Hunter has more than student 100 clubs, representing multifarious norganizations from academic groups like the psychology club to ethnic organizations, such as the Muslim Student Association. The diversity could confuse students who may find it a challenge to pick an establishment right for them.
However, there is a club that not only provides services for students but also engenders fun and also can be a relevant force in a student’s college career: The Women’s Rights Coalition.
Located in the Thomas Hunter Hall, Room 309, the WRC shares its room with two clubs: Lesbians rising and Gay Men’s Alliance. “We have tabled with them in the past,” said the secretary of WRC, 20-year-old Sydney Cespedes. According to its Facebook page, the WRC is an advocate of gender equality and encourages student activism and involvement on these issues.
“I would like for women’s studies and our club to come together,” said Cespedes. More could be accomplished if this collaboration was possible, said the political science major who proudly declared herself a feminist.
The WRC is proud of its involvement in securing a gender-neutral bathroom in the second floor of the North Building, Cespedes said. This demonstrated that the club not only benefits women but the entire Hunter community as well, she said. WRC is currently petitioning for another gender-neutral bathroom for Thomas Hunter Hall.
Organizing activities like tabling for the Vagina Monologues, a play with actors reading monologues to denounce sexism and violence against women this past February, and doing the publicity for various conferences on women’s issues, and other social events like, at the time this article was being developed, an upcoming “Open Mic/Poetry Night” on Thursday, March 27, showcased the WRC’s involvement in campus activities. Steven Beard, who double majors in political science and women and gender studies, said, “It’s hard to be a Hunter student and not know the Women’s Rights Coalition exists.” Beard joined the club at the beginning of last fall semester.
Asked about male participation in the WRC, he said, “This is just not about women, it’s about all genders.” Beard, 20, was especially excited about the “Men Can Stop Rape” forum scheduled for April, an organized talk on men’s roles in the prevention of rape by challenging traditional male characteristics, such as aggression and dominance. “It’s time for us men to get involved,” said Beard, who coined himself a “political junkie.”
The WRC holds weekly meetings where members discuss events, membership duties and anything else some consider important. Beard, who likes to help out with promoting events, said that he attended meetings whenever he could. “It’s a very friendly environment,” he said.
Cespedes said the WRC’s meetings were less organized last semester and that turnouts were low; this semester she said she hoped to strengthen the core membership. She said that meetings were important to fulfill this goal.
Jerin Alam, WRC’s president, said the club was open to all students, faculty and alumni and alumnae. Alam, who has been president since the beginning of this school year, and serves as the External Affairs Commissioner for Hunter’s Undergraduate Student Government, said that students interested in learning more about the club should sign up for the Facebook page or the Hunter Listserv.
Asked why she became a member of WRC, Alam, who often can be seen on campus with a red flower in her hair, said, “Women’s issues are very important to me.”
For information on the next WRC meeting, visit Room 309 in Thomas Hunter Hall.
The WORD’s Jamie Adorno can be reached at jadorno@hunter.cuny.edu,