Migration Category: Campus Old Site

The Feminist Majority Foundation, in coalition with the Pro-Choice Public Education Project (PEP), invites you to an exciting upcoming event in New York City! Join the young women of PEP this Wednesday, June 6th from 7-10pm for music, free food, free drinks, and raffle prizes. Come see PEP’s new pro-choice ads and network with FMF staff and other young activists working for reproductive freedom.

**When** Wednesday June 6th, 7pm – 10pm

**Where** W8th (40 West 8th Street, between Macdougal St. and 6th Ave.) By Subway: A, C, E, B, D, F, Q, to West 4th or N, R, to 8th St. $20 cover at the door (21 and over) Music by DJ June Joseph, mir media All proceeds from the event will benefit PEP and its national grassroots outreach programs. Want to see more of the ads? Visit http://www.protectchoice.org. For more information on the event email pep@protectchoice.org or call (888) 253-CHOICE.

College is over. That doesn’t mean your feminist activism has to be! Join the Leadership Alliance and Friends Alumnae Network at http://www.feministcampus.org/alum_network.asp. Member benefits include a directory of FMLA Alumnae, personal and professional networking opportunities, ongoing opportunities to get involved in feminist activism, alumnae chats and message boards on http://www.feministcampus.org/.

The TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance brought a representative from Planned Parenthood of Philadelphia to campus to conduct a clinic escort training for members and campus activists. The group plans to organize an “Adopt-A-Clinic” action and support a local Philadelphia abortion clinic that is being harassed by anti-choice protestors.

Last April, Leadership Alliances and activists across the nation commemorated Sexual Assault Awareness Month with major events, rallies,and marches. The BROWN UNIVERSITY Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance in Rhode Island organized a Take Back the Night March to rally support for women’s safety on campus. The BOSTON UNIVERSITY Leadership Alliance affiliate hosted a “Clothesline Project” display to raise awareness about the prevalence of violence against women. The UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS participated in their annual Take Back the Night, marching and chanting through the streets of Denton, Texas. The CONNECTICUT COLLEGE Leadership Alliance hosted a Take Back the Night rally, a candlelight vigil, a “Clothesline Project” display, and a self-defense workshop to empower students on campus.

In spite of heavy rain and unpleasant weather, the TEXAS TECH Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance organized their 2nd Annual Take Back the Night March, featuring speakers from the Lubbock Rape Crisis Center, personal testimony from a rape survivor, and a candle light vigil. The group sold t-shirts to benefit their local rape crisis center. The UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO Leadership Alliance has been involved in raising awareness about the nearly 270 women brutally murdered in their neighboring border city of Juarez, Mexico. Earlier this month, the group hosted a film screening of “Senorita Extraviada,” a documentary that won a Special Jury Prize at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival for its in-depth depiction of the violence against women in Juarez.

In addition, the group hosted a silent auction to raise funds for Casa Amiga, a sexual assault and domestic violence center in Juarez, and brought to campus Colectiva Antigon, an organization of students, artists, and activists that raise awareness through poetry and performance. **AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT MONTGOMERY HOSTS FORUM ON TOLERANCE** The AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT MONTGOMERY (AUM) Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance brought over 170 students together for their Tolerance Forum to discuss issues including violence against women, sexual orientation, hate crimes, and religious and cultural diversity. Co-sponsored by the AUM Leadership Alliance, the College Democrats, and the Campus Paper, the panel featured members of the FMLA, Montgomery Gay and Lesbian Alliance, and the Campus Police. The Montgomery County Chief of Police and a speaker from the Southern Poverty Law Center also spoke during the event on current legislation and local incidents of discrimination and hate crimes.

Members of the nearby AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT HUNTINGDON Leadership Alliance attended the event in show of support. AUM Leadership Alliance leader Melissa Jones notes the need for discussion on issues of tolerance and discrimination, “there’s been a lot of racial tension, and the gay and lesbian group was having a hard time starting up. It was good to have people to talk about it in a forum that was comfortableÉ and [with panelists] that were educated in those areas. It really turned out well and [the group is] really excited.” The event proved a successful forum for discussion, received campus press, and generated dozens of sign-ups for the group.

