The Women‟s Center‟s mission is to promote gender equity through

The Women‟ s Center‟ s mission is to promote gender equity through education, support, and advocacy and to respond to issues affecting the status of female students, faculty and staff on campus, as well as women in the community and in society. December 2008 Volume 11, Issue 4 We‟ re on the Web! www.wc.wiu.edu Director‟ s Column by Janine Cavicchia Congratulations and best wishes to everyone who is retiring*, graduating, or otherwise moving on at the end of this semester. We are especially sad to say goodbye to one of our Women‟ s Center Graduate Assistants, Clarissa Cenci, one of our student assistants, Cheri Manuel, and one of our volunteers and Feminist Action Alliance officers, Nicole Sowers, as they embark on their internships—Clarissa with Adidas Germany and Cheri with Community Medical Center in Monmouth—and graduate, as Nicole will be doing. We‟ re also sad to lose student assistant Daniesha Julious Aguilar (below, staffing our table at the New Student Registration Student Services Fair on Dec. 3), though she‟ ll still be on campus, and we wish her well as she devotes her time to finishing her last 18 hours of credit before she graduates in May and prepares to join her husband, who is stationed in Germany, along with their new daughter or son, who is due in early May! Thanks to Becca Groves, Casey Kinson, Liza Mumford, and Michelle Sas, who are completing, respectively, College Student Personnel, Women‟ s Studies, Sociology, and Social Work practice and volunteer hours with us. We look forward to having them remain involved as their schedules allow next semester! *See article about Kathy Orban later in Newsletter, and press release about Marla Vizdal at www.wiu.edu/newsrelease.sphp?release_id=6885 Women’s News and Views REAL Women: Women as Researchers, Educators, Activists and Leaders Presentation Series Call for Proposals Contact the Women‟ s Center if you‟ re interested in doing a presentation next semester! Women‟ s History Month Call for Programs The Women‟ s Center is collecting information to be included in the Calendar of Events for WHM 2009 in March. This year‟ s national theme is Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet. We would like to have all relevant events listed on our calendar to help publicize relevant campus and community programs. For inclusion, please e-mail program information by Friday, January 23, 2009 to womenscenter@wiu.edu ~~~~~~~~~~ Save the Date! March 27, 2009 HEN Foundation Fundraiser: benefit performance by Women‟ s History Month featured performer Colleen Kattau, feminist activist Bilingual (English/Spanish) performance of songs related to Environmental Justice and Ecofeminism; as well as Women‟ s Health & Wellness: Challenges & Responsibilities Women‟ s Health and Wellness: Challenges & Responsibilities World AIDS Day December 1 According to the World AIDS Day Web site www.worldaidsday.org, around 40 million people are living with HIV throughout the world—and that number increases in every region every day. WIU joined with people from around the world to recognize World AIDS Day on Monday, Dec. 1. The Women‟ s Center sponsored an information table from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Union Concourse with resource materials about Women and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as free red ribbons provided by Diane Mayfield from the Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC)-CAA Victim Services Agency. Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day focuses global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The observance provides an opportunity for governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations and individuals to demonstrate the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS. Women’s Center Volunteer Christina Motley (left) and student assistant Cheri Manuel staffed our World AIDS Day table in the Union Dec. 1. Save the date: April 20, 2009 www.wiu.edu/wiucalendar/index.sphp?id=10051 WIU alumna Margaret Fitzpatrick (Philosophy 1985), author of What to Ask the Doc: The Questions to Ask to Get the Answers You Need, will discuss how her book and her career tie in with this year's campus-wide theme "Health and Wellness: Challenges and Responsibilities." The talk will be followed by a book signing and reception. Meet our new and returning Women‟ s Center Advisory Board Members for 2008-2009 Molly Homer is currently serving as co-president of the Western Organization for Women, along with Lora Ebert Wallace. She previously served as co-president of WOW with Cathy Null during the 2005-2006 academic year. One of the duties of a WOW co-president is to represent WOW on the Women‟ s Center Advisory Board, so Molly is happy to rejoin the WCAB this year. Molly has been the Academic Advisor for the Centennial Honors College since 2003, and working with the 500 students in the Honors College has given her an appreciation of the resources that the Women‟ s Center provides to all students at WIU. Molly grew up in Ames, Iowa, then moved out west where she received her B.S. from Stanford University in 1987. After working for a few years at a computer graphics firm in Salt Lake City, she moved to Illinois to begin her graduate work. She received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1998, and spent several years teaching Linguistics at various universities around the country. In her current position at the Honors College, she advises students on how to meet their Honors requirements, and occasionally teaches an Honors seminar. Molly has been a member of WOW for four years, and she is proud to be part of an organization that promotes dialogue on a variety of issues that are important to WIU faculty, staff, and students. John Simmons, chairperson of Philosophy & Religious Studies, is in his second year serving as the rep. from College of Arts and Sciences on the WCAB. As a scholar, John‟ s primary area of interest/activity is women in religion. Is considered a national expert on late 19th/early 20th century women-led movements in the metaphysical traditions such as Christian Science and New Thought. Last summer, he and co-authors, Dr. Susan E. Hill, associate professor of religious studies at the University of Northern Iowa, and Cynthea Jones, co-founder of the group, completed and submitted a chapter on Jones' Missouri-based Wiccan movement, Diana's Grove. The chapter, entitled "Diana's Grove: An Emergent, Integrative Spiritual Movement" will be part of a major new multi-volume anthology on "Women and Spirituality." created Religious Studies 303, Women in Religion, a course co-listed with women's studies. In 1990, he taught REL 303 as the first WIU teleclass. Has taught a section of WS 190, Introduction to Women's Studies, and has served on the WS Personnel Committee and chaired the committee that selected Dr. Radosh as the first chair of Women's Studies. His perspective on feminism is that it has many faces, but at its heart, the feminist impulse is to restore or reclaim the balance of power in all cultural systems. And femaleness are integral parts of the whole; their interplay forms the basis of all life. For one part to exercise power over another part is, as the Hopis say, kooaniskatsi, or life out of balance. Before feminism became an ideology or a movement, it was an instinctual call toward recovering balance in distorted, "out of balance," patriarchal/androcentric cultural systems, which is why he tries to contribute to the feminist effort. Lora Ebert Wallace, associate professor of sociology, is new to the Women‟ s Center Advisory Board this year. Dr. Ebert Wallace is co-president of the Western Organization for Women, and has served as WOW secretary twice in the past few years. She teaches classes in medical sociology, including Sociology of Women‟ s Health, as well as research methods, and introductory and family