A women's center inside Ohio University's new student center is slated to open with the building in January 2007 after four years in the making.
A women's center at OU originally was proposed by 2003 Student Senate President Catherine Smith. At the time, OU was one of the only state universities that did not have a women's center.
Student Senate sent an updated proposal to OU President Roderick McDavis in 2004, and the Women's Center Task Force was formed soon after.
Merle Graybill, associate dean of students and chair of the task force, said after the task force assembled, they made two initial recommendations: first, that OU establish a Commission on Women's Equality, and second, that it further develop the concept of a women's center.
Provost (Kathy) Krendl will appoint the commission very soon
Graybill said. One of the first responsibilities of the Commission will be to finish the plan for the women's center. The women's center is in the Vision Ohio strategic plan and will be included in budgeting priority considerations.
The Women's Center Task Force's final report states that the women's center would serve as an avenue for creating many dialogues and partnerships between people of different cultures around issues impacting women and gender.
The center will, among other things, address issues of sexual harassment and inequality, provide programs for career training and development and collaborate with campus resources such as Counseling and Psychological Services, Health Education and Wellness and Residence Life.
Judith Grant, director of the women's studies program at OU, said a women's center is a valuable source of information on campus.
Women's centers are important clearing houses for all information on campus that is not directly related to academics Grant said. It may include rape crisis centers battered women's information and campus groups dealing with gender
gay and lesbian issues.
It is a place for women at OU to build community and a safe haven should they be in crisis
Grant said. I look forward to the center as a place for us to share our experiences and acknowledge our common life challenges as women.
Grant said the development of the as-yet-unnamed center sends a positive message about OU's attitude toward gender issues.
It shows a commitment to diversity and gender equity
she said. OU students can be proud that their university cares enough about female students to recognize a need for such a center.
Ashley Herzog
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Ashley Herzog
