Slippery Rock University Women’s Center is a campus resource whose mission is to redress gender inequity through educational programming focused on empowerment and advocacy. Women’s and men’s lives are affected in different ways. Through programs, activities, and events, the Women’s Center brings to light issues such as reproductive rights, sexuality, relationships, discrimination, harassment, violence and more, through a gendered lens.
We have several new initiatives this semester. The Fearless Female Feature Series is a bi-monthly event designed to celebrate empowered women in film, raise awareness about issues affecting women and to foster discussion around these issues. Two other initiatives center on providing a space for women to converge, meet other women, and bring forward ideas and issues for discussion.
The Drop-in Socials, for transfer, commuter, non-traditional and graduate students, will be held monthly during common hour. These socials are designed to allow women who may find it difficult to meet other students on campus the opportunity to connect with each other and to meet center staff. Another monthly event is “A Necessary Movement,” an open forum for women to raise issues or concerns affecting their experiences at SRU.
We will be offering many additional programs throughout the semester. In addition to educational programming, the Women’s Center has a large collection of print and video materials for loan to students, staff and faculty. Within the Women’s Center there is a separate room for private consultations, conversations or for nursing moms. The Gender Studies Program director’s office is also located in the Women’s Center.
On the service side, the Women’s Center is designated a confidential reporting site for students who are victims of violent crime (physical assault, harassment, sexual assault). Students can discuss with professional staff options that are available to assist with healing following a traumatic event. Crime victims, particularly sexual assault victims, can be reluctant to seek help because of the associated stigma. Offering a confidential reporting option may alleviate the concern, real or perceived that one’s confidentiality may be breached. This can be a deciding factor whether or not a victim/survivor seeks help. Follow us @sruwomenscenter or email womenscenter@sru.edu.
Contributed by the Women’s Center.
