March 2005 Issue 7

womenscenter.udayton.eduStriving to promote equality,

understanding, and mutualrespect and to foster a

strong educationalcommunity.

in

side P. 2

What’s Going On? •Women’s History Month

P. 3 •The Thirst for Women’s Studies P. 4Women’s CenterProfiles•Tarika Daftary•”Can We Talk?”Reading GroupP. 5Health & Wellness• “Ask the Doc”•Dealing withGriefP. 6Voices Raised• “Mid-Life”• Honors ArtExhibitP. 8From theDirector’s Desk• “What does itmean to be anactivist?”

Shaping Leaders:

Women’s CenterLOCATION:Alumni Hall, 2nd Floor

HOURS:9 a.m. – 10 p.m.Monday – Wednesday9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Thursday – Friday

PHONE: 937-229-5390FAX: 937-229-5334WEBSITE:womenscenter.udayton.edu

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Panel discussion challenges labels

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Americans label many thingsin their everyday lives—folders, notebooks, food andeven other people. Yes, it’strue, people are labeledeveryday. When Brian McNaught, aninternationally-knownspeaker on gay issues, cameto campus last semester anddiscussed just that, studentsresponded positively. The University of DaytonLesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Transgender Allies SteeringCommittee (LGBTA) knewthis was an issue that neededto be better examined on ourcampus, and so decided to

organize a panel of faculty,staff and students to discusslanguage bias. The panelists who willaddress the labeling bias areSheila Hughes, Timothy King,Steven Herndon, and JuliusAmin. Each panelist will talk abouta different group that isaffected by the power oflabels; Dr. Hughes will discusswomen (feminists/womanists), Dr. King, peoplewith disabilities, Dr. Amin,people of color, particularlyAfrican Americans, andSteven Herndon, lesbian, gay,bisexual, and transgender

populations. The event, which will beheld on March 14, at 7 p.m.in Kennedy Union Ballroomfor all students, faculty,staff and communitymembers, is entitled,“Language Bias: The Powerof Labels in a PoliticallyCorrect World.” There willbe student panelists, as wellas the expert panel, to askquestions that otherwisewould not be asked aboutthe labels that are usedevery day to refer to eachgroup.

It’s not often that one getsthe opportunity to engage indiscussions about criticalissues, develop leadershipskills for the 21st century,create meaningfulrelationships and dine withone of the world’s mostrenowned civil rights leaders.And all in one day! These opportunities andmore are what participantscan expect to find at thefourth annual Annie T.Thornton Women’sLeadership Conference onSaturday, March 5, 2005. “The conference giveswomen a chance tocongregate with one anotherand strengthen thatcommunity,” says SteveHerndon, Marycrest AreaCoordinator and co-coordinator of the ATWLC. Herndon himself got hookedon the conference last year asa volunteer when he helpedto organize programs andlogistics. This year he hastaken on an even bigger rolebecause he understands thevalue of such an importantevent.

“I want to make astatement, as a man. Menneed to be a part of this andunderstand how the issuesaffect them.” His commitment is evidentin trying to involve men inboth programming andvolunteer efforts, and hiswork has helped to create anunprecedented buzz aroundthis year’s conference. Part of that buzz can also beattributed to the keynotespeaker, Coretta Scott King,who the conferencecoordinators believeembodies the message theywant to communicate.

Herndon believes thatKing will help bringstudents, faculty and staffback to the 1960’s andrealize that, in manyways, we are not so farremoved. “She has been apioneer and she brings usto the reality that we haveresponsibility. There’sstill work to be done.” Conference coordina-tors have taken on thatwork in putting together adiverse program list. TheATWLC is organized intofive tracks with fourprograms each, coveringsuch topics as education,work and business, faithand spirituality, diversityand community develop-ment, and home andfamily. They hope to hit on avariety of interests,including those of stu-dents. With a fee of onlyfive dollars for students,many have alreadyregistered. Senior sociol-ogy major, AlisonGrieshop, is one of them.

