The Women's Center : Where Differences Come Together
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Are you wondering where on campus you can hang out, meet new friends and get to know people? The Women's Center is a place for everyone-women artists, athletes, activists, social and physical scientists, re-entry students, lesbians, gays, trans identified, feminists, men, inquiring minds, in short, people of diverse descriptions, including students, faculty, and staff-all use the Center. People of all cultures, ethnicities, ages, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, or political affiliations can be found involved in the Center. Here are some of the ways in which the Women's Center can be a part of your life at UCSB. Check out our webpage at http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/women'scenter
A Place to Hang Out
The Women's Center provides a comfortable place to feel a sense of belonging. There are sofas to relax on, and a comfortable space where you can study, visit, schedule meetings or eat your lunch. Another special place in the Student Resource Building is the lounge for re-entry/non-traditional students. Ideal for commuting students; with a quiet place to study, computer access, free lockers and a child-friendly environment.
A Library
The Women's Center has a special collection library containing materials about women, gender, race, sexual orientation, politics, sex, masculinity, and more. Students use the library to write papers on many topics. Some examples include women artists in Latin America, pay equity issues, abortion, Asian American women writers, and the media's portrayal of violence against women.
Programs
Every quarter the Women's Center offers a variety of one-time programs as well as weekly support groups and workshops. The programming focus is on bringing women of color to UCSB, such as writers, performance artists, activists, scholars, scientists, and visual artists to speak to students on a wide variety of issues. We also co-sponsor activities with other departments and student organizations.
On-going groups organize around ethnicity, activism, support, spirituality, sexual orientation, and relationships. We print a calendar of events every quarter-stop in and pick one up to see what interests you.
Advocacy
The Center provides a safe place to talk if you are having problems. The Rape Prevention Education Program and the Sexual Harassment Prevention Education Program provide workshops to educate the campus community about both of these important issues. We also talk with students, staff, and faculty individually who have concerns or want help, information, referrals or support. For instance, one student told us about going out on a date with a guy who encouraged her to drink more than she normally would have and then pressured her into having sex with him. She wondered if what happened to her was rape. Another student came in whose TA had been persistent in asking her to go out with him. She was afraid to keep saying "no," for fear it might affect her grade. These kinds of issues fall into the area of expertise for the staff at the Women's Center. Come in and we can offer a safe space to talk about what happened to you and what you can do.
Support
As advocates for equality, the Women's Center staff can speak informally with students who are exploring gender roles, relationships, gay and lesbian issues, cultural difference, feminism and other isms. The Women's Center encourages the campus to examine and remove barriers that exist for people because of their sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, physical ability, size, age, and/or other differences.
Women's Center staff can also help students who struggle with campus bureaucracy by explaining campus policies and by directing them to the best resources on campus for their dilemmas.
Art Gallery
The gallery at the Women's Center provides an opportunity for campus and community artists to display their artwork. The exhibits change quarterly and include photographs, woodcuts, quilts, tapestries, paintings and other media.
Employment and Internships
The Women's Center wouldn't function without the student employees who work there each year. Opportunities include events and programming, working in the library, art gallery and reception responsibilities. Internships and volunteer opportunities are available as student programmers, Rape and Sexual Harassment Prevention Education Program peers, and advisory board members. Come in to the Center to find out more about these opportunities or suggest one of your own.
I hope that you will get involved with the Women's Center. Bring in your own ideas about how the Center can become a part of your campus life. - De Acker, Director, Women's Center
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