By Mathilda Tataw, Student Media. Edited by Chelsea Xu, UL Marketing and Communications.
Women make up the majority of college students in the United States — and have for decades. Yet their stories, in the curriculum and in cultural conversation, remain underrepresented. On March 30, a gathering in Fenwick Library’s A Wing made a small, deliberate argument against that gap.
Hosted by the Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE) and Watershed Lit, “More Than a Moment: Women’s History Month” was equal parts community event and space of care — a few hours carved out for literature, art, food, and unhurried conversation in the midst of a packed academic calendar. Printed artworks lined up the walls. A book swap table offered everything from fantasy to immigrant narratives to first-generation coming-of-age stories. Four-person tables, as vendor Brittany Symoné of DetoxArt.co put it, were “safe for introverts and extroverts to either sit silently, color, and read — or have a nice long conversation getting to know someone.”
Symoné designed a custom line of bookmarks for the event, each one a small prompt around women’s empowerment, personal autonomy, and rest. Her presence was intentional. “I wanted to provide a service and a space that allows everyone to meet, reflect, and relax during challenging times,” she said. “From laws, government policies, massive social media posts — we are all impacted by what happens in the world. I want to give people a mere moment in the day to just connect.”
That impulse — to make space, rather than just make noise — resonated with the students who showed up. First-generation student Bruck Mesfin knew what drew him in. “I always find it relaxing to come to events like these, not only to decompress and catch a quick snack,” he said, “but, seeing the different various books and stories is insightful and interesting. Having a book swap with stuff like fantasy, history, and nonfiction, especially immigrant and first-gen stories.”
Etlin Flores, community director for Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore Residence Halls, echoed the book swap’s range — particularly its immigrant stories, a category that tends to get shelved in the margins of campus programming.
Not everyone arrived with grand intentions. Transfer student Kamorie Smith came for the free food and books — and found something she didn’t know she was looking for. “Mason has a lot of resources, but they can be hard to navigate,” she said. “We have to go out and find what we need — and sometimes we don’t even know what that is yet.” Events like this help bridge that gap, offering low-stakes, welcoming spaces where students can encounter resources they might not otherwise think to seek out.
For Symoné, the event’s ambition was always larger than a single afternoon. “We wanted ‘More Than a Moment’ to match the name,” she said. “Looking back and highlighting women’s impact on the sciences, culture, history, and how they build communities. And for young, aspiring voices to be heard. Our voices and history matter — even when someone says they don’t.”