4th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference

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What’s Going On? M

arch

Sun. Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat.

For moreinformation onWHM events,please visit ourwebsite:womenscenter.udayton.edu.

Language BiasPanel

AFW Brown Bag

Food for Soul:Mother Adele’sDescendents

WST Film: A Herofor Daisy

Women’sLeadershipConference

Food for theSoul: Women

Honorees

Anne GarrelsLecture in KUBallroom @ 8

Food for theSoul: Woman-

hood in PersonalContext

Colors ofLeadershipConference(3/11-3/12)

Women of InfluenceLuncheon

Diet is a Four-LetterWord Program

Miryam AwardPresentation

1

Women’s History Month Kicks Off

Food for the Soul:Great Women in

our Midst

African-AmericanWomen

Composers(3/3-3/6)2 3

6

24

87 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

InternationalFood Fair

StudentActivism Night

WST Film:Veronica

Guerin

LitFest’s AiPresentation@ 7 in Sears

WST Film:Imelda

Sally WinnLecture in Boll

Theater

WST Film:The Terrorist

SpringBreak

(3/19-3/28)

KU Lobby Display CaseThe main display case has beendesigned by StudentDevelopment, the Visual ArtsDepartment and the Women’sCenter and will commemorateWomen’s History Month.Food for the Soul SeriesFaciliated by Carol Ramey,Director of the North AmericanCenter for Marianist Studies,these seminars offer a chance togather for food and conversationand to reflect on the intersectionof faith and life. They will be heldon Tuesdays at from 12:00 to1:00 in KU 310.Women, Power & Struggle, AWHM Film FestivalWomen’s Studies is sponsoring afilm series each week in MarianistHall Commons. Films relating tovarious topics will be introducedby facutly commentary andfollowed by discussion.More at womenscenter.udayton.edu.

“Diet is a Four-Letter Word”The Women’s Center, UD Healthand Counseling Centers andDining Services are presenting aneating disorder awareness dinnerand program for invited facultyand staff.Women’s LeadershipConferenceThe fourth annual Annie T.Thorton WLC will take placeSaturday, March 5 in KU. TheWLC is proud to announce thisyear’s keynote speaker is CorettaScott King. Although theconference is full, thoseinterested can e-mail YemiMahoney at 0mahoney@notes.udayton.edu to be placedon a waiting list.International Food FairVolunteers will be providingethnic foods for attendees tosample for a nominal fee to bedonated to the tsunami reliefeffot. The event will be from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Women’sCenter on March 7th.

For a more complete listing ofevents held during March, visitour website.Activism NightA panel of community agencieswill talk about their programs andvolunteer opportunities forstudents, followed by a receptionandsign-ups in Torch Loungefrom 6-9 p.m.LitFest 2005The English Department’s annualevent features renowned poetsand authors, as well as workshopsand a Poetry Slam. This year’sheadliner is the Japanesesensation, Ai, the author of sevenbooks and recipient of manyawards for her poetry.Sally Winn LectureSponsored by Students for Life,Winn will give a talk entitled“Reclaiming Feminism: Refuse toChoose” in Boll Theater on March29 at 7:00. Winn combines arespect for women with respectfor the unborn.

And there’s something for everyone...

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Language bias discussed in panel Lisa Rismiller, Director ofthe Women’s Center and amember of the LGBTASteering Committee, knowsthe importance of having thispanel. “Raising awareness that theterms we use send a messageabout how we celebratepeople for who they are is soimportant,” said Rismiller.“We interact with people allthe time; we send a lot ofmessages just in the languagethat we use.” King also believes the panelis important in educatingstudents.

in depth the importance ofbeing an ally for allunderrepresented andmarginalized groups oncampus. Steven Herndon, AreaCoordinator for Marycrest,thinks it’s important for allstudents to attend this event. “You are a part of thiscommunity. It shouldn’t fallsolely on the gay, lesbian,black, and feministpopulations. We needeveryone to come forward toeducate. That’s how we’llgrow and move forward inour community.”

