Publication Date
9-14-2022
Abstract
The WGRC will be hosting a grand re-opening and open house on Wednesday, Sep. 14, in the 2nd floor lobby of the Culp Center from noon until 3 p.m. There will be refreshments, a program highlighting female performers and a tour of the center.
(Sept. 14, 2022) Last month, National Women’s Equality Day was celebrated in the United States, as it is every year on Aug. 26 in celebration of the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920. The amendment granted women the right to participate in elections by prohibiting the federal government from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex.
Over 100 years later, swaths of organizations and activists are still dedicated to improving the quality of life of those that are at a structural disadvantage, and the Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC) at East Tennessee State University is given life by people whose very purpose is to serve as advocates.
Located in room 215 the D.P. Culp Student Center, WGRC is an inclusive space on campus that fosters feelings of belonging, addresses inequity, promotes safety and builds capacity for social justice and leadership. Through gender-related programming, outreach and support, individuals of all communities and identities can expect to find a home at the center.
“No one will be turned away,” said Dr. Michelle Hurley, Director of the ETSU Women & Gender Resource Center. “The mission of the WGRC is to enhance the campus climate with respect to opportunities for people of all genders, while paying special attention to uplift cisgender and transgender women, girls, and non-binary individuals.
Dr. Hurley“When you walk in, our goal is to make you feel like you are the single most cared-for person in the world.”
In pursuit of the goal to serve ETSU faculty, staff, students and the community, the WGRC offers many amenities, such as a women and gender focused library, information on both campus and community resources, free menstrual products, condoms and other safe-sex items. The center also features a physical space dedicated to maintaining a calm, quiet atmosphere and utilizes the warm support of organization and community partnerships to best serve the population.
“We are going to have a lot of educational programming in the coming months, as well as a book club,” said Hurley. “We are also currently building partnerships with organizations on and off campus, in addition to the resources we already have.”
The WGRC will be hosting a grand re-opening and open house on Wednesday, Sep. 14, in the 2nd floor lobby of the Culp Center from noon until 3 p.m. There will be refreshments, a program highlighting female performers and a tour of the center.
“We want everyone to know that we are here for you,” said Hurley. “If you’re lonely, if you need a friend or if you need someone to listen to you – we will be that presence you are seeking. We’re not just here to be an information hub, we’re here to be your personal advocate.”
For more information about the WGRC, contact the center at wrcetsu@etsu.edu, call (423) 439-5772, or visit the website at www.etsu.edu/wrcestu.
Document Type
News Article
