Women’s History Month is promoting a campus wide read: “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”

The event is being held to inform students about Henrietta Lacks, a woman whose cells have been used to fight diseases.

“This is a story about race, class, gender, and science, as well,” chair of the economics and women’s studies departments, Diane Keenan said.

She continued with, “We wanted to have discussion sessions for students who are reading the book. We’re promoting it for various classes. Students are reading it and then coming to the discussions in March to be able to talk about the book.”

Rebecca Skloot is the author of the book that covers both the science and the life of the family.

“Skloot lived with the family, met the family and wanted to tell the family’s story as well.

They did not understand this idea that their mothers cells were immortal, that her cells actually helped to cure so much different types of diseases and they didn’t have medical care at the time.

They were very poor and the family was never compensated, so it’s a dual story, one the family and then the science,” Keenan said.

The book is being read by students and faculty alike.

There are teachers who have recommended the book and others who have made it a requirement to read.

Proceeds from the book will go to a scholarship funds for the family of Henrietta Lacks.

There will be three discussions in March for students who are reading the book.

The exact dates of the discussions have yet to be announced.