- Do you have information about women’s issues?
- Could I borrow a video for research or a classroom presentation?
- Could you do a program for my organization?
- Are self-defense classes for women available on campus?
- Can we meet in the Resource Room?
- Are there student organizations working on women’s issues?
- How can I be involved in the CWS?
- What is the difference between the CWS and Women’s Studies?
- What about men and sexual assault awareness/prevention?
- Are there community services for survivors of sexual assault?
- What is the relationship of the CWS to the campuses?
The Center for Women Students (CWS) has a wealth of information about women’s issues. We provide information and referrals, research and bibliographic resources, and advocacy, consultation, and advising on a number of women’s issues. We have available our published brochures entitled "Sexual Assault Awareness," "Sexual Assault Victims," "Helping Someone Who Has Been Raped," "Relationship Violence: What You Need to Know," and "Classroom Climate: A Chilly One for Women?", as well as a Stalking Fact Sheet for Students. Additionally, we can provide information on national and PSU statistics regarding sexual assault.
As a service to faculty, and staff, the Center for Women Students makes short-term loans of videos in our library. We ask that videos borrowed for a morning program be returned by 5:00 p.m. the same day and that videos borrowed for an afternoon or evening program or for a preview be returned by 8:30 a.m. the following day.
3. Could you do a program for my organization?
The Center for Women Students (CWS) offers educational programming that supports the university-wide strategic goal of building a supportive, inclusive environment for both women and men on campus. Toward that end, the CWS sponsored, co-sponsored, and/or presented a total of 68 educational programs in 2005-2006, attended by 2,539 people. The presentations addressed numerous women’s issues, including sex-role stereotyping, campus/classroom climate, cultural diversity, and violence against women. Educational programs were presented in various formats and contexts, such as university-wide programs, residence halls, Greek organizations, student organizations, academic classes, faculty/staff development workshops, and national conference presentations.
Additionally, the CWS' Peer Educators facilitate a 40-minute session - Real Life Choices - during FTCAP (Freshman Training Counseling and Placement) to incoming first year students discussing choices some students may face, civility and safety.
In order to have us do a program for your organization, call (863-2027) or stop in to our office (204 Boucke Building) and let us know what topic you are interested in having us present for you. Programs can be presented by staff members or by our peer educators in PHREE (Peers Helping Reaffirm, Educate, and Empower) and Men Against Violence (MAV).
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4. Are self-defense classes for women available on campus?
The Center for Women Students has offered self-defense classes for women (PDF) students since fall 1996, as part of the Giardini Endowment for the Empowerment of Women Students, a gift from distinguished Penn State alumnus Carl Giardini and from Mary Ann Giardini. Currently, a collaborative effort between the Center for Women Students, Penn State University Police Services, and Rape Aggression Defense Systems (RAD), has enabled the CWS to offer courses. The objectives of these classes include the development and enhancement of self-defense skills for women, the development of confidence and proficiency in defense tactics, and the development of decision-making skills regarding resistance to attacks. The course is available without charge for any currently enrolled woman student.
5. Can we meet in the Resource Room?
Numerous educational programs are scheduled in the Resource Room (204 Boucke), such as formal and informal presentations and discussions on women’s issues, orientation sessions, brown bag lunches with university resource persons and visiting speakers, film/discussion events, speaker receptions, committee meetings, and other special events.
The Resource Room is used by students as a place to study and to gather. Additionally, it is used for weekly meetings of CWS Peer Education groups Womyn’s Concerns, PHREE, PSU Men Against Violence (MAV). Student groups with goals consistent with those of the CWS are welcome to request use of the Resource Room during evening hours.
6. Are there student organizations working on women’s issues?
There are several student organizations working on women’s issues.
PHREE (Peers Helping Reaffirm, Educate, and Empower), a CWS-affiliated peer education group, presents workshops on topics such as sexual assault, sexual harassment, healthy relationships, and body image. All students, women and men, are invited to join PHREE in promoting a safe and caring campus community. Meetings are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in 120 Boucke Building.
Men Against Violence (MAV) information is now available online!
Womyn’s Concerns is a student group which discusses feminism and women’s issues, organizes rallies and vigils, including the annual Take Back the Night rally and march, and operates as a community network for working against sexism. Womyn’s Concerns meets Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. in 120 Boucke Building.
Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA) is a student group which addresses the politics of national and international women’s issues. FMLA meets Wednesday evenings at 9 p.m. in 120 Boucke Building.
Student Coalition on Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention consists of the above-mentioned groups, as well as representatives from Healthworks and the Panhellenic Council. This student group meets twice each semester to collaborate, share resources, and promote sexual assault awareness and prevention efforts throughout campus.
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7. How can I be involved in the CWS?
All students, women and men, are invited to participate in PHREE (Peers Helping Reaffirm, Educate, and Empower), a CWS-affiliated peer education group. This affords students an opportunity to explore issues of sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, and body image. Providing educational programming to other students is a powerful way of being involved with the CWS. Students are encouraged to attend any programming offered by the CWS and to make us aware of additional issues they would like to see us address. Students are also encouraged to use our Resource Room (204 Boucke) as a place to study and relax and to use our collection of materials for research and exploration of issues.
MAV (Men Against Violence) in partnership with the CWS is an all male group made up of students, faculty, and staff that seeks to stop violence directed toward women. Outreach, presentations, discussions, and a speaker series as well as a weekly meeting are just a few things you can get involved with!
Volunteer opportunities as well as work study positions may also be available in the CWS.
8. What is the difference between the CWS and Women’s Studies?
The CWS is a Student Affairs division located in 204 Boucke Building charged with addressing the needs of women students. The primary objectives of the CWS are advocacy for women students, educational programming, information provision, service referrals, coordination with existing groups, and liaison work with Penn State’s other campuses.
Women’s Studies is an academic department. Its offices are located in 133 Willard Building. At Penn State, students can declare an undergraduate major or minor in Women’s Studies, and it is possible to minor in Women’s Studies at the graduate level. The Women’s Studies department is multidisciplinary, with faculty specializing in such areas as sociology, women’s health, comparative literature, history, and psychology.
9. What about men and sexual assault awareness/prevention?
We welcome the participation of men in sexual assault awareness/prevention. Men Against Violence (MAV) is actively involved in providing information about sexual assault from a male perspective. MAV also provides educational workshops and interactive presentations on this subject. We encourage men to become involved in PHREE (Peers Helping Reaffirm, Educate, and Empower) as peer educators. We believe that sexual assault is not just a women’s problem and that it is important for men to affirm that mutual consent is the most important prerequisite for a sexual interaction.
10. Are there community services for survivors of sexual assault?
The Centre County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC) is the community program that provides direct services to survivors of sexual assault and relationship violence. CCWRC staff members provide 24-hour hotline services, counseling, legal advocacy, court accompaniment, emergency shelter, and educational programming to residents of Centre County. These services are all available to students who are in need of them. The hotline number for CCWRC is 234-5050 or 877-234-5050 (toll-free).
11. What is the relationship of the CWS to the campuses?
CWS staff members are available for consultation and advice, and campus personnel frequently contact the CWS with programming inquiries and information requests and for consultation and advice. For example, the CWS staff has facilitated Penn State Clothesline Project displays at a number of locations, in addition to University Park.
CWS staff members also network with various campus faculty/staff/students through their contacts with members of university-wide commissions and committees on which CWS staff serve and through participation in university-wide conferences.
CWS information is also electronically posted to numerous listservs which include campus personnel.
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