Women's groups gather on Walk

Women conquered the Walk. The 21st Century Woman festival concluded Thursday with four hours of activities on Locust Walk. The festival, co-sponsored by the Panhellenic Council, the Greek Social Action Committee and the Women's Center, featured representatives from various on- and off-campus women's organizations as well as female performing arts groups. Women's groups from both sides of the political spectrum had tables on Locust Walk. The National Organization for Women (NOW) and the National Abortion Rights Action League, as well as Feminists for Life, a group which opposes abortion and euthanasia, were present at the festival. "We tried to have a balance of opinions," said Panhel President Allison Marinoff, a College senior. The festival also will benefit women in the area. Proceeds from T-shirts sold by Panhel will go to a local battered women's center, Marinoff said. Wharton Women and Penn Pro-Choice were among the on-campus groups with tables on the Walk. Entertainment was provided by female members of Without a Net and the all-female comedy and musical troupe, Bloomers. And Quaker Notes had a huge crowd gathered in front of Steinberg-Dietrich Hall to listen to their rousing rendition of "It's Raining Men." Sponsors of the event were thrilled with the turnout, especially since the event was a long time in coming. The festival was originally scheduled for last winter but was snowed out. "Lots of women have been stopping and looking at the tables," said the festival's Panhel chair, Katherine Umphrey. "That was our purpose." Women were not the only ones taking advantage of Thursday's event. College junior Stacy Havlicek said many men had come to the Penn Pro-Choice table to express support for abortion rights. Overall, women said the festival was a success and hoped for more events like it to take place in the future. "I feel proud to be a woman every day, but today specifically I am very proud," said Havlicek. "More things should be done like this."