March is National Women’s History Month
As the College commemorates and celebrates the lives and work of women, perhaps we should consider why we should study women’s history. The National Women’s History Project first proposed the idea 30 years ago. Their rationale is expressed in the following quotation: "In our own personal lives, the National Women’s History Project encourages discovering stories about our mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers to help us better understand their lives, the challenges they faced, and ultimately, ourselves and our own times. Recognizing the dignity and accomplishments of women in our own families and those from other backgrounds leads to higher self-esteem among girls and greater respect among boys and men. The results can be remarkable, from greater achievement by girls in school to less violence against women, and more stable and cooperative communities. The impact of women’s history might seem abstract to some, and less pressing than the immediate struggles of working women today. But to ignore the vital role that women’s dreams and accomplishments play in our own lives would be a great mistake. We draw strength and inspiration from those who came before us and those remarkable women working among us today. They are part of our story, and a truly balanced and inclusive history recognizes how important women have always been in American society." Excerpted from the National Women’s History Project www.nwhp.org/aboutnwhp/
index.php —Submitted by Diversity Task Force (03.03.10)

Desk-Health Tips
Muscular injury is common in the desk-job world. The Center for Disease Control reports that 92,576 injuries resulted from repetitive motion, including typing or key entry. Make sure to take breaks from the keyboard at least once an hour. Use a wrist support at your computer when you are typing or browsing, Your forearm, wrist, and hand should be on a level, not making a V. The Harvard RSI action group suggests some exercises to help prevent repetitive stress injuries (www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/). If you spend a lot of time on the phone and can’t use a speaker phone, don’t hold the phone by crunching your shoulder against your ear. Instead, invest in or ask for a headset or shoulder support for your receiver. "Health Tips For Busy People: Healthy Diet & Exercise In the Office" By Ian Mason —Submitted by the MCC Wellness Committee (02.04.10)