A panel of men put aside any prejudice they had for the opposite sex and talked about what woman from history they would most like to be Tuesday in the Town and Gown Room from 12-1 p.m.

Business management instructor Dave Garlington, student Shane Hinton, Chief Operations Officer Gary Murph and Electronics systems technician Norm Wood were selected by the Women’s History Celebration Committee to take part in the first of six events through the month of February.

Each member was given time to speak about the woman they chose and how they made their decision. There was a diverse spectrum of women chosen, such as legal activist Elouise Cobell and science fiction writer Octavia Butler.

In the coming weeks, the Women’s History Celebration Committee will be hosting five other events in the Town and Gown Room.

Happy Endings will be Feb. 10 and MHCC students will be able to read excerpts they wrote in a Women’s Studies class. The stories were written about the woman’s life or the life of a woman they know andhow they dealt with the difficulties they encounter as women.

“Channeling Women’s Voices” will be Feb. 15 and is a literary reading by women from the MHCC English Department. They will read from books that have affected their lives in a significant way.

Oregon’s first and only woman governor: Barbara Roberts, will give students and staff a chance to hear from the active member of women’s politics Feb. 17. Roberts served her four-year term from 1990-1994 and managed to raise Oregon to the seventh best-managed state in 1993 according to Financial World Magazine.

“WW II Through the Eyes of a Japanese Girl” on Feb. 22 lets Michiko Kornhauser share her story of growing up in Japan during the attacks of World War II. She bore witness to much destruction, including the bombing of Hiroshima.

“Women and 9-11” will be presented by the MHCC Forensics Team Feb. 24. The women of ground zero will be recognized and remembered as heroines. The Women’s History Celebration Committee warns that strong language may be used during this presentation.

All of these events will are open to the public, run from 12-1 p.m. and light refreshments will be served.

Also, there is an essay contest for MHCC students covering one of three women’s history topics. Entries must be turned in by Feb. 16 and there is a $50 cash prize for the winner. Interested parties can contact Paula Cline in the College Center for more information.