¡Hola!

Hey Hey! My name is Adriana Calvillo, and this is my first semester interning for the WRC!! I am a sophomore and a Gender and Women's Studies major. I am on the Films Series and Educational Programming committees. I really enjoy interning for the WRC. The interns are super nice, and the events are educational and fun. 

I come from Eloy, Arizona. Most of you may not know where it is, but its ok not very many people do. My dream job is to work for Vogue magazine, but I'd be satisfied working for just about any magazine. That's all for now! 

Salutations to the readers of this blog. By reading this, you have either consciously or sub-conciously developed sympathies for the feminist struggle. This may come as a surprise to certain readers, but never fear, feminism is developing into a very inclusive movement.

Due to my own allegiance to feminism, it is important to explain where I am from. By doing so, I can better explain where my personal visioning of the world originates.

My life began in Des Moines Iowa. According to Jack Kerouac, "The prettiest girls in the world live in Des Moines." Though I do not believe entirely in Kerouac's assertion  I did meet incredible women there after my family's three year stint in Montana (my father was in the Air Force at the time).

This ability to meet these phenomenal women was because of one of the most phenomenal woman I know, my mother. Despite being eighteen when she had me and vulnerable to the expectations that befall wives and mothers, my mother raised me in a household where the arts were necessary to a fulfilling life and that difference should be celebrated not condemned. My mother, being a poet, had been involved in writers' workshops in the Des Moines area and helped to create the first ever Des Moines Slam team. As a result, I become acquainted with a multiplicity of strong women early in my life.

At ten, my family decided to move to Casa Grande Arizona. The immediate culture shock was often unsettling. However, I would never trade those experiences. Growing up in one of the more economically depressed areas of the town, I learned the overall disdain for the white middle class, a category my family was a member of. This lesson, as difficult as it was to learn, would never had been taught if I had continued to live in the comfortable whiteness of the Midwest. Consequently, I have developed insights into various cultures, beliefs I never would have encountered in Iowa.

But my education is not over. Currently, I am a student at the University of Arizona double majoring in Gender and Women's Studies and Media Arts, and minoring in Religious Studies with the aspiration to contribute factual representations of women in the media. The classes I have been fortunate enough to take have informed me immensely about the, to use a term created by Kimberle Crenshaw, "intersectionality" of people's experiences. Because of this I have learned of the pitfalls of feminism and how my white skin carries a level of privilege that is used as a form of oppression over numerous people. Therefore, I intend to be a member of activist organizations that work to abolish the systems of oppression for all people. I feel I am stepping in the right direction with my involvement in the Women's Resource Center.

Thank you to our readers. With your support we can collectively continue the livelihood of activist communities who welcome instead of alienate.

Hey Loves!!!

My name is Aureana Lowe and I am one of the many new WRC interns here at the University of Arizona!!!  I am a senior and this is my fifth year on campus and would like to finish out with a BANG!!! My major is Interdisciplinary Studies with the subject areas of Gender and Women Studies, Health and Human Services, and Speech Language and Hearing Sciences.  The WRC has been a major impact on my life, especially the Breast Party!!!  I hope that students are aware of how much the WRC actually has to offer as a whole, whether that is to be a place to hang out or a place to really enjoy getting new information on a variety of topics.  This year for the WRC, I will be taking on the wonderful position as the Marketing and Advertisement Chair.  I am also on the Film series and Educational Programming Committees!  I am super excited about the semester and can’t wait for the many more amazing events that are to come!!!!  LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!!!

Hey there WRC and supporters!

Hi, I'm Liz Mitchell, and I'm back!!! I was a new intern for the Fall of 2010 and now I am returning for the Spring 2011 semester. I am junior with a Marketing major and a German Studies minor. I am  no longer serving on the Film Series committee but I can tell you I am their biggest fan! This semester I am solely on the Health and Sexuality Committee so look for me at the presentations. :)


After the two+ years at the University of Arizona, I can look back at the student organizations that have improved my experience here – the Women’s Resource Center is one of them. When I was a freshman living on campus I looked forward to the Film Series every other week as both an entertainment activity and to discover more about the issues presented in the films. I also attended SECS and was able to gain knowledge about sexual health that I had not heard of from my conservative family. The Women’s Resource Center has given me invaluable information from trustworthy sources. Now I want to give back to the organization through my internship! Let's have a good year!