• Leigh CarltonSenior

Public Relations

ATWLC infourth year“I’m attending because I seethe importance ofempowering myself as awoman and developingleadership skills that willgive me a competitiveedge,” she says. “I want togain more confidence as awoman who will soon enterthe workforce.” Herndon also stresses theimportance of studentattendance. “These are theleaders we’re shaping andgrowing. They should leaveUD their senior yeardifferent than when theycame in. This is one of thoseopportunities to help themdo that.”The conference begins at12:00 p.m. in KennedyUnion and programs will gountil 5:05, with dinner andKing’s keynote address tofollow. ATWLC coordinatorsencourage those interestedto visit the website atwww.udayton.edu/~udwlc/.Registration is nowclosed,but a waiting list has beenstarted. Herndon is enthusiasticthat the conference will getpeople talking, and he hopesit will facilitate positivechanges. “This is definitelyan opportunity. It’s astarting point for people tocontinue the effort.”

• Ashley NeuWomen’s Center

Communications

“This type of program isimperative at any institutionof higher learning becauselanguage, how it is used,defined and described, is in aconstant state of evolution,and we have a responsibilityto educate ourselves and thegreater public about thisprocess,” said King. “If we donot, we will see language atthe forefront of oppressionand discrimination.” McNaught’s talk lastsemester emphasized theimportance of being an allyfor the gay community,which means standing upaginst discrimination ofpeers. The panel will discuss

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Sheila Hassell Hughes, Director of Women’s Studies

The Thirst for Women’s Studies:New Introductory Course Fills Quickly

This semester marks thefirst offering of WST 150:Introduction to Women’sStudies, the foundationalrequirement for the newmajor and minor in Women’sStudies. I have the pleasureand honor of serving as theinstructor for this excitingnew course, but both thedesign and delivery of thecourse are reallycollaborative efforts. With valuable support fromthe College of Arts andSciences, I was able to pulltogether a team of interestedfaculty to work with me lastFall in taking the originalcourse proposal, approvedfor our new curriculum justlast April, and developing itinto a fully fleshed out, multi-disciplinary syllabus. Drs. Clare Talwalker andFrances Pestello (both fromSociology, Anthropology andSocial Work), MaureenO’Meara (Languages),Margaret Strain (English),Caroline Merithew (History),and Judith Huacuja (VisualArts) all contributed to whatis a truly innovative,

integrative and ambitioussyllabus. Members of this team, alongwith additional guestspeakers, will be makingoccasional visits to thecourse to share aspects oftheir disciplinary expertiseover the course of thesemester. In the second weekof the class, Dr. ElizabethWardle (English) also joinedseveral members of the teamin a cross-disciplinary paneldiscussion about the impactof women’s studies methodson their own research andfields of study. We havemade a DVD of this panel forany faculty interested inviewing it or using in theirclasses. One of the most innovativeelements of the class is thecollaborative group researchproject and presentationassignment, based onstudents’ interviews withwomen from differentgenerations about issuesrelated to key debates andtopics in Women’s Studies. The class, which meets inone of the experimental new

studio spaces in the MarianistHall learning space, is fairlyhigh-tech. Students makeregular use of the courseQuickPlace site for personalintroductions, threadeddiscussions, and access to thesyllabus and other virtual“handouts”; and we enjoyedusing the open learning spaceas a comfy setting for ourevening screening of TheHandmaid’s Tale. Did I mention the course isfilled to capacity, with 40students enrolled? Given thatthe course fulfills nodistribution requirements forgeneral education, we arethrilled with the enrollmentand see it as a sign of genuinethirst for women’s studieseducation at UD. We hope to recruit somenew minors and majors fromthis course, and hope also tosee some of these students inour next new course offering:WST 310 - Feminist Theoryand Methods, which I willteach in the Fall term. TheIntroductory course will beoffered again next January.

Want to know what you can do with a Women’s Studies major?Check out http://www.msu.edu/~wmstdy/ for wsmjr1.htm for ideas!