Last week, students nationwide came together in DC for the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition’s (GenderPAC) second National Conference on Gender (NCG). Hundreds of activists from 30 states across the country and students from over 36 campuses attended the three-day event that included dozens of workshops on feminism, race, class, and transgender issues. The Feminist Majority was among the many co-sponsors of the event and staff had the opportunity to meet with students while tabling throughout the conference. Students were able to share their ideas and learn from others during discussions and workshops. According to INDIANA UNIVERSITY AT BLOOMINGTON Leadership Alliance activist Patrick Kinsman, “All of this will feed down to the FMLA… we’re going to take the issue of gender stereotypes back to Bloomington.” GenderPAC works to end discrimination and violence caused by gender stereotypes, and works to change public attitudes, educate elected officials, and expand legal rights. For information on joining GPAC, please visit them at http://www.gpac.org/join.

Tana Koss, co-founder and President of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, was recently recognized in the local newspaper for her excellence in academics and her commitment to social justice. Koss received the 2002 Chancellor’s Medallion and the 2002 “Woman of the Year” award. In addition, Koss was chosen to be the student speaker for her graduation commencement ceremony. Read the article at http://www.feministcampus.org/journalism/journalism_article.asp?ID=80

Congratulations to the new Leadership Alliances at the UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY, and the UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA. The U OF HOUSTON group is one of several Feminist Majority Leadership Alliances to launch exclusively from the online Choices Campus Community (www.feministcampus.org). Congratulations to all of the new FMLAs! To check out all of the groups currently participating in the Choices Campaign, go to www.feministcampus.org/ac_campusoffices.asp.

The CSU SACRAMENTO LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE organized the Clothesline Project on their campus to raise awareness about victims of gender violence. The Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance at CAL STATE LA fundraised and organized a large delegation to attend the GenderPAC NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENDER in Washington, DC this week. For more information on GenderPAC and their 3-day conference on gender policy visit http://www.gpac.org/ncg/index.html.

The Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance Affiliate at CORNELL UNIVERSITY recently protested an anti-choice amendment that would remove abortion coverage in their Student Health Insurance Plan. Students distributed information and rallied in front of their Student Government building. The CERRITOS LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE, along with other campus progressive organizations, organized a “Sweatshop Catwalk” concert to mock the wage exploitation in the garment industry and to demonstrate the corporate manipulation of women and people of color. Students modeled clothing from exploitative corporations while an announcer delivered facts about the inhumane conditions of garment factory workers.

In honor of “Self Love Month,” the UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE organized a “Women’s Week” on campus. Speakers addressed issues such as women and the media, poetry and music, women and work, alternative healthcare for women, eating disorders, women leaders, and black women in the media. Participants came from diverse organizations including Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting(FAIR) , Jobs with Justice, UNITE!, Chicago Legal Aid for Incarcerated Mothers, and the Illinois League of Women Voters.

This month, hundreds of new members from Leadership Alliances and other campuses have joined the largest pro-choice campus network in the worldÑthe Choices Campus Community. New members include feminists from all over the world, including Singapore, Australia, Belgium, Canada, and South Africa. New members are a great resource for your feminist activism and a wonderful way to reach out beyond the boundaries of your campus! Chat with them at our Online Workshops and on our discussion boards on: www.feministcampus.org. Tell us what you think of the Choices Campus Community, www.feministcampus.org! E-mail a member of the Campus Team, campusteam@feminist.org or tell your Online Organizer what you like and what you’d like to see online (debbie@feminist.org)!

Congratulations to the GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance for receiving the Excellence in Student Life Pyramid. This award recognizes the group for their leadership, activism, and impact on the campus. The group has also been featured on the FeministCampus.org, to read about the group’s accomplishments and past actions.

The SOUTHWEST STATE UNIVERSITY Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance in Minnesota brought speakers from their local Planned Parenthood and National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League to speak about contemporary issues in reproductive rights and access to abortion.

Students in the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance at the UNIVERSITY OFTEXAS-EL PASO are calling attention to the unsolved murders of women in Juarez, Mexico. More than 100 students came together for a silent protest last month and distributed leaflets in El Paso decrying the efforts of both Mexican and U.S. officials in solving the crimes. The protest featured prominent feminist speakers including the Director of the El Paso Battered Women’s Shelter, the Director of Casa Amiga – the crisis center in Juarez, Mexico, and several professors from the University. The group garnered media attention from both US and Mexican press.

