Women's center reps MUST go!

Critical Resource Response: "OP-ED: Why Campus Women's center's matter "

Women's center’s don’t need a seat on The National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) Governing board. While this wasn't blatantly said it is easy to interpret this as the statement being made. Removing the seat for Women's Center professionals from the NWAS advisory board is both regressive and nonsensical. This brings the question "does anyone respect women's centers?" In this post, I will uncover the issues with this decision and the importance of designating universities a seat.

“The outcome of a strategic planning process."

The article states that the decision-makers saw this as “The outcome of a strategic planning process.” However, this makes many wonders if this truly well thought out? We know that the marginalization of women is prominent in our society & that these centers were formed in part to address this among other things. Women's centers already face a hard time when it comes to funding either being underfunded or of the first to be cut when it is time for universities to make budget cuts. These centers wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for the constant marginalization of women & sexist societies. The value these centers offer is far greater than the respect (or lack of) that they receive.

“women’s centers provide an alternate model of knowledge production … not housed in the university libraries.”

“women’s centers provide an alternate model of knowledge production … not housed in the university libraries.” The goal of a university is to educate. If there is only one place to find such information there is a clear issue in the way our education is structured. Hence, the formation of WC’s to fix this. If we want to get rid of these centers or silence the voices of women pleading to have a safe space the best solution would be to fix the issue systemically and/or make it a key part of our education systems. This is obviously easier said than done.

“Many of us who work on behalf of women’s issues in higher education…. We[sic] are quite surprised by the NWSA’s decision.”

Gina Helfrich and Adale Sholock stated “Many of us who work on behalf of women’s issues in higher education…. We[sic] are quite surprised by the NWSA’s decision.” Women’s Centers prepare young women for life outside of the “college bubble” which is necessary to help students practically apply the things learned in women's studies courses. Through these events, Women's enter professionals get to see how students are responding to the teachings and get to interact with them on a more personal level. Due to the fact that NWSA serves students and oftentimes women's resource centers are the ones who have the closest connection with students & can better gauge or advocate for their wants and needs.

It is best to say that the decision made to remove women's’ centers from the governing council of NWSA is counterintuitive. It diminishes the advancements that were made and does not respect the hard work of women who paved the way for many women & organizations like the NWSA to exist. I stand with the author in the realization that this was not a wise decision and can hope that this decision is reversed in the future & Women’s centers get the representation and respect they rightfully deserve.

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Word Count: 500

Written By Ariel

Critical resource piece - https://msmagazine.com/2015/12/08/why-campus-womens-centers-matter/