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Women’s CenterProfiles

Book group strives for understandingIf your alarm wentoff tomorrowmorning, youhopped out of bed,

ethnicities andbackgrounds. This past fall, adiverse team of UDwomen traveled toCincinnati toparticipate in “CanWe Talk?”, aconference whichbrought women ofvarious ethnicitiesand occupations toone place wherethey could sharetheir stories aboutrelationships they have dealtwith in the workenvironment, relationshipsinvolving people of differentraces. The overriding goal of theconference was to strengthenthese multi-racialrelationships in theworkplace, allowing for moreproductivity and, thus, morecareer advancement amongstwomen.

At theconference, theattendees receivedthe book, OurSeparate Ways:Black and WhiteWomen and theStruggle forProfessionalIdentity, a bookwhich sparked, forthese women, a lifelesson. “When we gotback from the

conference, we talked, andeveryone agreed that weshould use what we hadexperienced at theconference,” Lynnette Heardcommented. After much discussionamongst the group, thewomen decided to “use thebook as the tool tounderstand one another.”The idea was to establish areading group that would

read the twelve chapterbook between October andFebruary, and then meetduring the five monthperiod to discuss and reflecton the various chapters. The group consists of LisaRismiller, Patsy Bernal-Olson, Valerie Henderson,Terri Matthews, JaciJackson, Tammy Walton,(Mary) Fran Landers,Carolyn Roecker Phelps,Lissa Stapleton, LynnetteHeard and Linda Snyder. At the meetings there aredesignated discussionleaders, who comeprepared in whateverfashion they see fit todiscuss the chapters for thatmeeting day. But, TerriMatthews stressed, thediscussions within thegroup extend far beyondjust what they read on the

looked into the mirrorand saw not yourself, but,instead you were staringstraight into the eyes ofsomeone else, what wouldyou do? What if the face staringback at you was black orwhite, a color not yourown? We often hear thephrase, “you can’tunderstand someone untilyou walk a mile in theirshoes”, but in reality, is itreally all that easy to putyourself in someone else’splace? Easy, well, of coursenot, but eleven women atUD have started on ajourney toward a betterunderstanding of eachother, not only as women,but as women of various

There’s a place wherecows are consideredsacred and won’t budgefrom a busy road andwhere elephants walkdown the streets daily.This place is home forTarika Daftary, who visitsher hometown of NewDelhi, India annually. Daftary made her way tothe United States in 1999,moving from the over-populated streets of Indiato a small school, WilsonCollege, in Pennsylvania. There she researchedwomen’s issues, wrote herthesis on observer’sperceptions of rapeversus robbery victims,and got her degree inpsychology. The friendlyand open students madebeing a foreign student aneasy transition. Daftary is now a second

year graduate student atUD and working towards adegree in social psychology. She has been greatlyinvolved with starting theWomen’s Center MentoringProgram. Last year, Daftaryhelped get the programrunning by mapping out andimplementing key elements. The program, now in itssecond year, has 16 pairs ofmentors and mentees. “I’mthe coordinator—the point ofcontact. I’m the face theycome to and talk with,” saysDaftary of her role in theprogram. By this being her firstprofessional job, thementoring program has beenher most valuable experienceat the UD both professionallyand personally. “I’ve had exposure to lotsof people at so many differentstages,” she says. “The group

is really diverse now andeveryone is helpful to othersof different backgrounds.” One of the biggest hardshipsTarika Daftary has had isbeing so far from home andaway from her family. Herparents lived in the UnitedStates for 10 years but nowreside in New Delhi. “India and the US aredifferent and similar,” shesays. She explains thatwestern influence has seepedits way in and that thecolleges in India aren’t verygood and the culture is oldfashioned. “The biggest difference isthat teens [in India] don’thave as much freedom andthey act differently.” Also inIndia, women are expected totake on the traditional rolesof staying at home. “Women’srights here are more open.” Living in the US, Daftary

acts as an ambassador forher country. She says sherepresents India “by tellingpeople what it’s like there—the people, culture, andhelping them see thingsfrom a differentperspective.” Most American’s don’tknow a lot about India andwhat it is like there. “Afriend of mine asked meonce, ‘Do you have grass inIndia?’ and I was like ‘Yes!’” By being interested andasking questions, you couldlearn a great deal aboutanother culture. Daftary’s advice: “Go seethe Taj Mahal, stay with anIndian family to see theculture, and especially go tothe smaller villages.”