courses. Her research interests include medicalization of women‟ s bodies and lives, social stratification of health, gender and family, and the use of service learning in teaching. Originally from southeastern Missouri, Dr. Ebert Wallace received her B.A. from Truman State in Kirksville, MO (bizarro Macomb!), completed her PhD at Iowa State University and now lives in Macomb with her husband and two young children. Dana Moon is the assistant to the dean for Marketing and Public Relations in the College of Education and Human Services. She is honored to join the WCAB this year as the COEHS rep. Dana said that after reviewing the Women's Center mission and role, it was evident to her that in her own way, she tries to live up to these ideals in her everyday life. She has a strong passion for promoting women as leaders and for celebrating the accomplishments and unique characteristics of women in general. She has participated in Take Back the Night in the past. She is an active volunteer in many organizations that promote service, leadership, and women such as P.E.O International, Sigma Sigma Sigma (alumnae advisor), and Rotary International (Board member). Her areas of interest/passion in women's issues include violence against women, leadership, equity, self-esteem, and equality. Dana believes her experience as a professional at WIU and in the community, and enthusiasm for the Women's Center‟ s values and programs, will serve her well as a board member. She earned her bachelor degree in business and M.B.A from Western. Aimee Shouse is the interim chair of the Department of Women's Studies and an associate professor of political science. She has been at Western since 1993, when she joined the Political Science Department. Prior to coming to WIU, she received her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR and her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. While at Western, Dr. Shouse has been on numerous university committees, including serving a term on the Faculty Senate, chairing the university's General Education Review Committee, and working on the university's general education plan for the assessment of student learning. She has been both the treasurer and president of Western's Organization for Women, and in 2007, received the Outstanding Service Award in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research interests include the political activity of trade and professional associations for largely sex-segregated occupations and the civic education of undergraduates. She has taught courses in the area of American government and women's studies, including a course on “Women and Politics." Martha Youngmeyer is in her second year on the WCAB as a representative of the Civil Service Employees Council. Martha began her employment with WIU twelve years ago in the Financial Aid office. Two years there, she moved to Institutional Research and Planning, and she now works in the office of Planning, Budget and Institutional Research. An avid quilter, she was honored to have one her quilts juried into the 2006 American Quilters Society show in Paducah. Good luck on Finals! Have a safe, relaxing, and fun break! Happy Holidays! Twenty WIU students and one faculty member have been cast for the 2009 performance of “The Vagina Monologues,” which will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 12-14 in the Horrabin Hall Theatre on the Western Illinois University Macomb Campus. This year‟ s cast includes: Kristen A. Aguirre, a junior journalism major from Oak Forest (IL); Mahogany Baker, a junior communications major from Chicago (IL); E. Quinn Bilyeu, a junior English and Spanish major from East Moline (IL); Karen E. Blatchley, a senior communication major from Westmont (IL); Danielle L. “Dani” Bugay, a senior English major from Arlington Heights (IL); Dayna L. Davis, a senior political science major from Dahinda (IL); Maria DeRose, a women‟ s studies faculty member; Lenora K. Greenwaldt, a senior social work major from Macomb; Allison L. Hanson, a freshman pre-law enforcement and justice administration major from Roscoe (IL); Caitlyn Herzlinger, a graduate theatre major from Hyde Park (IL); Kalee J. Lindemann, a graduate psychology major from Davenport (IA); Erin E. McCarthy, a senior English and journalism major from Virginia (IL); Sara M. Moffatt, a junior pre-business conditional supply chain management major from Freeport (IL); Carina Montalvo, a freshman pre-law enforcement and justice administration major from Chicago (IL); Angela “Angie” Panicucci, a junior communication major from Moline (IL); Whitney A. Pipes, a sophomore broadcasting major from Round Lake (IL); Mary A. Torres, a junior pre-social work major from Des Plaines (IL); Yazmin A. Ramos, a freshman journalism major from Park Forest (IL); Caitlin A. Salmon, a sophomore graphic communication major from Savoy (IL); Bita Sonouni, a sophomore pre-business management sciences major from Wheaton (IL); Amanda R. Voss, a junior forensic chemistry major from Barrington (IL); and Kari Warning, a junior theatre major from Camp Point (IL). Cassandra D. Horn, a sophomore kinesiology and theatre major from Farmington (IL), will direct the production, with assistance from Jaclyn “Jackie” Smith, a theatre major from Galesburg (IL). Heather McCoy, a graduate student in Western‟ s college student personnel program from Naperville (IL), is serving „The Vagina Monologues‟ Cast Announced; Tickets on Sale Now! as production coordinator. “The Vagina Monologues” is part of the V-Day College Campaign that is brought to Western by the Women ‟ s Center and Western‟ s Feminist Action Alliance (FAA) student organization. This year‟ s campaign spotlight is “Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource: Power to Women and Girls in Democratic Republic of Congo." According to McCoy, who is also a Women‟ s Center graduate assistant and FAA adviser, funds raised by the production will be donated to organizations and causes that provide violence prevention education and support services, including the Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency Victim Services; the University Counseling Center; the Women‟ s Center; and the V-Day Foundation, with funds supporting the international V-Day campaign. “In addition to the original monologues, there is an inspiring new monologue that debuted last April at V to the 10th in New Orleans which honors the women who are still dealing with the after effects of Hurricane Katrina,” McCoy said. “The other new addition is this year‟ s spotlight monologue calling for action to end the atrocities being perpetrated on women and girls in the Congo.” According to Women‟ s Center director and FAA advisor Janine Cavicchia, a record 31 people signed up for this year‟ s auditions. “This is the eighth year we‟ ve produced „The Vagina Monologues‟ at Western, and we continue to be amazed and thrilled with the excitement and enthusiasm it generates among students and other members of our community,” Cavicchia said. Everyone who auditioned was selected for either the cast or crew, though a few have since found that due to work and other previous commitments, they won‟ t be able to be involved in the production this year. Cavicchia said several of this year‟ s cast and crew members are transfer and graduate students who have participated in the production on other campuses. As part of this year‟ s V-Day Campaign, a benefit screening of the documentary "Until the Violence Stops” will be held on February 2 in Morgan Hall 109 from 7:30—9:00 p.m. According to Cavicchia, “Until the Violence Stops” features playwright and activist Eve Ensler in a powerful film that documents how “The Vagina Monologues” grew into an international grassroots movement called V-Day to stop violence against women and girls. “Our students know they‟ re part of an international campaign, but when last year‟ s cast and crew saw this documentary, they realized what