Performances, poetry readings, and lectures are among the UNLV-sponsored activities scheduled for March in honor of Women's History Month.

The three major events scheduled during March are a performance by Jackie Orr concerning panic disorder; a women's poetry night; and a talk by Leslea Newman, author of "Heather Has Two Mommies."

All the events are free and open to the public. Unless otherwise noted, the events will take place on the UNLV campus. Additional information on the events may be obtained by calling UNLV's women's studies program at (702) 895-0837.

Jackie Orr's "Panic Diary: Performing Sickness, Practicing Cure" will take place March 4 at 8 p.m. in the Classroom Building Complex, Room A-108. "Panic Diary" attempts to perform and interrogate the symptomatic sufferings of women diagnosed with panic disorder. Today an estimated 3 to 5 million people in the United States - 70 to 75 percent of them women - suffer from panic disorder.

On March 10, a women's poetry night titled "Expressing Ourselves: Celebrating Together" will take place at 7 p.m. at the Enigma Garden Cafe, located in downtown Las Vegas on Fourth Street, just north of Charleston Boulevard.

On March 18, "Heather's Mommy Speaks Out" will feature author Leslea Newman. She will talk about the many controversies surrounding her children's book "Heather Has Two Mommies," which was the second most banned book in 1994. This event is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the Moyer Student Union ballroom.

Other events scheduled during March as part of Women's History Month are:

* "Different Looks II" an artists' reception and women's history month opening cocktail party at the art gallery in the Richard Tam Alumni Center. That will take place 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. March 4.

* "Borders Benefit Days," March 14 - 16. Borders Bookstores in Southern Nevada will give 10 percent of any sales those days to UNLV's women's studies programs as long as the customer mentions the Women's Studies Program.

* "Uninvited: Response to Contemporary Propaganda," a photography exhibit by Donna Pattee that will take place March 17 - 21 at the Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery. The opening reception is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 17.

* "Women in the Design Professions," a March 17 symposium sponsored by UNLV's architecture department and Tate & Snyder Architects. For additional information on this event, call (702) 895-3031.

Among the organizations sponsoring one or more of the March events are UNLV's Women's Studies Program, Women's Studies Club, School of Social Work, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Association, Campus Community Development, Educational Equity Resource Center, and departments of art, communication studies, history, sociology, and theater; the Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union; and Get-Booked.

For additional information on these events or on events scheduled for April, call the women's studies office at (702) 895-0837.