EDITORIAL: Celebrating the Women's Center

In its 25th year, the center should refocus its efforts to reach more of the student population. Today, women comprise more than half of the University's undergraduate program, the majority of first-year medical students and 40 percent of those in law and business. And to top it all off, we have a female president at the helm. As the Penn Women's Center celebrates its 25th anniversary this month, we can truly say that the old boys' Ivy League has come a long way. The center's central, visible position on campus aligns with Penn's message that women are central to the societal framework. Over the past quarter-century, the Penn Women's Center has offered strong support for the University's female population, ranging from counseling and crisis intervention to educational programming and seminars. Unfortunately, as it is currently run, the Women's Center caters to a relatively small segment of campus. In recent years, both male and female students have lamented that the center's highly politicized climate makes them feel unwelcome. It is important that the more radical elements of the Women's Center are preserved, along with its support services, which are among its strengths. But the center need not limit itself as a refuge for victims and ultra-feminists. Rather, it should take advantage of this quarter-century mark to forge ahead in a new direction. The center should aim to reach a broader audience by helping to sponsor more mainstream events, such as the Women in Leadership series. It could also be effective in an umbrella role, connecting Penn's vast network of women's organizations, which include the Trustees Council of Penn Women, the Panhellenic Council and Wharton Women.