Miami University’s F-WORD Organizes Campus Protest
On Wednesday, October 22nd members of URGE’s chapter the F-Word organized a protest in response to conservative pundit George Will speaking on their campus. Over 100 students turned out for the protest and 50 students attended a talk on campus sexual assault later that night organized by Miami University’s Women’s Center. George Will was paid $48,000 by the university to speak at Miami’s campus despite his recent disturbing comments about sexual assault survivors. Moving forward the F-Word plans to continue the conversation on campus sexual assault and work with the university to create a safe environment for survivors.
UNT Love Your Body
In an effort to combat body negativity and shaming, the URGE affiliate chapter at UNT hosted a Love your Body event where they held signs in the plaza with affirming, body positive messages during the day and had a discussion in the evening.
NVRD a success at GSU!
URGE @ Georgia State University had a successful National Voter Registration Day as they led a coalition of several campus groups to get students ready for the election. Their organizing efforts have even attracted national attention! Chapter VP Dave Churvis is now working with the Secular Coalition of America to help develop a toolkit for voter engagement for their national groups.
KU Students Challenge Administrators Over Sexual Assault Cases
This fall students at KU have been actively organizing on campus to let administrators know that the current guidelines for handling sexual assault cases reported to the University don’t go far enough. Members of SURGE have been active participants in this movement, but the movement itself has reached beyond the core group of student activists who started it and has progressed into a campus wide conversation. Students started the conversation about the mishandling of sexual assault cases by administrators on social media with the #aGreatPlaceToBeUnsafe and the creation of a video with demands. In this call to action from students to administrators students are telling prospective jayhawks not to attend KU next fall until these demands are met. For more information about what is happening at KU follow the University… Read more »
UT- El Paso Starts a New Abortion Fund!
In 2012, there were 41 abortion providers in Texas. Today there are 19. Under the Texas law HB2, 12 more will close starting Sept 1st, 2014. That’s why our chapter at the University of Texas, El Paso led the effort to create a new abortion fund to serve their community. With help from URGE staff, the new West Fund has been working to raise money for pregnant people seeking abortions. The West Fund is busy fundraising and building relationships with abortion clinics and advocates in the area. They plan to launch in early September. If you are interested in giving to the West Fund, you can donate here.
CSULB gets the recognition they deserve!
Congrats to our chapter at Cal State Long Beach for winning the Bell Hooks Transforming Lives Award from the CSULB Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies department! A special shout-out to chapter leader Amber Melvin, who also won the CSULB President’s Commission on the Status of Women Student of the Year Awards! Way to kick ass!
Scripps College Takes on Sexual Assault
URGE at Scripps College has been kicking their sexual assault prevention work into high gear this spring. First, the chapter collaborated with Scripps College Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault to start a sexual assault hotline on campus. They also partnered with one of their Deans to make sure this would sustainable and supported by the administration, but run entirely by students. In April, they held a Take Back the Night event with the other Claremont Colleges. Scripps pushed the traditional narrative of what a “safe” community looks like beyond combating sexual assault to include groups that experience other types of harassment and violence. Over 150 people participated in the march and speak out that gave survivors an opportunity to speak out and share their stories. One of their partners, Building Leaders… Read more »
Texas Leader Writes About Her Experience as a Young Parent
Kathleen, one of our student leaders at UTEP, wrote this moving piece about becoming a young parent as a part of the Strong Families Mama’s Day celebration. Read the whole piece here.
Cal Poly Celebrates International Women’s Day!
Cal Poly SLO celebrated International Women’s Day by asking students on their campus who are the women in their lives that inspired them.
BGSU’s Successful Spring Semester
The BGSU chapter, FORCE, had their annual showing of the Vagina Monologues, totaling 600 tickets sold, over 3 nights, raising $4,000 for a local domestic violence shelter. FORCE also help put on an event called Universal Love, an event about LGBTQ love and religion with five other student organizations, and over 150 people attended. In addition, they held a held a gender neutral Pure Romance party as a fundraiser, and sold over $800 in merchandise, raising $200 for the FORCE budget!