• Danielle MeinhardtSophomoreJounralism

continued on P. 7

Grad student serves as ambassador for India

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March 2005Issue 5 Page 5

Health & Wellness

Ask the DocMary Buchwalder, M.D.

Am I supposed tofeel like this?Death is difficult, quitepossibly more difficultthan anything else weexperience as humans. But foras hard asthe topicis, no oneseems towant totalk about.Perhapstalkingabout itmakes ittoofrightening or too real. Jenny Davis-Berman,Ph.D, professor of socialwork at UD, believes, “Weare a death denyingsociety, obsessed withyouth and with livingforever. Death is to beavoided at all costs.” But then it happens to usand SMACK! We’re hitsquare in the face with allof the devastation, all ofthe pain and guilt andanger that comes with thedeath of a loved one. “The first six weeks isoften characterized byfeeling numb,” says Davis-Berman. “People take careof details, but they reallydon’t feel things. Then, thepain really sets in—lots ofphysical and emotionalsymptoms.” And despite well-meaningrelatives and friendsreminding us thateveryone grievesdifferently, many of usquestion whether whatwe’re feeling is normal. Arewe grieving correctly?Should it hurt this much? According to SteveMueller, Ed.D, director ofCounseling and HealthServices, peopleexperience death in

Dr.B

I’ve resolved to be happier and healthier in 2005.What are your tips for being a healthy woman thisyear?

Dana

Dear Dana,

Here are a few basic things toimprove most everyone’shealth and happiness:

1. Eat more fruits andvegetables, at least 5servings every day. Moreand more studies show thatthis can reduce cancer risk by30-40% while also reducingrisks of heart disease andstroke.2. Eat moderate amounts ofhealthy fats (olive or canolaoils, nuts, olives, etc.);minimize saturated fats(animal fats, coconut andpalm oils in processed foods).3. Work towards or maintaina healthy weight. If you’reoverweight, look at the “bigpicture”. True weight loss(and health) only comes froman on-going commitment tohealthy eating and exercise,NOT going on… and off…diets. And a healthy weight isNOT the same as thin.4. Exercise. Take the stairs.Park in the distant parking

lot. Do 30 minutes ofaerobic exercise at leastthree days a week.5. Avoid tobaccoproducts.6. Limit alcohol. Forwomen, this is an averageof no more than one drinkdaily; two for men.7. If you use marijuanaor other illegal drugs,QUIT!8. Don’t let stress get thebest of you! Prioritizeyour time. Do the thingsyou really enjoy and findworthwhile. Learn to say“no”. Meditate or prayregularly.9. Make time to do thingswith people you love.10. Choose to be happy.Abraham Lincoln said,“Most folks are about ashappy as they make uptheir mind to be.”

I think those things arebasic tenets of goodhealth. Have a great year!

individual ways. “Sadness,emptiness, anger, guilt,remorse, relief, tiredness—the extent and type of these

emotionswill varyfrompersontopersonand beimpactedby thesituation,and

there can be other feelings aswell.” The circumstances of thedeath often greatly affect theway in which we grieve,though both expected andunexpected deaths carry withthem their own burdens. Students often have aparticularly difficult timedealing with death since mosthave had little experiencewith it. Davis-Berman also notes, “Ithink that a death of a lovedone is often difficult forstudents because they areaway at school. Perhaps thedeath was sudden and theydidn’t get a chance to saygood-bye. Or, even if thedeath was expected, notbeing able to be there ishard.” Sister Kathleen Rossman,OSF, agrees that studentsoften don’t face the loss untilthey go home for a holidayand are hit with the hardquestions, like, “Should wehang up the person’sstocking?” or “How do I actnow?” In her Living with Losssupport group, Rossman

“Friends and familydon’t always knowwhat you need, so youhave to tell them.”

