The UB Gender Institute invites the entire campus community to an open house and book exchange in the institute’s newly renovated space, 207 UB Commons, North Campus.

The event will take place from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 11. Refreshments will be served.

“We are holding the open house during the week of Valentine's Day to celebrate the many forms of love, friendship and solidarity that exist among women,” says institute Director Kari Winter, professor of transnational studies, College of Arts and Sciences.   

The open house will feature a book exchange at the open house because, Winter says, several faculty members have donated dozens of books related to women and gender to the institute in recent months.

“Visitors are invited to take home any of the books on hand, as well as donate any books on women and gender. These can be brought to our offices on the day of the open house or any time before that,” she says.

“We also invite those attending who would like to assist women and children going through difficult times, to bring along a donation for the Family Justice Center of Erie County.”

The center always welcomes financial contributions, and also has provided a “wish list” of items that it uses regularly. The list can be found on the center’s website. Any of these items will be accepted at the Gender Institute’s open house by Tiffany Szymanek, the center’s director of development.

For additional information about this event, call 645-5200.

The Gender Institute is a university-wide research center funded by the Office of the Provost that supports and promotes research and teaching related to women, gender and sexuality. It offers fellowships, grants and co-sponsorships to faculty and students to encourage and support their research on women and on the intricate connections between gender and other social constructions, such as sexuality, race, class, health, age, nationality, religion and nature.

The institute also sponsors and co-sponsors lectures, workshops, conferences, symposia, film screenings and art exhibitions to encourage interdisciplinary scholarship and artistic achievement. Events calendar and other information can be found on the institute’s website.