an important role they‟ re playing in the worldwide effort to end sexual and domestic violence, and they all wanted more people to see the film and understand the powerful impact the movement is making locally and internationally,” Cavicchia said. Tickets for “The Vagina Monologues” and “Until the Violence Stops” may be purchased in the Women‟ s Center, 320 Seal Hall, as well as from members of the cast and crew. Tickets for the play are $10 for students and $12 for non-students, while tickets for the documentary screening are $2 for students and $3 for non-students. Payment may be made by cash or check made payable to the Women‟ s Center. For more information about "The Vagina Monologues" or the V-Day College Campaign, visit www.wc.wiu.edu or contact the Women's Center at 309/298-2242 or via e-mail at womenscenter@wiu.edu . Western Organization for Women www.wiu.edu/wow WOW has joined forces with UPI and Human Resources to study the elder-care related needs of WIU employees. The first step of this study was an online survey that went out to all WIU employees on November 17 by TeleStars message. The results will be used to estimate the number of WIU employees who have elder-care responsibilities, and to determine which elder-care benefits would best help those employees balance their elder-care and work responsibilities. If you have not already done so, please respond to the survey soon. The WOW Professional Development and Programming Committee has planned several interesting events for this year. Phyllis Rippey gave a talk on Dec. 8 about the recent passage of Proposition 8 in California. The talk was co-sponsored by the University Committee on Sexual Orientation (UCOSO). Next semester, the committee is tentatively planning panel discussions on “Women and Philanthropy” and “Organizational Justice.” WOW‟ s membership drive is now underway. If you or someone you know would like to join WOW, contact WOW treasurer Erin Taylor at E-Taylor@wiu.edu and she will tell you how. Submitted by: WOW co-president Molly Homer The Women‟ s Center has an abundance of Playtex Gentle Glide coupons good for $1.00 off any box of Playtex Gentle Glide Plastic Applicators 18 count or larger. They expire December 31. Stop by and pick some up today! NGWSD Local Celebration: Saturday, February 7, 200911:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Western Illinois University Brophy Hall and Western Hall Girl Scouts and local school girls in grades 4-8 are invited to participate in activities sponsored by the WIU Women‟ s Center, Campus Recreation, Campus Girl Scouts, Athletics, Kinesiology, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration Department. The cost is $12 for each participant. This includes a t-shirt, lunch, a goodie bag, and a ticket to the WIU Westerwinds women‟ s basketball game vs. South Dakota State. NOTE: Members of Girl Scout Troops will be participating in activities that will qualify them for earning a sports-related badge; however, those will be ordered through their leaders after this event. Registrations will be accepted until January 16, 2009 or until we‟ ve reached the maximum number of 100 girls. Early registration deadline is Jan. 4. This guarantees a $2 break. NGWSD is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of February (Feb. 4, 2009) to acknowledge past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports. WIU's celebration is held in conjunction with the closest Westerwinds basketball game. Feminist Reading Group The Western Organization for Women‟ s Feminist Reading Group (FRG) met on November 20 to discuss questions about several articles by feminist media critic Susan J. Douglas. FRG meetings scheduled for the rest of the academic year are: Thursdays, January 22; February 19; March 26; and April 23. For January, we are reading Righting Feminism: Conservative Women and American Politics by Ronee Schreiber. This is a 192 page hardcover book, very recent 2008 and much discussed in Poli Sci circles. Janna Deitz recommended it, and because it is popular there are many used copies available cheaply at amazon.com. We still need to pick readings for the rest of next semester, Bill Thompson suggested we might discuss the "Gossip Girl" phenomenon (it‟ s a series of popular YA novels for young women. It has also spawned a popular TV series. "If this is what teenage girls are reading/ watching, what's the message?" Janet Malcom had a piece in the New Yorker we could read on this issue. Hope many of you will get the January book and come Jan. 22 ready to discuss it. Please bring any other suggestions for rest of the semester then, too. FRG meetings are at 7:30 p.m. in the WIU Women's Center, 3rd floor east wing of Seal Hall. Any interested feminist is welcome. E-mail FRG organizer Martha Klems at ms-klems@wiu.edu to be put on the FRG e-mail list. Early Beginnings http://mcdonough.k12.il.us/earlybeginnings Free childbirth education classes and support and education for parents of children birth to three. La Leche League of Macomb Breastfeeding support For more information, call Donnice at 309-456-3715. January is Stalking Awareness Month Seven years ago, January was designated as Stalking Awareness Month in recognition of the reality of stalking in women‟ s and men‟ s lives in this country. Stalking is any behavior that causes fear of harm and distress and which serves no legitimate purpose other than to harass, control, or manipulate. Stalking includes everything from following someone leaving unwanted gifts, incessant calling, hijacking e-mail accounts and computer records, showing up unwanted at work or other places, using GPS and other technology to track victims, and other acts whose only purpose is to harass or intimidate. Stalking is NOT love, it is NOT harmless fun; it‟ s a form of violence and abuse, and it is illegal nationally and in the state of Illinois. Stalking is a serious and potentially deadly crime. Statistics show that one in 12 women and one in 45 men are stalked in their lifetime. Stalkers with a prior intimate relationship are more likely to verbally intimidate and physically harm their victims than stranger stalkers. Among six different studies, risk factors for violence ranged from 45 percent to as high as 89 percent among stalkers with prior intimate relations with victims compared to risk factors for stalkers who targeted strangers or acquaintances that ranged from five to 14%. Stalking in the context of intimate partner violence often goes unreported as a crime. Stalking allegations are more prevalent in reports involving domestic violence victims and suspects when they are former rather than current intimates. Of domestic violence reports involving formerly dating couples and co-habitants, stalking was involved in 47.4 percent of the reported cases. Of reports involving separated or divorced couples, stalking occurred in 32.7 percent of the cases. When stalking was reported in domestic violence cases involving married couples, the rate dropped to 9.6 percent; for cohabiting couples, it dropped to 6.7 percent; and for dating couples, it dropped to 19.7 percent. The prevalence of anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression is much higher among stalking victims than the general population, especially if the stalking involves being followed or having one‟ s property destroyed. Seventy-six percent of women killed by their intimate partners were stalked prior to the murder. Stalking Awareness Month was motivated by the story of Peggy Klinke, a stalking victim who was murdered by an ex-boyfriend after repeatedly seeking law enforcement intervention. Silver ribbons are worn or displayed to bring awareness to the public. Advocates across the county and from WIRC-CAA Victim Services are using this month to educate the public about the pervasive crime of stalking that affects more than one million women and almost 400,000 men every year. Call Victim Services to