The ILLINOIS WELSEYAN UNIVERSITY FMLA raised over two hundred dollars during their annual “Walk for Afghan Women” to benefit the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Help Afghan Women campaign. The group raffled off Choices tee shirts and sponsored contests to promote increased fundraising by participants in the walk. Visit www.helpafghanwomen.com for more information and action ideas.

The HAMLINE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE was presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award at their annual Student Leadership Banquet. This award honors leaders who “served the student body and the entire campus community with distinction, dedication and excellence.” Congratulations!

CERRITOS COLLEGE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE members Nassrin Bonyadloo and Sara Mayorga were recently elected as President and Vice-President, respectively, of their Campus Student Government Association! Congratulations to Nassrin and Sara for all of their hard work!

Kelly Adams and Jennifer Heitel, officers of the LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE at GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, wrote an opinion editorial on the current debate around their campus Sexual Harassment Policy that was printed in a local newspaper. Their article rallied support among students and faculty for the newly revised policy which would improve the enforcement of sexual harassment cases on campus. GOUCHER UNIVERSITY has been involved in a comprehensive restructuring of their campus sexual assault policy. Working with SAFER, (Students Active For Ending Rape) the group has investigated their campus policies, conferred with a coalition of Academic Deans, Heads of Security and Heads of Health and Services, and participated in a committee of students, faculty and administration to improve the sexual assault investigation process. For more information on SAFER, please visit their web site at www.columbia.edu/cu/safer/.

Is your group interested in improving the feminist climate on your campus? Investigate! Check out Unit 1 of the Study and Action Manual for more information and a guide of questions you need to ask to critically examine and improve your University.

The BROWN UNIVERSITY FMLA held a Take Back the Night Rally for campus safety and non-violence this month. Students tabled with facts, ribbons, and pledge sheets and marched to a site with a symbolic graveyard that they created to remember victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. They concluded the march with a candlelight vigil, poetry and speakers from community organizations. For more info on Take Back the Night or for improving campus safety, contact a member of the FMF Campus Team, campusteam@feminist.org.

We have a special place for *your* Leadership Alliance on feministcampus.org! Linking your site to feministcampus.org will allow you to increase your campus site’s traffic and hits, outreach to a larger audience, connect with other campus groups, and enhance your site with chat and bulletin boards, and an interactive events calendar (coming soon) FOR FREE! Create a website for your group without html experience at or to learn new web skills, email the Campus Online Coordinator Debbie Castro, Debbie@feminist.org.

Hundreds of Leadership Alliance activists from over 40 campuses nationwide rallied with the Feminist Majority Foundation during NOW’s Emergency Action For Women’s Lives in DC last Sunday April 22nd. FMF President Eleanor Smeal and representatives from other organizations including the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, the National Abortion Federation, and the National Black Women’s Health Project spoke to an enthusiastic crowd about the importance of abortion access, the horrors already faced by women around the world under the global gag rule and parental consent, and the failure of anti-abortion politicians to provide adequate policies for women and children. Participants marched in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and down to the mall, chanting along the way: “Not the church, not the state, Women must decide their fate!” and “2-4-6-8 watch out who he nominates!” The event ended on the mall with a reproductive health fair, where participating organizations including Advocates for Youth and the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health provided educational materials and action opportunities to activists. Thank you to the Leadership Alliance activists that volunteered and petitioned with us during the Emergency Action. We received over 1700 signatures to support abortion rights! View pics of the march!

This past weekend, the Feminist Majority Foundation and Leadership Alliances from around the country attended the annual reproductive rights conference at Hampshire College in Massachusetts. The conference, entitled “From Abortion Rights to Social Justice: Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom,” included workshops on issues such as Youth/Student Organizing, Illegal Abortion, and International Women’s Health. Leadership Alliances members were in attendance from CERRITOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE in California, ST.LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY in New York, the UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, the UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AT AMHERST, and DEPAUW UNIVERSITY in Indiana.