing 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library, Gould Auditorium (level 1).

Directions: Parking is available in the bookstore lot, west of the library. http://www.lib.utah.edu/info/directions.php.

More Info: Contact Sarah LeMire by email at Sarah.lemire@utah.edu, or by calling 801-585-5056.

ABOUT THE VETERANS SUPPORT CENTER:

The mission of the Veteran Support Center is to improve and enhance the success of student veterans by creating a community, providing opportunities, and giving support for veterans to achieve their educational goals. The Veteran Support Center provides advocacy and understanding for student veterans and an opportunity to continue the relationships built through the service in civilian life.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH:

The University of Utah, located in Salt Lake City in the foothills of the Wasatch Range, is the flagship institution of higher learning in Utah. Founded in 1850, it serves more than 33,000 students from across the United States and the world. With more than 90 major subjects at the undergraduate level and more than 100 major fields of study at the graduate level, including law and medicine, the university prepares students to live and compete in the global workplace. Learn more about all the U has to offer online at http://www.utah.edu.