Steve Mueller, Ed.DUD Counseling Center

- Health Flash -Good news! Chocolate is the new health food!Reserachers at several universities have found thatcocoa phenols in dark chocolate act as antioxi-dants and can reduce blood pressure. So indulge,but just be sure to maintain a healthy diet.continued on P. 7

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Voices RaisedThe University Honors Program is proud to feature the work of University Honorsstudents each year in a juried show. Featured here are a few of the pieces currently ondisplay in the Honors Program office in 125 Alumni Hall. Several pieces are for sale andvisitors are encourage to come browse the student works.

Photos taken by Ashley Neu

Time in Gardens

Elizabeth Metz, 4th YearVisual Communication Design& English MajorMedium: Acrylic on Canvas

mid-life

for Katrina

She’s turning forty and she hopesthe next twenty-five years will bebetter than the last.

She’s looking for something beyondthe easy warmth of her childhood unravelinga tangled, silvered threadshe can barely call her life.

She’s been picking at old knotstill her knuckles are swollenwith expectant fatigue.

Smoothing images in long strandsshe feels for a study yarnto weave some rest and safetyfrom all this loss and moving on again.

She’s not searching for an age of goldor the home she never knew, buta tapestry of all her tropic andsnow-belt hues, a visionshe can recognize.

She’s hopeful she can learnsome new craft at fortyand make a beauty wide enoughon the bare loom of her bonesto wrap four children anda husband in.

That’s My Home

Erin Anderson, 3rd YearReligious Studies &

International Studies MajorMedium: Paint/MIxed Media

A Young Girl’s Dream

Valorie R. Summers, 4th YearChemical Engineering &Accounting MajorMedium: Dye/Wax on Cloth

Fifth Annual Honors Art Exhibit

by Sheila Hughes,Women’s Studies Program Director

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March 2005Issue 7 Page 7

Book groupdiscussesexperiencescontinued from P. 4

Ashley NeuEditor

Lisa RismillerWomen’s CenterDirector

Patricia WaughSenior AdministrativeSecretary

Contributors

Leigh CarltonUD Student

Betsy SimonUD Student

Danielle MeinhardtUD Student

Sheila Hughes, Ph.DWomen’s StudiesProgram Director

Mary Buchwalder, M.D.UD Health CenterDirector

Subscribing

To subscribe to our freenewsletter, e-mail us atwc.newsletter@notes.udayton.edu andinclude your mailingaddress. Feel free tocontact Ashley Neu Ifyou have any questions,concerns, or an idea foran upcoming issue atneuashll@notes.udayton.edu.

helps students to take thetime they need for the deathto sink in and then integrate itinto their reality.“I ask the group, ‘What inyour life is the same?’. Andthey always answer thatnothing is the same. They’renot same,” she says. Despite the fact that thingsmight never be as they oncewere, there are a number ofsteps a bereaved person cantake when they experience atragedy. “Talk to a friend, allowyourself to grieve, and begood to yourself,” saysMueller. “Ask for help.Friends and family don’talways know what you need,so you have to tell them.Allow the tears to come.Touch is often important, soask for hugs if needed.” Rossman notes that it’s

UD community offersadvice on grievingcontinued from P. 5

• Betsy SimonJunior

English Major

• Ashley NeuWomen’s CenterCommunications

Women’s CenterNewsletter

pages of the book; thediscussions turn into“women sharing experiencesand developing nice bondswith one another.” Heard added that thewomen “laugh, cry and sharestories” about family, friendsand their day-to-day lives.This group has accomplishedexactly what the conferencesought; a group of women ofvarying ages and racescoming together, learninghow they might betterunderstand each other in aworld where the ability toplace oneself in anotherperson’s position is far frombeing an easy task. By the end of February thegroup will have finishedreading Our Separate Ways,but the lessons they havelearned from this experiencewill be far from forgotten.Strangers, turnedacquaintances, now moldedinto friends, these elevenwomen now know how to“walk a mile in anotherperson’s shoes”, a lesson thatwill last a lifetime.