request an educational program on stalking at 309/836-2148. Submitted by: Diane Mayfield, Director WIRC-CAA Victim Services NOTE: Silver ribbons and additional stalking resources are available at the WIRC-CAA VS office and at the WIU Women’s Center, and on-line at: www.ncvc.org/src/Main.aspx Attention Knitters & Crocheters! (And anyone who wants to learn to knit or crochet!) Would you like to meet, chat and knit or crochet with others? Please e-mail us at womenscenter@wiu.edu if you ‟ re interested in joining other students, faculty, staff, and community members for creativity, conversation, relaxation and lunch. (Bring your lunch - the Women's Center has a microwave, refrigerator, plates, napkins, eating utensils, cups, and ice.) We‟ ll meet every Wednesday beginning Jan. 21, 2009, from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. in the Women‟ s Center Lounge. Come see different projects, learn new techniques, ask advice from other knitters, and share in the camaraderie. Bring your current project or fun ideas you've seen! Everyone is welcome, whether you‟ re a beginner or more advanced, so please join us and experience the therapeutic aspect of knitting and feel empowered by making something! Use your finished crafts for gifts, or donate them to charities that serve the homeless, survivors of domestic violence, children and families in need, newborn babies, animal shelters, etc. Scholarships for women, non-traditional students, and members of underrepresented groups Talbots Women's Scholarship Fund: www1.talbots.com/about/scholar/scholar. asp? BID=&h=&sk=M Deadline: January 3, 2009 Talbots Women's Scholarship Fund, a program of the Talbots Charitable Foundation, will award $100,000 in scholarships to women determined to finally get that college degree. Five women will each be awarded $10,000 scholarships, and 50 women will each be awarded $1,000 scholarships. All applicants must be seeking an undergraduate degree from an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or vocational-technical school. Only applicants seeking a bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university are eligible to receive a $10,000 award. Scholarship awards are based primarily on financial need and previous achievements for women who earned their high school diploma or GED at least 10 years ago. The Gates Millennium Scholars https://nominations.gmsp.org/GMSP_App/ Deadline: January 12, 2009 The Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMS), funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding, low income African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American*, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline area of interest. Continuing Gates Millennium Scholars may request funding for a graduate degree program in one of the following discipline areas: education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health or science. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence by providing thousands of outstanding students, who have significant financial need, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Virginia M. Wagner Award Project www.simwr.org/Awards.html Deadline: January 15, 2009 The Midwestern Region's own Virginia M. Wagner Award Project honors the effort and scholarship of women attending a college or university to earn a baccalaureate, masters or doctoral degree. Association for Women in Science www.awis.org/careers/edfoundation.html Deadline: January 23rd (undergraduates); January 30th for pre-docs The Ruth Satter Award is open to female graduate students who have interrupted their educations for at least three years to raise a family. Must be enrolled in behavioral, life, physical, or social science or engineering with the goal of earning a Ph.D. Affinity Plus Foundation Scholarship: www.affinityplus.org Deadline: January 31, 2009 The Affinity Plus Foundation provides hope to individuals who may not have thought their dreams were possible by awarding four scholarships to incoming freshman, upperclassmen, and nontraditional students each year. Eligibility: Applicants must be primary members of Affinity Plus. Award: $5,000 Microsoft: Never Stop Learning www.microsoft.com/college/ss_overview.mspx Deadline: February 1, 2009 Microsoft is offering four different types of technical scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year to current undergraduate students: General Scholarships, Women's Scholarships, Underrepresented Minority Scholarships, and Scholarships for Students with Disabilities. Malyon-Smith Scholarship Award www.apadivision44.org/honors/malyon-smith.php Deadline: February 1, 2009 The Malyon-Smith Scholarship is named for two founding past-presidents of the Division, the late Alan Malyon and the late Adrienne Smith. It is a fund that annually awards up to $1000 to selected graduate students in psychology to advance research in the psychology of sexual orientation and gender identity. Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in a Department of Psychology at the graduate level. Google Anita Borg Scholarship www.google.com/anitaborg Deadline: February 6, 2009 Open to women who are Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field majors. Students must be entering their senior year of undergraduate study or be enrolled in a graduate program. The Point Foundation Scholarship Fund www.pointfoundation.org/apply.html www.pointfoundation.org/scholarships.html Deadline: February 9, 2009 Applicants from all levels of higher education may apply for Point‟ s scholarship award. Point‟ s application process is open to all college students regardless of citizenship. Point‟ s scholarship award covers a variety of expenses such as tuition, books, room, board and basic living expenses. Point estimates that a college education costs between $8,000 and $50,000 per year, depending on which school the scholar attends. Point does require scholars to publically reveal their LGBT association with Point, as well as their dedication and status as an ally to the Queer community with the public. If selected as a Point Scholar, you will be required to submit your photo & biography for our website, as well as be willing to attend and speak publicly at Point events. USA Funds® Access to Education Scholarships www.usafunds.org/planning/access_to_education_scholarship/index.htm Deadline: February 15, 2009 USA Funds® will award $1,500 scholarships to students with economic need through USA Funds Access to Education Scholarships. Up to 50 percent of the scholarship awards will be targeted to applicants who are members of an ethnic-minority group or have a documented physical disability. Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Rho Scholarship www.cofc.edu/finaid/forms/DKGAR.pdf Deadline: February 19, 2009 Delta Kappa Gamma's Alpha Rho, an organization of women educators, is pleased to offer $1000 to a female education major or education minor. Interested women should download the application and postal-mail or e-mail it to the address on the application before deadline. The Women‟ s Center is sponsoring our annual “Women‟ s Art: Women‟ s Vision” women‟ s art exhibit during March in recognition of National Women‟ s History Month. Women‟ s Center student assistant Jennifer Howard, an art major, is coordinating this project, with the assistance of several Women‟ s Center staff and We are looking for female artists to display their works. Any medium is accepted. The works will be juried and, if volunteers. accepted, will hang in the University Library during the month of March in the first floor atrium/coffee bar area. All female students, staff, and faculty are invited and encouraged to participate. The show is also open to female artists in the community. If you are interested in submitting your artwork, or for more information, please e-mail Jennifer Howard at womenscenter@wiu.edu. Watch for more details, including specific dates and times. Women‟ s Art: Women‟ s Vision Women‟ s Art Exhibit call for entries Women’s Art: Women’s Vision--Women’s Voices Journal Call for Submissions The Women‟ s Center is calling for submissions of poetry, short fiction, and other creative works for its second annual publication of the Women’s Voices Journal. The journal will be released in April in honor of National Poetry Month. We will be accepting submissions from female students, staff, faculty, and community members through Monday, February 2, 2009. Submissions may be e-mailed to: womenscenter@wiu.edu. The general guidelines for submission are as follows: ♀ Submissions of short fiction/non-fiction, poetry, personal essays, reviews, research articles, editorials, and bio-graphical sketches will be considered ♀ A maximum of three creative pieces may be submitted ♀ Poetry submissions should be no more than 40 lines ♀ Other submissions should not exceed 1,000 words (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, single spaced) ♀ Submissions must be carefully typewritten and edited Each submission must also include the following information: -First and last name -Age and occupation and/or major (optional) -Title(s) of piece(s) -Number of lines or words -Medium used (or any relevant classification and requests) for submitted piece -Phone number, local address and e-mail address -Short bio (approximately 2-6 lines) for inclusion in the publication Please submit carefully edited work in the form in which you wish to have it printed should it be accepted for publication. There is no entry fee per submitted work. Works will be peer-reviewed by committee members. Writers will be contacted and notified of acceptance or denial of work. Upon acceptance, writers will be notified of any changes made by the editing team. The journal will be printed and distributed in April, 2009. Please note: The inclusion of work in this journal does not constitute a formal publication and all rights will revert back to the authors. Please contact Jennifer Howard at the Women’s Center with any questions. Support WIRC-Victim Services when you shop at iGive.com If you‟ re not already a supporter of the iGive.com website, consider signing up with WIRC-CAA Victim Services as your charity of choice. You download the shopping window, every time you shop at one of the over 600 online retail outlets, a percentage of the sale comes to us. You‟ re shopping online for the holidays, as well as for other celebrations throughout the year, take this opportunity to have the added benefit of helping our clients. Thanks for your support. —Diane Mayfield, Director VS Bella Sara Cards An awesome gift for girls (and boys, too) ages 4-10 are 'Bella Sara' cards. Local Girl Scout troop leader Heather McMeekan says her daughter and the girls in her troop love them. They‟ re inexpensive cards (found in the game collector aisle at local stores) with different horses on them. Each horse has a unique inspiring message. The cards are great for girls because there are no negative body image stereotypes; the cards can be collected, traded, and are an actual card game. They can also be used online at www.bellasara.com/ you type in the card's code, and then it adds the horse to your 'stable', where you can care for it. There are games to play, some of which require good use of literacy and/or puzzle solving skills. You get 'horseshoes' to use at the 'bazaar' to purchase decorations for your 'cottage', which helps kids understand math skills. National Women‟ s History Project Online Store www.nwhp.org/newcatalog/index.html NWHP has great gift ideas and always-appreciated women's history resources in their Women's History Resource Catalog. Give the gift of women‟ s history to your family and friends. Feminist Online Store http://www.feminist.org/store Spread the feminist spirit with great gifts for all ages from the Feminist Majority Foundation, including T-shirts, totes, books, videos, music, stationery, calendars, Afghan crafts, Ms. Magazine, jewelry, and gift certificates. National Organization for Women (NOW) Online Store http://www.now.org/store http://www.now.org/store/amazon.html We have more than 60 books on our wish list at amazon.com. Go to: www.amazon.com and click on: “Gifts and Wish Lists,” then under “Find Someone‟ s Wish Lists” enter Janine Cavicchia to locate the WIU Women‟ s Center Wish List. If you start your shopping at the NOW Store on amazon.com, NOW receives a percentage of the sales. Browse their suggestions on the lower left side of the page. Please consider making a year-end tax-deductible contribution to the Women‟ s Center Foundation I/We support the Women‟ s Center‟ s mission ________________________________________________ is to promote gender equity through Name education, support and advocacy, ________________________________________________ and to respond to issues affecting the status of Address female students, faculty and staff on campus, ________________________________________________ as well as women City, State, Zip code in the community and in society. (____)___________________ ______________________ Phone E-mail address I/We want to support the Women‟ s Center with a Designation: tax-deductible financial contribution* of _____ Books, DVDs, magazine and journal ____ $10 ____ $100 ____ $1000 subscriptions for the Women‟ s Center ____$25 ____ $250 ____ $2500 Resource Library ____ $50 ____ $500 ____ $5000 _____ Scholarships for single parents ____Other: $_______ _____Other scholarship ________________ (ALL gifts are welcomed and appreciated!) _____ Help send students to campus, regional and *Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. _____national leadership feminist, women‟ s, and multicultural conferences _____Help bring in nationally touring speakers and performers _____Undesignated (use where most needed) Payment Options: ___ I will send a check to the WIU Foundation (see address below), made payable to the WIU Women‟ s Center Foundation ___ I would like to pay by credit card. Please charge $________ to my: ____ Visa ____ MasterCard __________________________ ___________________ __________________________ Card No. Exp. Date Signature ___ I work at WIU and would like to make my contributions through Payroll Deduction. Please have the WIU Foundation fill out a payroll deduction card and send it to me for my signature. I am paid: _____ Monthly _____ Semi-monthly _____ Bi-Weekly Please make a copy of this form before sending it to the WIU Foundation office: WIU Foundation * 303 Sherman Hall * Western Illinois University * 1 University Circle * Macomb, IL 61455 Thank you for your support! Feminist and Social Justice Greeting Cards If you are looking for unique greeting cards to send this holiday season, consider buying one, several, or a larger quantity at the Women‟ s Center. Produced by Vining Publications (a woman-owned business), prices and the four messages are below and at right: # of cards Cost Each 1-5 $1.00 6-10 .75 11+ .50 Deck the halls…of Congress with feminists throughout the years ~~~ Please give tolerance and compassion as gifts of peace ~~~ We commemorate the passing of another year…in which equality is a dream in our hearts and minds, but not in the law of the land. Best wishes for the New Year. WC Holiday Sale (new and like-new items) December 8 - 23, 2008 (Mon.-Fri.) 