LETTERS: Why Penn needs a women's center

To the Editor: A female student has options other than the Women's Center, yet at none of these is a woman guaranteed to speak with a woman trained to deal with women's issues like rape, abuse, pregnancy, etc. Schorr does not realize the humiliation felt when a male doctor questions an assault victim like any other patient. At the Women's Center, a woman can find the haven she needs to heal emotional scars that last forever. Schorr claims that only 36 women sought consultation at the Women's Center in one academic year. Does this mean that only 36 needed the Women's Center? Does Schorr realize the under-reporting of rape? In a national survey of 32 randomly selected college campuses, 1 out of 4 college women was a victim of rape, 84 percent knew their attacker and only 1.7 percent were reported. So Steve, just how far have we come? In the bigger picture, we have come a long way. Nonetheless, women's issues like abuse, rape and other forms of violence are prevalent enough in our society for the Women's Center to be located on Locust Walk. For me, the need for the Women's Center is critical. Not only do I face issues of being a woman, but the issues of being a victim. Lindsay Miller College '98 u To the Editor: I couldn't disagree more with Steve Schorr's suggestion that we no longer need a Women's Center at Penn. As a campus health educator and advisor to the students in Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape and Facilitating Learning About Sexual Health, I rely on the Women's Center to help train and support Penn's amazing peer health educators. Male and female peer health educators both benefit from the training and advocacy provided by the Penn Women's Center. If Schorr wants to see more gathering spaces and more advocacy for concerns which are specific to men, I'm all for it. But those gains will not be made by tearing down the accomplishments of Penn women leaders. Kurt Conklin Student Health Service u To the Editor: Steve Schorr claims that the Women's Center does not serve the same purpose that it did 25 years ago, therefore possibly invalidating its existence. If that is how he feels, how about using the same conclusion for another example: In the past 25 years, most educational resources have become available on the World Wide Web, so does that mean that we should get rid of the books in the library? He also mentions the fact that the Women's Center receives $275,000 annually. I think we all know that that figure means little when speaking in Penn terms! Additionally, Schorr challenges the appropriateness of a place for women when there isn't one for men. This has nothing to do with feminism and everything to do with making women more secure in what used to be an all-male institution. I'd be interested to hear what issues he thinks men have that would constitute the implementation of a Men's Center. While Schorr graciously admits that women have made progress during the past 25 years, it seems that he ignorant to what women seek from the Women's Center, regardless of how many people visit it -- sensitivity to women's issues that might not be found elsewhere. Sure a woman could get support and/or information from the Office of Student Life, Victim Support and CAPS. However, when dealing with women's issues, it is more comforting to know that there is a place that deals specifically with them. Kim Rogoff College '01 u To the Editor: Steve Schorr's column, articulated within the security of white male privilege, is largely based on the premise that women's groups and the Women's Center operate in opposition to men. While times have changed and women have made great strides in their positions in society, sexism, heterosexism, racism and classism are by no means issues of the past. Because of the grave injustice women have historically suffered, sexism is not solved by simply increasing the number of women in positions of power. Although many policy reforms have been made, the standard of equality as defined by Schorr is an equality with white, heterosexual males. For women who do not choose to conform to this standard, equality is not as widespread as one may think. Therefore, the woman-centered work done in many women's groups on campus are in response to the need felt by women to discuss and understand the complex nature of their experiences and their oppression with each other for their personal empowerment. Pro-woman is not synonymous with anti-male. I consider myself a feminist because I too believe in equal rights. That is, my right as a South Asian, lesbian to express my beliefs and have them heard in a supportive forum. The need for a woman-centered forum on Locust Walk is painfully apparent when one notices that without the Women's Center, there would be no female presence on the Walk. As long as women are victims of sexual violence and the open expression of our sexuality is labeled as pornography, the Women's Center and the many women's groups on this campus will be vitally needed for Penn's women. Hema Sarangapani College '00