normal for someone who hasexperienced a death to bedisoriented, be often late orforgetful, have changes insleeping and eating habits,lack of motivation andconcentration. “Our personality affects howwe grieve,” she says. For friends of the bereaved,Rossman encourages themsto reach out and let theperson know they’re there. “Don’t try to say you knowwhat the person is goingthrough,” she says. “Just say,‘I’m really sorry this hashappened’ and be there,invite them places, ask howthey’re doing and be mindfulof important anniversaries.Presence is what’s mostimportant.”

Still having a hard time coping?Check out these local resources for support...

Living with LossCampus Ministry support group led by Sr. KathleenRossman, OSF. Call 937-229-3310 for more info.

UD Counseling CenterProfessional services for students located in GosigerHall. Call 937-229-3141.

Hospice of DaytonProvides individual and group counseling at 324Wilmington Avenue location. Call 937-256-4490.

A Woman’s Guide to the World Wide WebA sample of some of the best websites out there on topics of interest to women...

EDUCATIONOffice of Women in Higher Educationhttp://www.acenet.edu/programs/owhe/

ORGANIZATIONSLeague of Women Votershttp://www.lwv.org/

HISTORYNational Women’s History Projecthttp://www.nwhp.org/

POLITICSFourth World Conference on Womenhttp://www.iisd.ca/4wcw/

Editor’s Note: If you areinterested in being a part of a“Can We Talk?” group, contactthe Women’s Center.

womenscenter.udayton.edu

March 2005Issue 7

From theDirector’s Desk

University of DaytonWomen’s Center212 Alumni HallDayton, OH 45469-0322

What does it mean to be an “activist”?We need only look to the recent example set by two UD students to see a very public form ofactivism. When Brian DeRouen and Meagan Doty chose to (literally) “cross the line” and riskarrest, they were participating in a form of activism. Some people may view the students’ actionsas brave; or foolish; some may even respect the twos’ convictions but believe their actionspointless because no immediate change will result. I suspect many react with, “I could never

• Lisa RismillerWomen’s Center Director

do what they didn’t.” But guess what – you can, becauseeffective activism can and should take many forms. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines activism as,“the taking of direct action to achieve a political or socialend.” While we tend to think of activism as a very visibleactivity, this definition emphasizes the motivation behindthe act. There are no guidelines given about whatconstitutes “direct action.” Put another way, conviction,embodied by action, can overcome what may seeminsurmountable. So in this Catholic and Marianist environment, how canwe work toward “political or social end[s]?” Simply put, itstarts with conviction – to be activists we first mustbelieve strongly that there is injustice. The UDcommunity has an advantage in recognizing injusticebecause it is brought to our attention daily. Throughclassroom discussions, homilies and prayer services,myriad committees and interest groups, and frequentspeakers, we are educated about injustices found bothwithin and beyond our campus boundaries.

With this knowledge comes decision time: do nothing,take visible action like Brian and Meagan, or find someother way to act. Depending on the issue, the currentclimate, and our individual gifts and experiences, someforms of activism will be more effective than others. The best, first step is to become more educated aboutthe injustice by talking, reading, attending programs,lectures, etc. Armed with knowledge, we can then takeinto account our own skills, experiences, personal andprofessional obligations and level of personalcommitment in deciding whether to write letters,volunteer for a committee (or start one where noneexisted), bring it to the attention of an existingorganization, or even join in a visible protest. In short, the ways we can put our convictions to workthrough activism are endless. No action or gesture is toosmall to matter. We all have convictions aboutsomething, and we can all take some form of action.Together, our actions will change the world.