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Seal Hall 315/317, 3rd floor EAST wing If you're decorating your room, apartment, house or office for the holidays, or looking for some nice, inexpensive gifts, the Women's Center may have just what you're looking for! This sale is open to the public; students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome! We have lots of new and like-new items, including Christmas cards, tins, ornaments, wreaths and decorations; some clothing, toys, miscellaneous gift items, and much more! Associate Athletics Director and Senior Women‟ s Administrator Kathy Orban to retire Associate Athletics Director Kathy Orban will retire on Dec. 31, after 28 years of service in the Western Illinois University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Orban joined the Westerwinds athletics department in August 1980 as an assistant field hockey coach; she was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director in January 1985, with the responsibilities of public relations, promotions, the Westerwinds Athletic Club and home event management. In 1989, men's and women's athletics merged into one University athletic department; and in Spring 1994, Orban was named Associate Athletics Director for Compliance as well as Senior Women‟ s Administrator. She has since been responsible for eligibility, financial aid, athletic academic services and recruiting related to NCAA and conference requirements. She has also overseen the administration of several sport programs. Coming on board just one year before Western Illinois joined the NCAA Division I rank, Orban has helped lead the program through several transitions. She saw the inception of the Gateway Collegiate Athletics Conference in 1982, following a time of competition in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. In 1985, the Gateway added football to its list of previously all-women's championship sports, and in 1992, the women¹s programs realigned with their men¹s teams in their respective conferences. At that time, the Westerwinds joined the Leathernecks in the Mid-Continent Conference, which had been in existence as a men¹s-only league since 1982. According to Orban, one of the most significant changes she has experienced in her career has been the opportunity for women to have athletic scholarships. "When I started at WIU as an assistant coach there was no recruiting off-campus and very limited scholarship budgets compared to the men‟ s sports. Now we have fully-funded women's sport programs. When I was in high school I did not have opportunities to play. I grew up helping a boys' baseball team by shagging balls. My friend's dad allowed me to have a small part of that organized sports experience. From that I sought every opportunity to play sports, and since then I have used my career to mentor and coach female student-athletes.” Orban's active involvement at the University, conference and national levels, including time as the Western Illinois Council of Administrative Personnel (COAP) president, member of the presidential search committee, president of the Western Organization for Women, director of numerous conference tournaments, chair of various conference committees and chair of the NCAA Division I National Softball Committee has given her insight into Western Illinois' best asset. "We are people rich," Orban says any time she meets with a recruit or potential staff member. "Without a doubt the best thing we have here is our people skills. A student-athlete has a great academic opportunity here, and the bottom line is that they have the potential to build relationships with their professors, their coaches, their teammates and the administrative staff, which all contribute to their success," she adds. Her career has also included working as a coach and women¹s athletic director at Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wis., and serving as an instructor and coach at the high school level. A native of Lansing (IL), Orban earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois (1973), where she competed in field hockey, badminton and softball, and her master's degree from Western Illinois (1977). She was inducted into the Illinois Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 2008 as a member of the ASA Fast pitch Macomb Magic Softball Team. "I have been impacted by a combination of people at Western," Orban said. "(Former women‟ s athletics director) Dr. Marion Blackinton mentored me as a graduate student, then hired me and gave me this opportunity. The opportunity to work for Western, the experiences with various members of the campus community and watching the campus work together and interact have all impacted me. The relationships with student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fellow staff members, fans, friends and other colleagues have meant so much to me. I want all to know how I have valued and appreciated your association and friendship. And as I look back, it all started because my dad told me I could be whatever I wanted to be.” A search for Orban's replacement will be held this spring. Copy By: Sports, University Relations Women‟ s Center Resource Library - 313 Seal Hall Books and DVDs available to be checked out World AIDS Day: December 1, 2008 Positive/ Negative: Women of Color and HIV/AIDS:A Collection of Plays Edited by Imani Harrington & Chyrell D. Bellamy The Faces of AIDS: Living in the Heartland Chicago Dept. of Public Health A Positive Life: Portraits of Women Living with HIV /Interviews By River Huston; Photographs by Mary Berridge January is National Book Month! The Women's Center's mission is to promote gender equity through education, support and advocacy and to respond to issues affecting the status of female students, faculty and staff on campus, as well as women in the community and in society. To continue to do this, we would like to expand our resource library, and we need your help. We have been compiling a “Wish List” of titles that would be wonderful additions to our Resource Library. Any financial contributions and/or book donations would be much appreciated. (Great gift ideas for your family and friends, as well!) MENOPAUSE Transitions through the Perimenopausal Years: Demystifying the Journey By Zala, Swan, and Pnor Hot Flashes, Hormones, & Your Health: Breakthrough Findings to Help You Sail Through Menopause By JoAnn E. Manson, MD Breaking Point: How Female Midlife Crisis is Transforming Today's Women By Sue Shellenbarger EATING DISORDERS Perfect Girls Starving Daughters By Courtney Martin Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia By Marya Hornbacher Regaining Your Self: Breaking Free from the Eating Disorder Identity: A Bold New Approach By Ira M. Sacker, Sheila Buff Help Your Teenager Beat an Eating Disorder By James Lock, Daniel le Grange AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN Freedom’s Daughters: Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 to 1970 By Lynne Olson Women in the Civil Rights Movement: Trailblazers and Torchbearers 1941-1965 Eds. V. Crawford, J. Rouse, and B. Woods Words of Fire: An Anthology of African-American Feminist Thought, Ed. Beverly Guy-Sheftall One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd By Jim Fergus LGBT Always My Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning Son or Daughter By Kevin Jennings, Pat Shapiro Living a Lie - A Transgendered Journey By Jamey Lynne Bishop A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay Couples By Denis Clifford, Frederick Hertz, Emily Doskow MULTI-CULTURAL WOMEN I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala By Rigoberta Menchu Promoting Diversity & Social Justice: Educating People From Privileged Groups By Diane Goodman WOMEN‟ S HEALTH Breast Cancer Husband: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) During Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond By Marc Silver Nordie's at Noon: The Personal Stories of Four Women "Too Young" for Breast Cancer By P. Balwanz, K. Carols, J. Johnson, J. Peters Mammography and Breast Imaging: Just The Facts By Olive Peart B.O.O.B.S.: A Bunch Of Outrageous Breast-Cancer Survivors Tell Their Stories of Courage, Hope and Healing By Ann Fisher Please support our sponsors! Partial funding for this newsletter has been provided by these professional women and women-owned and -operated businesses and organizations Come join fellow League members for a holiday party Thurs., Dec. 11, at the Old Bailey House, 100 S. Campbell, Maco begin at 5:45 (BYOB) with dinner