Women's Resource Center planned

Organizers hope to provide safe space for everyone

by Kathy Khuu

The proposed Women's Resource Center [WRC] is preparing to open its doors, although nobody knows where those doors will be.

Planning of the WRC began last Spring in conjunction with the WRC ExCo and Bill Stackman, associate dean of students. According to Dean of Student Life and Services Charlene Cole-Newkirk, the group worked in conjunction with the Women's Studies program. The foundation, proposal and mission statement of the WRC were developed with the help of questionnairres collected from students.

"They did a fantastic job gathering information so they weren't reinventing the wheel," Stackman said.

Goals listed in the proposal include creating a safe space for everyone, primarily for women from different social, cultural, and racial backgrounds and various sexual orientations. Another aim was to organize various programs relating to women and gender issues by integrating other women's groups from the College and local area.

The location of the center has not yet been determined. Several off-campus houses are under consideration. One house on Woodland Street originally designated as the WRC house is being reconsidered because of the need for extensive and timely renovations costing approximately $120,000.

Cole-Newkirk and Andy Evans, vice president of the Student Finance Committee, are considering buying another house which could be used sooner.

"I hope it offers an opportunity for many different groups on campus so that it's accessible to all the different populations on campus," said junior Devon Powers, who attended the weekly planning meeting. "I'm really excited that this necessary resource is finally coming to campus."

Opening dates could be as early as late Fall semester, according to Cole-Newkirk. The WRC budget is currently working out of the Dean of Students' operating budget because this year's budget deadlines were missed.

The 20-plus students at this week's meeting mainly addressed issues pertaining to the number of student and faculty members on the governing board, dates for the women's self defense class and possible film series.

The center would also serve in helping women affirm their identity and become aware of issues relating to gender in society, racial identity, sexual orientation, women's health and reproduction and violence against women.

The WRC is still in the "embryonic stages," said junior Susan Dennehy. "Now is the crucial time to get involved," she said.

All the attempts made by different student organizations to establish a WRC proved unsuccessful from the mid-1970's until now, mainly because of a lack of administrative support from the College.

Before Stackman was hired, Cole-Newkirk and President of the College Nancy Dye had discussed the need for a women's center. Stackman was charged with supervising the process of transforming the envisioned center into reality.