Hi!  My name is Elizabeth Dake and I am a senior at the U of A.  This is my first semester as a WRC intern, and I can't wait to start my work on the Health & Sexuality Committee.  I am a History and Religious Studies double major and have minors in Gender & Women's Studies and Sociology.  This semester I will be preceptoring the Sociology of Gender class and starting my honors thesis-- Teaching Morality: The Influence of the Religious Right on Sex Education and the Consequences of Abstinence-Only.


Throughout college, I wanted to be involved with the WRC, but never felt that I was in a position to help other women.  Although I was passionate about women's issues and social change, I felt that without solving all of my own problems first, I would be unable to help others.  As I read more works by feminist authors, I began to see that the people involved in feminism were people who were brought to the movement through their own experiences with oppression and discrimination  I finally realized that by remaining silent, I was delaying the possibility of change.  This year, I intend to remember daily that both public policy and individual action have material and emotional consequences-- to delay change is to prolong the oppression and real suffering of others.  


I am most excited about the Sex Ed, College Style program.  It is a huge privilege to be involved with a program as popular as SECS-- I believe that if our generation is knowledgeable about sexual responsibility, as well as sexual health, then the future of sex education, STI awareness, and the recognition and prevention of sexual assault will look very different.  Through such programs, the mysteries and stigmas surrounding sex, STIs, and sexual assault can be illuminated and undone.  I am looking forward to my first SECS presentation, and am so excited about all the other amazing programs the WRC is offering this semester!

Greetings Everyone!

Hi there! My name is Michael Webb and I am a concurrent student here at Pima Community College and the University of Arizona.  I enjoy an active lifestyle, have two dogs, and love spontaneity! I am rather excited about this because I feel it will bring me closer to electing a major while simultaneously opening my cultural perspectives. My personal goal throughout this experience is to keep an open mind on topics that may otherwise make me uncomfortable or awkward.  Hopefully, with the help of honest discussion about these kinds of subjects will make me more knowledgeable, well rounded, and culturally diverse. 

Through discussion with Lori pertaining to the possibilities and opportunities available to WRC interns, I found that the WRC is the place I want to be this semester! I intend to be a member of the sexual health committee and also take on a portion of the webmaster responsibilities. My involvement will hopefully bring me closer to electing a major while simultaneously opening my cultural perspectives. My personal goal throughout this experience is to keep an open mind on topics that may otherwise make me uncomfortable or awkward.  Hopefully, with the help of honest discussion about these kinds of subjects I will become more knowledgeable, well rounded, and culturally diverse.  My excitement is immense and I cannot wait to start making a difference through this outlet.

I am 22 years old and I identify as a homosexual. I became open with my sexuality when I was a 16-year-old junior at Palo Verde high School here in Tucson. For some, it is hard to understand something that is foreign to you or differs from the normal. I can relate on some level; however, it is difficult to be what is misunderstood. My mother was raised by a Southern Baptist preacher, and my father just retired from the Armed Forces. At first, there was a great deal of emotional stress, but now things are much more positive. Acceptance has been a gradual process, but fortunately, I have a very loving family that is willing to make an attempt.

Coming out has allowed me to grow into the young adult I am today. As a student, I am involved with a couple of campus LGBT activism/equality groups. I am the current president of the Omega Chapter of Delta Lambda Phi National Social Fraternity for gay, bi, and progressive men. Having this role enables me to steer the direction of my organization and influence the experience of my brothers. The UofA’s “Pride Alliance” puts on several events and I sometimes volunteer and participate. I am also a sitting delegate of the “LGBT Campus Coalition” made up of all the leaders of the LGBT groups on campus.

For four years, I was a member of the UofA’s marching band, and for the past two summers I participated in DCI as a member of the Color Guard in the Blue Knights. Drum corps (DCI) is the most enthralling experience I have ever faced in my life.

Aside from that, I have been a Tucsonan since 2000, but I also lived in Great Britain for 5 years prior. Most of my family is from the east coast, specifically South Carolina. I consider myself lucky because I have visited at least 30 of the 50 states in the U.S.

