DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University will celebrate Women’s History Month with several events in March 2012. The events will focus on women and their contributions to literature, film, history and the community.

All events will be on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. Admission to all events will be free and open to the public.

The events are as follows:

• Tuesday, March 6, noon to 1 p.m.: “The Semiotic Representation of Women in Literature and the Media” lecture will be presented by doctoral candidate Jeanne Lakatos in the Haas Library Room 508. The lecture will explore female representation expressed through drama and prose. Lakatos’ collection of first edition work by Sydney Owenson, Lady Morgan, will be on exhibit in the library through March. Tea will be served.

• Wednesday, March 7, noon to 1 p.m.: A lecture entitled “Sex Trafficking, Domestic Violence and Reform in Bulgaria” will be given by WCSU Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Dr. Jeannie Hatcherson in the Warner Hall Lyceum. Bulgaria has a high incidence of human trafficking victims and a low life expectancy for women, attributed to high rates of unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease and domestic violence. Lunch will be served.

• Friday, March 9, 7 to 9 p.m.: Screening of “Marlene,” an award-winning subtitled documentary about movie great Marlene Dietrich. Screening Room 1 in White Hall.

• Monday, March 12, 7 to 9 p.m.: Screening of documentary “The Education of Shelby Knox” in the Student Center Theater. Shelby Knox challenged the school board and state legislature to offer sex education in her hometown of Lubbock, Texas, which has the highest rates of teen parenthood and sexually transmitted diseases in the country.

• Wednesday, March 14, noon to 1 p.m.: Ridgefield Fire Chief Heather Burford will talk about her experiences and challenges as a firefighter. Burford is one of four female fire chiefs in the state. Warner Hall Lyceum. Lunch will be served.

• Thursday, March 15, 8 p.m.: Honor Finnegan will perform at the WCSU Coffeehouse in Alumni Hall.

• Tuesday, March 27, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: “High Tea” will be served in Room 201 of the Student Center. Professor of Education & Educational Psychology Dr. Darla Shaw and students from Introduction to Women’s Studies will lead a discussion about famous women in history.

• Thursday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m.: Professor of Education & Educational Psychology Dr. Darla Shaw will honor WCSU Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Dr. Jeannie Hatcherson with the Danbury Women’s Mentor of the Year Award for her humanitarian trips abroad. The event will feature many current students and alumni who will speak about their adventures and social contributions in foreign countries.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.