Loving your body can be a challenge as many women from around the world have suffered from body shaming that has taken place in the media, online, or in person. Starr Booth, an assistant of the Women’s Resource Center hosted the "Body Empowerment Week: Love Your Body Now" event on February 18, 2020, which garnered the attention of the women on campus and prompted them to love their bodies and spread positive body empowerment by doing activities centered around body image insecurities that focused on learning to love their bodies. At the start of the event there was an activity that the participants were required to do as an icebreaker called “The Line" where a set of participants … [Read more...] about Women on campus find beauty in their bodies
Womens Resource Center
Fueling the feminist movement: ‘Vagina Monologues’ auditions
Auditions were held for the CSUSB production of Vagina Monologues. These auditions occurred on Tuesday, January 21, and were offered exclusively to CSUSB affiliates. It was conducted by Assistant Director, Jacob Chacko; Student Programming Assistant of the San Manuel Student Union (SMSU) Women’s Resource Center, Starr Booth; and fellow student associates of the SMSU Women's Resource Center. Vagina Monologues has become a tradition here at CSUSB, as the production is performed annually on campus. The original playwright, Eve Ensler, is an activist against gendered violence, whose work is world renowned. The play has been translated to over 48 languages and staged in several countries, … [Read more...] about Fueling the feminist movement: ‘Vagina Monologues’ auditions
Self-Defense and Pepper Spray Training
The Self-Defense and Pepper Spray Training, held by the Women’s Resource Center, was a two-hour workshop aimed to practice and enhance individuals' self-defense skills, so they can safer on and off campus. The training took place on Thursday, January 23, in SMSU Fourplex 218, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Lizett Estrada, the Student Assistant for the Women’s Resource Center, said she “wanted to provide a resource for those who felt like they do not know how to protect themselves." Estrada is a second-year student Health Science major who led the event. She explained that her inspiration for the event was because of her own inexperience with self-defense techniques. From a desire to feel … [Read more...] about Self-Defense and Pepper Spray Training
Kick back for Feminist and Chill
The Women’s Resource Center is the place to be to relax and learn about feminism. On January 13, 2020, they hosted their “Feminist and Chill” event, which was led by three student assistants who welcomed guests with pizza and drinks. After guests were settled in and offered a plate, they began their presentation on what feminism means based on research they conducted that they believed would be “really useful to share.” “There are numerous definitions of this one word and there are numerous ways to go about showing what feminism is,” said Kiara "Key" Mabien, a Senior on campus. During the presentation, the hosts explained that there were four waves of feminism that … [Read more...] about Kick back for Feminist and Chill
The comfortable environment of the Women’s Resource Center
The room, though small, still had a comfortable atmosphere. One female student ate lunch on a long white table, as she worked on an assignment on her laptop. Two female students sat together and quietly chatted, on a comfortable small bright orange couch in the side of the room. The moment someone walked in, they were greeted by the student assistants, whose desks sat near the entrance of the room, who are prepared to answer any questions that individuals may have. This is the Women’s Resource Center. The Women’s Resource Center is located in the Santos Manuel Student Union, upstairs in Room 221. The purpose of the center is to provide support for students by offering … [Read more...] about The comfortable environment of the Women’s Resource Center
The Clothesline Project Comes to CSUSB
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Women's Resource Center presented the Clothesline Project from April 16 to April 20. The Clothesline Project allows the community to view a clothesline of shirts that are created by sexual assault survivors and their supporters to understand the feelings that they have experienced. The Women's Resource Center (WRC) is located on the second floor of the SMSU in room 221, and during the week of April 9 to April 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the WRC was open for anyone to come and create their artwork with provided supplies. The display of the different shirts was open for anyone to view and read in the SMSU lobby on April 16 until April 20 from … [Read more...] about The Clothesline Project Comes to CSUSB
Shared Stories combat Sexual and Domestic Violence
By Arthur Medrano |Staff Writer| "Stand up!" and "Fight back!" student chanted, as the event dedicated to breaking the silence affecting all genders and sexualities. The Women's Resource Center at CSUSB held their annual "Take Back the Night" event on Friday, April 21. A group of survivors came out one by one to speak out about their stories, telling the audience that they persevered and will continue to fight back. Each participant came from a different background and their stories unfolded emotions that struck every corner of the SMSU. Guest Speakers Yesika Salgado and Angela Aguirre, also known as Chingona Fire, shared their spoken word by discussing the social stigma … [Read more...] about Shared Stories combat Sexual and Domestic Violence
Pride Center provides peace
By Michael Isberto |Features Editor| The Pride Center at CSUSB is one of the many resource centers on campus that empower everyone’s singular identity and journey. Their mission statement states, “The Pride Center provides education and advocacy in order to develop a more equitable and inclusive environment by addressing issues of homophobia and heterosexism throughout the campus community.” Many students are aware of the Pride Center as a resource on campus, and believe it’s a great place to build relationships, as well as build up a community. The Pride Center holds many events throughout the year including, Cosmic Queers, Lavender Graduation and Gaymer … [Read more...] about Pride Center provides peace
Clothesline Project
By Joshua Aguilar |Staff Writer| The Clothesline Project Workshop helps students of CSUSB speak out against violence towards women. The workshop encourages students to decorate shirts to help those who have experienced sexual assault, abuse and violence. This year the project was held on the second floor of the San Manuel Student Union (SMSU) where participants decorated shirts with a message of support for the victims. Students were invited to decorate shirts in the Women's Resource Center (WRC) from April 18 through April 22. The shirts will be on display in the SMSU. Emily Erwin, student assistant of the WRC, organized the workshop. "The purpose is to raise awareness … [Read more...] about Clothesline Project
Men use rejection as excuse for violence against women
By Stephanie Woodward |Staff Writer| Violence against women is a prominent issue in our society. An explanation for this problem is the idea of patriarchy. I have noticed a trend in a number of incidents that involve men who claim they were motivated to violent action by rejection from women. In a case earlier this year, Elliot Rodgers became violent after numerous women rejected his advances. Rodgers recorded numerous videos and posted them on YouTube expressing his outrage with women and their constant rejection. He felt that women’s lack of interest are what led to his lack of a love life. Rodgers vowed to eliminate the women he could not win over, and the men who had … [Read more...] about Men use rejection as excuse for violence against women