Some of my hobbies include, but are not limited to: volleyball, hiking, parties, Facebook, dogs, DCI, BBQ’s, social justice, weather and much more.

Thank you for reading and feel free to say hello! I look forward to the many adventures at hand!

-Michael

Hiya everyone!

Hello everyone! I am so looking forward to working with the Women's Resource Center this year and meeting all you!! 

My name is Cazia Glen. I'm a new intern with the WRC and I'm going to be involved with SECS and the Educational Programming Committee this semester. I'm a double major in sociology and psychology and plan to go to graduate school. During my time at the U of A I've been active in quite a  few groups, including the Sociology Club, Psi Chi, Sociologists for Women in Society and the last two years I've been junior-editor of Persona magazine (U of A's undergraduate literary magazine). I've always supported the WRC's mission and I feel it's definitely about time I contribute more directly to it!

Though I've been fascinated by culture and society, and how each has the ability to change, since I attended an international school in Europe for high school, it wasn't until college that I really began to specifically unravel the complex connections between power relations, normativity, sex and gender. I would say my education thus far has played a key role in developing my personal sense of feminism. Though I obviously want to change many things about the way society currently operates (particularly in how people tend to evaluate each other based on socially constructed categories), I remain optimistic in regards to positive change for women. 

Again, I am excited to meet you all and definitely say hi if you see me around! I hope we all have a great year. C=

Hello all!

Hey there! My name is Julia Purdy and I am a third year student at the University of Arizona. I am a double major in Religious Studies and Gender & Women's Studies with minors in Art History and Spanish. After I complete my undergraduate studies, my goal is to join the Peace Corps. I am a very passionate and conscientious person with a lot of interests. I enjoy quiet time and company, but I (for some reason) am very fond of running around and being very busy- I don't know what I would do without my planner! 
This semester I am the Outreach Coordinator and Historian for the Women's Resource Center as a way to more directly contribute to the changes that I want to see in the world. I have always been upset by the inequalities that I have experienced, read about or seen, but I did not know how to label my feelings until I came to university and learned the meaning of the term "feminism". This knowledge has changed my life and given me a basis for the work that I do, inspiring me to be active in making this world better. I am very ardent about the work that the women's movement has done and continues to do and am so excited to have the opportunity to contribute!   What we are doing at the WRC is appreciable and helping to create a more egalitarian world for everyone!
I am looking forward to learning about and working with everyone! 

Hello. My name is Tai Dietrich and I am a third semester intern at the ASUA Women's Resource Center at the University of Arizona. I am a Religious Studies and Political Science double major and I am currently the Fundraising Coordinator for the WRC. I am also employed by the Religious Studies Department at the U of A as an undergraduate grader for the course RELI 210: Religion in the American Experience.

My personal feminism has been shaped around my experiences as a disgruntled female with a growing dissatisfaction with "the way things are". My hope is that the feminist movement will help to create a world in which all human beings will be judged according to their values, accomplishments, and the content of their character as opposed to their race, gender, sexual orientation, class, or any other personal identification.

This semester, my primary function within the WRC is grant writing and funding acquisition. I am also a member of the Educational Programming Committee. In previous semesters, I have been a Film Series intern as well as the Film Series Committee Chair.

I look forward to working with all of you this semester and if anyone, for any reason, needs assistance, I am definitely an available resource.

Viel Glück! :3

Bonjour!

My name is Cindi Azuogu. I am a freshman at the U of A studying Physiology and have a minor in Creative Writing. I plan on going to med school and continuing my studies in Pediatrics because I love children. I am also new intern to the Women's Resource Center and already loving it. In high school, I was the weird (but totally butt-kicking) girl who discovered this awesome thing called feminism and started the Young Feminists Coalition, our pro-feminist group on campus that everyone secretly wanted to join but were too afraid. I have always been very active in the LGBTQ and Feminist Community. In my Senior year, I was the president of the Gay Straight Alliance, which was also the year the Westboro Baptist Church came to protest on our campus. We told them right where to stick their signs!

Ever since, I have been participating in any act of social justice I can since I have a strong passion for it. Just this year, I have joined the Vagina Warriors for the 2010 presentation of the Vagina Monologues and will continue to combat the threat of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

It has only been a semester of school and it promises to be an amazing 4 years here!