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BY ROSARIO PAZ

In print | Published February 8, 2007

Women looking to talk about academics, relationships, politics, art or anything else in a Y-chromosome-free zone will soon have somewhere to go besides the ladies’ room.

Beginning next Tuesday night, the Women’s Resource Center will be facilitating weekly, open-ended discussions tentatively scheduled to start at 10 p.m.

The members of the WRC board perceived the need for a closed forum in which female students would feel comfortable expressing their experiences and perspectives.

The board members designed the discussions to offset some of the obstacles that prevent female students from meeting and bonding with other women on campus. “Some people feel like it’s hard to meet other women who live in other dorms, are in other groups or have other classes,” WRC board member Kristin Caspar ‘09 said. "We want the WRC to stand for a place where women can meet each other. We really want the message to get out to other women that we’re really trying to fulfill their aspirations," Caspar said.

According to Caspar, the discussions will reflect that inclusive, open-minded spirit of the WRC by providing a forum in which women can “vent and talk about whatever is on their minds.”

Caspar suggested the possibility of introducing opening questions as a launching point for informal discussions.

These opening questions would prompt attendees to propose changes in college policies, suggest ways to increase the WRC’s presence on campus, or strengthen the community of female students.

“We want to create an agenda from what people bring to it. We’re not coming in with a preconceived agenda,” Alicia Lemke ’09, WRC board member and space coordinator, said. “It is basically a resource. We are open-minded and receptive to anything women want to bring up,” Lemke said.

Hannah Epstein ’10 said that the weekly discussions could provide an outlet for women who lack strong support networks on campus. Although Epstein said she has ample opportunity for discussion with her three roommates, she believed that weekly forums at the WRC could provide a vital resource for other female students.

“I have three roommates and they are all really supportive so I don’t really need another group. But I’m glad that it’s there for people who need it or want it,” Epstein said. “It is great to have an open forum for women to discuss issues in their lives in a safe environment,” she said.

According to Caspar, the WRC is encouraging the participation of women from diverse racial backgrounds, religious beliefs and sexual orientations in the weekly discussions.

The WRC board deliberately selected the Monday time slot to minimize interference and scheduling conflicts with the meetings of other campus groups, particularly those run out of the Intercultural Center.

“We want to incorporate the IC groups,” Caspar said. “Apparently in the past, the WRC has had a reputation for being this kind of closed, elitist, white, straight group, which is something that we’re trying to break.”

“There wasn’t much communication between the IC and the WRC. We want to spread the word that it’s actually really open,” she said.

According to Caspar, the board hopes to continue the Monday discussions for the remainder of the semester. However, the WRC will gauge student interest and attendance at the first meeting before determining whether or not to proceed.

The WRC is working to expand its role as a resource to students, both women and men. Open weekly from Sunday through Friday, the center is open to students of any gender, with the exception of the closed Monday discussions.

Starting Feb. 21, the WRC will introduce a wireless cafe, which will be open to students every Wednesday. Caspar welcomed student input in setting the WRC’s agenda for the spring semester.

“We want to see what other women think and what they feel,” Caspar said. “We really want women to know that they can contact us, whether there are any events they are interested in or any topics that they want to discuss. We’re open to a whole range of possibilities.”

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