Would Dalhousie please stop ignoring the DWC!
Why is it that Dalhousie ignored their Women's Center and doesn't make an effort to tell students about it? What are they afraid of? I can remember in the end of my first year that I was sick of residence and sick of eating bread because of the serio
Posted
on Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Why is it that Dalhousie ignored their Women's Center and doesn't make an effort to tell students about it? What are they afraid of?
I can remember in the end of my first year that I was sick of residence and sick of eating bread because of the serious lack of vegetarian options, forced, overpriced meal plan, and lack of real kitchens within the res.
My second year wasn't so great either, with issues with a new living arrangement, course problems and just general dissatisfaction with Dal, until I stumbled upon a friend who volunteered at the Dalhousie Women's Center (DWC). I began to drop in every week to visit, and there I finally found a place that wasn't depressing and cliquey like residence, and was away from all my other problems. It became the reason why I am almost finished my second year, and not back home working a boring retail job.
In my mind, a community is a place where people come together, hang out, enjoy themselves and don't feel uncomfortable, in essence, the complete opposite of my residence experience.
I am truly surprised about is how little the DWC is promoted by the university itself. Not once in my almost 2 years has a professor or university organization mentioned it to me, and I am a major of the Gender and Women's Studies program.
I have written this letter to make a point, that the DWC is a place where everyone can go to participate, be involved and meet new people. It is unfair how little attention the DWC gets, considering that it is a place for free childcare for students with children, sex education, LGBTQ community meetings, crisis counseling, cooking classes, Vegan potlucks and much much more.
How can a place that has so much to offer not be given more attention by the university community. Why does Dal not make an effort to tell students, women in particular, about the center, when it could help enrich their experience and give them a place to go when they need a break or need to talk. Are they afraid that women might get interested, no less involved in working for a good cause, supporting movements that will benefit themselves and other women around them? Heaven forbid girls find a safe place that allows them to be themselves and have real opinions that will never be silenced.
If Dal won't acknowledge the wonderful things that the DWC does, then students will have to take a stand and do it themselves. The Dalhousie Women's Center was a major part of the production of the Vagina Monologues, the V-Day Campaign, International Women's Day march, and much more.
As a student who prior to coming to Dal had no knowledge or connection to a gender community or place like the DWC, I can honestly say that missing out on being a part of something like this would be a great shame.
Tell Dal to get off their asses and support the DWC by promoting what they do and by being proud that they are one of the few universities in Canada that actually has a house and a place for their students to go and be themselves. Dal could really do with a wake up call in understanding just what their student's need and that students who pay the outrageous tuition prices deserve to know and have access to all the available resources. They shouldn't have to stumble upon them randomly when their life has already hit rock bottom.
Qualmless
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