catered by Hy-Vee at 6:15. pasta salad, wild rice, green beans almandine, and cream pie for dessert. The charge is $8.50 per person payable at the door. For reservations please contact Janna Haworth by Fri., Dec. 5 at 837-1586 or janna@macomb.com. Spouses and partners are, of course, welcome. Please bring items (new or used) that evening to donate to the League for ou traditional silent auction. www.lwvmdc.org O.A.S.I.S Non-Traditional Student Week is over. We had old and new members join us for the different activities. OASIS members nominate various departments to be honored for being helpful to non-traditional students. Our Non-traditional Student Friendly awards were given to Michelle Langhout, who was selected to receive the individual award for service provided to non-traditional students through our organization. The Women‟ s Center received Small Department or Organization Award for the myriad of ways in which they help non-traditional students navigate their way between school, work, family and the other parts of life with which we cope. The Office of Student Activities received the Large Department or Organization Award for helping our members with organizational issues, helping us present programs suitable for family viewing and preparing visual displays to promote our organization. We are starting an informal lunch get-together every Monday from 1-2 and Thursday from 12-1:30 in the Student Organization Center Conference Room. Bring your lunch and meet other non-traditional students where you can discuss anything from ideas for activities to challenges faced by non-traditional students. Our Student-Parent Association (SPA) sub-committee is establishing a babysitting network to help connect student-parents who are willing to help each other with occasional child care. We‟ re also advocating for more, and more affordable, child care on campus and in the community to better serve students‟ needs, as well as seeking to address other issues that affect student-parents‟ ability to come to and stay in school. OASIS meetings are held on Tuesdays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in the Student Organization Center Conference Room in the basement of the Union. Please join us—new members are always welcome! If you have any questions about our organization, please contact Linda Strueber, OASIS President, at 298-3284 or via e-mail at oasis@wiu.edu. For more information, you can also visit our Web site at www.wiu.edu/oasis. Submitted by: Linda Strueber, OASIS President Women‟ s Studies Dept. Chair Candidate Interviews Thurs.-Fri. Nov. 13-14; Mon.-Tues. Dec. 8-9; and Thurs.-Fri. Dec. 11-12 Director of Equal Opportunity and Access Candidate Interviews www.wiu.edu/newsrelease.sphp?release_id=6901 Thurs.-Fri., Dec. 11-12; Mon.-Tues., Dec. 15-16 and Wed.-Thurs., Dec. 17-18 Feminist Action Alliance FAA has had a busy semester. One of our action projects for the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance is Emergency Contraception (EC) awareness education, so in November we had McDonough District Hospital Sexual Assault Nurse Educators (SANE) Lindsay White and Alissa Thorne come and provide us with information about EC/Plan B. In December, we had a guest speaker, Deborah Conner from Beu Health Center come to speak with us and provide some additional information about emergency contraception. Next semester, we‟ ll be organizing some educational sessions and resource materials for other students on campus on this issue. FAA members, along with several other student organizations, attended the President‟ s Tent Event that took place on Saturday November 15th. During the spring semester, we will continue to work on our advocacy issues Human Trafficking and Emergency Contraception. Submitted by: Nicole Sowers, FAA Discussion Facilitator Macomb Feminist Network www.macombfeminists.org At our Nov. 8 meeting, WIU political science professor Phyllis Farley Rippey moderated an interesting presentation and discussion by current and former WIU political science faculty members Janna Dietz, Jutta Helm, and Aimee Shouse, who analyzed the presidential election results from a feminist perspective and from their respective areas, including campaigns and elections, and comparative politics. At our Dec. 13 meeting, our guests will be Tammy LaPrad and Courtney Blankenship, I-Parent Magazine founders and publishers. Jan Welsch will chair the meeting, and Sally Egler will serve as recorder. Our Jan. 24 meeting will be our annual potluck brunch social at Becky Parker‟ s home. Members are encouraged to bring guests, and we will have a brief business meeting to discuss goals and plans for the coming year. MFN usually meets on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. - 12 noon in the Macomb City Hall Community Room. All feminists are invited and welcome to join us. Campus Girl Scouts The Campus Girl Scouts have just held their first successful event of this year! Time and planning went into this event in order to get to know the troops, and it proved to be well worth the effort. event was held November 13th in the Tanner Hall Circle, where the Campus Girl Scouts and a small group of local Girl Scouts joined together to play games, make friendship bracelets, and best of all, decorate cookies with frosting and sprinkles! The night was centered around different acts of kindness because it took place on "World Kindness Day." It is safe to say that the older girls had just as much fun as the younger, all while learning to become kinder individuals. Of the girls became well acquainted, and the night turned out to be full of fun! Next on the agenda will be a "try-it" day in December where Brownie Girl Scouts will be given the opportunity to earn badges. Is very excited about the event and cannot wait to see what happens next. For more information about Campus Girl Scouts or any of our upcoming events, please contact Heather McCoy at (309)298-2242, or by e-mail at he-mccoy@wiu.edu. Help us help girls grow strong! Submitted by: Emily Morrell, Campus Girl Scouts Secretary Pictured: CGS graduate advisor Heather McCoy and member Michelle Sas make a friendship bracelet with a local Scout. Pictured: Two Brownie Scouts decorate cookies during a recent Meet the Troops night. “Westerwinds” represents “Western Winds,” which signifies a strong, powerful wind that blows forcefully, threatening to blow its opponents away. The name symbolizes and embodies the formidable force that our female student-athletes are and always have been and will continue to be. Here are some highlights of recent WIU women‟ s athletic events, and dates of upcoming home games, matches, and meets: SWIMMING & DIVING Senior Amber Piercy took first place in both the 1000-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle races. In diving, sophomore Molly Carrignan won the 1-meter diving event while senior Stephanie Roley finished in third place. WIU‟ s swimming and diving team will compete again on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. against UIC and on Jan. 16 at 5 p.m. against Iowa. VOLLEYBALL Congratulations to Western Illinois junior left side hitter Emily Harrison who was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team. On Nov. 7 the Westerwinds defeated Centenary 3-0 thanks to senior Monique Houston who recorded 12 kills. Junior Elise Crnjak led defensively with 21 digs. Congratulations to senior Sarah Trimpe who concluded the Westerwinds volleyball season with 46 assists on Nov. 14 breaking the WIU career-assist record! Congratulations for all your hard work and good luck to WIU‟ s volleyball team for next season! SOCCER Congratulations to senior Ashley Hoch and sophomore Jennifer Green for being named to All-Summit League teams and to freshman Nora Potempa for being named to the all-newcomer team! Thank you for this great season and best of luck to WIU‟ s Women‟ s Soccer Team for next season! BASKETBALL Congratulations to senior Amanda