By Alex Obando
Sexvember: we’ve all seen the signs. The theme of the Women’s Center’s (WC) most well known event is self-evident: sex. The month-long event has come to a close for this academic year, but not before Haverford had the pleasure to host a plethora of well attended events promoting the safety of sexuality, sexuality in general, and gender issues.
The kickoff began with a FAB-WC collaboration on a sex-themed Quizzo, followed by two workshops entitled “Rough Sex for Beginners” and “The Art of Giving Pleasure.” Despite the taboo subject, the workshops had a great turnout, including males as well as females. The annual sex toy raffle and Speakout Against Rape and Sexual Assault concluded another successful round of Sexvember.
However, there’s more of a story behind the WC and its annual Sexvember series. This student- and administration-run group is a key institution on campus that serves as a year-round resource for students for a multitude of issues.
Established when Haverford became a co-ed school in 1980, the Women’s Center goes back almost 30 years. Its original purpose was to serve as support for the newly integrated female part of the student body.
Since then, the Women’s Center has provided people on campus with an extra resource and safe place to talk, work, and discuss anything, from gender and sexuality issues to religion and philosophy.
Haverford’s campus supports more than one women’s group, including Women of Color and Women in Action. The Women’s Center differs from these student groups in that it is an institutionally supported center with paid staff. This non-political space sponsors events and programs for the whole campus throughout the whole year, and have open hours at the center for whoever is interested in dropping in.
Staff member Misha Baker ’10 says people should remember that the Center has a door that can close: it’s a safe place conducive for public or private discussion. Staff members have a variety of interests and are always open and willing to talk to drop in visitors.
Despite the support the Center offers, there is not all that much through-traffic during the week. Baker said she believes that the Center’s location is a large detractor from high attendance.
“The WC is not in a central location even though it’s a central institution,” she said. Although on the surface it may seem to be one of the most centrally located spots on campus, the WC resides on the second floor of the campus center the back of the building, hidden from the main traffic through the campus center.
Nevertheless, the Women’s Center has been an integral institution on Haverford’s campus for over twenty years, and will continue to be open from 7 to 11 every night from Sunday to Thursday, and often during the day as well, for relaxation, discussion, or just to be a safe haven.
This article is © 2008 The Bi-College News. The material on this page is free for personal or educational use, but may not be reproduced, reprinted, republished, redistributed, or otherwise transmitted to a third party without the express written permission of The Bi-College News, 370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041.
Editor's note: Articles that appear in the Last Word section are works of satire.
- Women’s Center Hosts “Sexvember”
- Letters to the Editor
- ‘Women in Action’ at HC
- Fords Discuss Body Image
- Haverford Sexuality Week Mixes It Up
- SAGA Co-Heads Excited by Pride Week Participation
- Problem Solving
- Problem Solving
- In B Forum, Mawrters have chance to talk belief and faith
- Kaleidoscope, Bryn Mawr’s Newest Student Journal, Focuses on Diversity
Related articles
