WOA reaches past adversity
September 12 2011 Volume 97, Issue 12 W W W.T H E D A I LYA Z T E C . C O M
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Revitalized campus group looks to extend message of equality
Today from 11:15 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., the ROTC and Office of Student Life and Leadership will be cohosting a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at San Diego State’s main flagpole located on Campanile walkway near Hepn e r Ha l l . E ve n t s pl a n n e d include a flag-raising ceremony, vocalists from the School of Music and Dance singing “God Bless America” and a speaker from a new Muslim cultural club called Project Nur.
Michael Manbert contributor n years past a shortage of both emotional and financial support, coupled with a lack of central leadership, has relegated The Andrea O’Donnell Womyn’s Outreach Association into a less prominent role on campus. This year though, things are different. While such detriments have left members and well-wishers shaking their heads in disappointment, a duo of leaders driven by absolute dedication to social justice have emerged to once again bring the group into San Diego State’s limelight. Formerly known as the Women’s Resource Center, the WOA was founded in 1977 in the midst of the women’s liberation movement. The association’s name changed in 2009 in order to highlight the fact there was no actual “Women’s Resource Center,” and to garner support for the hamstrung organization. The WOA is currently located in the Cross-Cultural Center, located in the Cholula Community Center building, and will have a new locale in the Modern Space building at the end of its construction, which is expected in Fall 2013. “The new women’s center in Modern Space is the long-awaited result of tireless efforts of the Womyn’s Outreach Association,” said Alicia Karagianes, the newly appointed president of WOA. “We’re very grateful to SDSU for providing a location where female students can feel safe and have access to the necessary resources that they need. “We hope the school will eventually provide staffing and counseling services as well, just as other competing schools have provided for their students.” Other notable changes to the group’s title were “Womyn’s” and “Andrea O’ Donnell.” The former, obviously and intentionally misspelled title, serves to represent a liberation from preexisting stigmas against women, most notoriously the notion that the gender as a whole is inferior and subservient to men. As such, “men” was removed from the organization’s title in its
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Tolerance, equality and women’s rights are a few of the topics the Womyn’s Outreach Association spreads awareness about .
| COURTESY OF WOA
O’Donnell was an example of that,” empowering the female student pop2009 name change. Godfrey said WOA aims to support Godfrey said. “We chose to name the ulation of SDSU.” all women on campus and to actively organization after her to remind othAccording to Godfrey, people educate the female student popula- ers of her story.” who join the organization can help During the next school year the raise campus awareness regarding tion about social issues in education, advocacy and activism. She also WOA, pronounced “whoa-uh,” is - issues affecting women, the LGBTQ described the adversity the group has looking to increase its membership movement and marginalized comfaced in regard to amassing members. numbers and extend its message of munities by participating in and tolerance and “It’s difficult to get someplanning events. equality one to believe in “(You can) build character and lifesomething that carlong friendships while learning and ries such a negaimproving upon leadership skills tive connotation,” in through activism,” she said. she said. women will be sexually “Being a WOA member “Feminists have assaulted during their looks great on your represents the most been portrayed as college careers it is estimated that violent crime in America résumé.” man-haters and fewer than Students interested lesbians, and it’s completely untrue. in joining the WOA can of rapes are reported Feminism is alldo so by attending one more than between the ages of encompassing, of three upcoming orienit’s a movement tations. The first two will be to that seeks to of the rapes that occur held at the Cholula on college campuses are end not only Community Center, located on 5400 committed by someone have the highest gender inequalithe victim knows Remington Rd. These meetings will victimization rates ty, but all forms of in the country take place from 4 to 5 p.m. today, and social injustice.” from 8 to 9 p.m. on Thursday. The STATS COMPILED BY SDSU ’ S COUNSELING & PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES The association third and final orientation will be held chose to honor O’Donnell, a former from 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday at the SDSU student who led the organiza- to a significantly larger crowd than it Tenochca TV lounge located at 6050 tion in the ‘90s before being mur- has in past years. “If you’re looking for an organiza- Montezuma Rd. dered by her Students can RSVP for an orientaabusive boyfriend. tion to join, look no further,” Godfrey “No matter how strong, educated said. “The Womyn’s Outreach tion by emailing aodwoa@gmail.com or powerful (women) are, they can Association is looking for new memand the organization can be found still be subjected to abuse and Andrea bers to help achieve our goal of online at facebook.com/woasdsu.
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W E AT H E R : PARTLY CLOUDY HIGH: 79 LOW: 61 SUNSET: 6:59PM