Four Clarion University students and their advisor conducted a breakout session presentation during the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Women's Consortium Conference, Oct. 16-17 at Slippery Rock University.
Students at Clarion University have been directing and performing in "The Vagina Monologues" for the past eight years and have raised over $25,000 for VDay. Their understanding of VDay and the tragic consequences of Katrina was enriched by a journey to New Orleans, La.
Students Sao Duwana, Amanda Stockhausen, Kelly Surgalski, and Mariah Yancey, and their advisor Dr. Deborah Burghardt, director of Women's Studies at Clarion University, convened a panel about their April 2008 attendance at "V to the 10th - SUPERLOVE," the 10th Anniversary of VDay, an international event.
They spotlighted the SUPERLOVE experiences that meant the most to them discussing perceptions of the "Vagina Warriors" of New Orleans, women who survived Hurricane Katrina and those who worked to help heal the people and rebuild their city, the premiere of "Swimming Upstream," a play written and directed by New Orleans artists in collaboration with author/activist Eve Ensler, VDay's work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. They also presented a photographic essay and life lessons learned by the all of the student travelers.
The quartet, were among 21 Clarion University students who accompanied Burghardt to New Orleans. During the trip, the students talked to survivors of Hurricane Katrina, 1,200 of whom were honored and brought back to their home for the first time during this event; attended multiple panel sessions with activists from all over the world and the benefit performance of Eve Ensler's "The Vagina Monologues" with 30,000 people, an event that raised $700,000; and attended the world premiere of "Swimming Upstream," a collaboration between Ensler and New Orleans artist document stories of life during and after Katrina.
Clarion's students also provided over 50 hours of volunteer service while in New Orleans, with Planned Parenthood Association of Pennsylvania. The organization has an ongoing effort to obtain one million signatures on a petition to U.S. Congress to lower the cost of birth control and health care for women nationwide.
Duwana, a sophomore elementary education major, is a daughter of Francis Duwana of Philadelphia and is a graduate of Randolph Area Voc-Tech High School.
Stockhausen, a sophomore early childhood education major, is a daughter of Chris and Fran Stockhausen of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Baldwin High School.
Surgalski, a senior environmental biology major, is a daughter of Jeannie Surgalski of Butler and is a graduate of Butler Area High School.
Yancey, a senior, English/Spanish major with a minor in women's studies, is a daughter of Robyn Yancey of Harrisburg and the late Melville Yancey Jr., and is a graduate of Susquehanna Township High School.
The theme of the Fall 2008 Women's Consortium Conference was "Women & Politics: The Power of Choices, Coalitions, Alliances, and Collaborations." The keynote speaker was Jeanne K. Clark, director of communications, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture). Her topic was, "Building on the Power of Choices, Coalitions, Alliances, and Collaborations"
Additional speakers were Dr. Allyson Lowe, director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy at Chatham University, "Educating Today, Creating Choices for Tomorrow"; and Kathleen Wilson, vice president of Pennsylvania National Organization for Women, "Building on the Power of Alliances . . . Where Do We Go From Here?" The conference also featured a LUNAFEST Film Festival, "Celebrating Women in Film"; along with the breakout sessions.
The Women's Consortium of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the only state system organization devoted to identifying and serving the needs of women. The Consortium meets regularly with the Chancellor's office to identify, address, and monitor the concerns of women (students, faculty, staff) across the state system; recommended the establishment of President's Commissions for Women at each of the state system universities to identify, address, and monitor the concerns of women at local campuses; supports research revealing inequities experienced by women across the state system; meets annually with APSCUF's Executive Council to identify, address, and monitor the concerns of women faculty across the state; initiated and co-sponsors with Student Affairs offices the Leadership Institute for Undergraduate Women held at McKeever Environmental Center each summer; offers an annual conference where women students, faculty, and staff present papers and workshops as well as gather to network about gender issues; implemented a Leadership Institute for faculty women; and offers an opportunity to act on behalf of women in the state system through your membership and possible participation on the Board of directors as an elected officer or campus contact.
Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.