Walker who was named to the All Invitational Team after averaging 17 points at the Doubletree White Invitational. Congratulations also to senior Rasheena Salter who set a new career record in rebounds. Three Westerwinds scored in double-digits on Nov. 30 in a victory over Holy Cross including junior Katy Clark with 11 points, junior Jordon O‟ Brien with 13, and sophomore Lindsey Wutt with a career-high 13 points. The Westerwinds play at home again on Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. against South Alabama. SOFTBALL Congratulations to Britt Mason, Anna Nelson, Beth Golitko, Lauren Furgala, Colleen Biebel, Nikki Marinec, Lori Pankratz, Courtney Jacobson, Erin Schlotfeldt, and Julie DePolo of WIU‟ s softball team for being recognized by the National Fast pitch Coaches Association for earning a grade point average of a 3.5 or higher during the 2007-08 academic year! Submitted by: WC GA Clarissa Cenci and WC Westerwinds Liaison Daniesha (Julious) Aguilar Women‟ s athletics at Western Social Work students and faculty assist with Jane Addams Day Celebration www.wiu.edu/socialwork We would like to extend our congratulations to the 66 pre-social work majors who were accepted into the major program in November. The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree prepares students for entry-level, professional generalist social work practice. Students also go on to graduate school to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. The Dept. of Social Work is part of the College of Education and Human Services. SW Department‟ s mission is to provide a high quality social work educational experience that serves a diverse population and contributes to the enhancement of social service delivery systems in the west central Illinois region and throughout the state with a faculty dedicated to excellence in teaching, to scholarly and professional activities, and to social and economic justice for all persons. Students enter social work as a pre-social major (PSW). To be formally admitted to the program, students must take the social work entrance assessment (major‟ s exam), complete an application packet which includes several writing components, and an admissions interview with a faculty member. To be accepted as a full social work major, students must have successfully all the academic admission requirements and provide documentation for completing 100 volunteer at a social service agency. Social Work graduates are employed in helping institutions such as hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, rehabilitation facilities for addictions and other health issues, and most government social services agencies such as child welfare and prison systems. Social workers also work corporations in human departments, military installments and police stations. Social work has a broad scope of concern, strong core values, and commitment to social and economic justice. The social work profession emphasizes a holistic or interpersonal perspective of the individual and her/his environment. Workers value the inherent human dignity and of all people and everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. Dec. 10, 2008 was Jane Addams Day (see this column in our Nov. newsletter). To commemorate Jane Addams Day, we sponsored an essay contest at Macomb Jr. /Sr. High School. Students were asked to submit a typed 500/1000 word essay on how Jane Addams made a difference in our society. The essays were read and judged by several WIU students who are social work majors. Congratulations to the winners: Sr. High - Hope Spears, first place; Jr. High - Tristan Willey, first place, Raymond Chong, second place, Cody Franklin Paul, third place. We hope this activity helped the students learn about Jane Addams and her accomplishments, and how one person can make a tremendous difference and have a positive impact on society. Jane Addams Day 2009 program organizers Michelle Sas, Christina Tyler, and Cheri Manuel (l-r), all of whom are social work students and Women’s Center staff and volunteers, with “Jane Addams” and Social Work Chair Mike Fimmen. The Women‟ s Center, in collaboration with the Social Work Dept., Social Work Student Association (SWSA), and the Visiting Lectures Committee sponsored a full-dress, interactive, dramatic portrayal of Jane Addams by Pastor Amy Nyman, (storyteller and crusader for figures in social history). Her performance at the Macomb Jr. /Sr. High school was excellent and well-received by the students, and the Macomb Eagle newspaper took photos of the essay contest winners. That afternoon, Pastor Nyman‟ s portrayal of Jane Addams at WIU also was excellent and enjoyed by all who attended, and it was taped for broadcast on Univ. TV (Ch. 3). Submitted by: Christina Tyler, WC Social Work Liaison Women‟ s Center Seal Hall 320 1 University Circle Macomb, IL 61455-1390 Women‟ s Center hours M-Th 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fri. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. NOTE: We will be open M-F 8 a.m. to noon and 1 - 4:30 p.m. when the University is open during the Semester break. Support the Women‟ s Center! To make a donation or pledge on-line, visit WIU's secure Online Giving form: https://www.wiu.com/giving/index.asp In the "Gift Information" section, specify that you would like to designate your gift to the Women's Center Thank you for your support! “51%” on WIUM 91.3 FM Fridays 12:00 noon - 12:30 p.m. Underwritten by the Western Organization for Women Over half the people in the world are women. What women do affects us all. Women’s News and Views is compiled by the WIU Women‟ s Center and published up to eight times a year (September—May, as funding permits) by WIU‟ s Document and Publication Services. It is distributed electronically to all WIU students, faculty and staff, as well as some alumni and community members. It also is posted on the Women‟ s Center Web site at www.wc.wiu.edu/newsletter/ Paper copies are available by request. Partial funding is provided by area women-owned and operated businesses and organizations whose ads appear in each issue. Please support our sponsors! Information contained in this newsletter is provided to help create awareness of events and issues of particular interest to women and their supporters. Anyone may submit ideas or information for publication. Please include name and phone number with all submissions. All items are subject to space considerations and review by the editors. The articles in the newsletter include staff and guest commentaries, and the views expressed are only the opinion of the author. Questions, concerns, ideas, suggestions, requests for information, advertising and mailing list updates may be sent to womenscenter@wiu.edu Women‟ s Center Staff and Volunteers Director: Janine Cavicchia Office Manager: Carolyn English Graduate Assistants: Clarissa Cenci, Heather McCoy Graduate Practicum Assistant: Becca Groves Work Study Student Assistants: Resource Librarian: Jennifer Howard Newsletter Editor Asst.: Emily Weninger Office Assistants: Mahogany Baker, Linda Strueber Social Work Liaisons: Christina Tyler and Cheri Manuel Men‟ s Outreach Coordinator: Joe Garfi (volunteer) Westerwinds Liaison: Daniesha (Julious) Aguilar Women‟ s Health Outreach Volunteers: Paige Beauchamp, Christina Motley, and Shamika Young Women‟ s Studies Liaison: Vacant Women‟ s Center Advisory Board Ellyn Bartges, Chris Brown, Judi Dallinger, Lora Ebert Wallace, Molly Homer, Dana Moon, Aimee Shouse, John Simmons, and Martha Youngmeyer Additional appointments pending Women‟ s Center Volunteers Steven Tyler Ayer, Casey Kinson, Kevin Lucas, Liza Mumford, Sylvana Radley, Shereen Ramos, and Michelle Sas If you would like to volunteer in the Women‟ s Center, please e-mail womenscenter@wiu.edu Happy Birthday in December to: Mahogany Baker (15th), Carolyn English (22nd), Jennifer Howard (24th), Michelle Langhout (29th), Christina Motley (31st)