Women's Center takes part in celebrations

Homecoming weekend was scattered with the usual toast-throwing, but this year there were some additional events in honor of the Women's Center's 30th anniversary.

"It has been really wonderful for us to have the alumni acknowledge the 30 years of the Women's Center here at Penn," Director of the Women's Center Elena DiLapi said.

"It is a good reflection of what the Women's Center is about."

"Not all universities that have started women's centers have been able to sustain them," said Anu Rao, who has received graduate degrees from Penn in social work and fine arts and a doctorate in city and regional planning.

Rao -- who has worked closely with the Women's Center while she served as director of Penn's Faculty and Staff Assistance Program -- noted that the 30th year milestone in the center's development is a testament to its success.

College graduate Liz Cooper, who is now involved with Penn Alumni's Diversity Affinity and Interest Groups, said that she often sought resources offered by the Women's Center.

"The Women's Center made all the difference to me when I was a student at Penn. It was a safe place to go and let off steam, get support and be encouraged," Cooper said.

Friday morning, the Women's Center on Locust Walk entertained "A Literary Open House," to allow for the opportunity to look at the literary works of Penn students, faculty, staff and alumnae.

The center also hosted a discussion entitled "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," which included a discussion and reception themed on "Women's Vision for the Future."

And on Saturday morning in the Arch Crest, a brunch was held with a panel discussion on "Common Ground... Its Roots." According to DiLapi, nearly 50 people were in attendance and the discussion served as an opportunity for a variety of fringe groups and their alumni to gather and assess the obstacles obstructing equity.

Later on Saturday, the Women's Center also co-hosted a discussion with PennGALA, an organization for lesbian, gay and bisexual alumni, on "The Changing Landscape of our Communities," which concentrated on the Supreme Court's Lawrence v. Texas ruling and the consequences such rulings inflict on alternative families.

"I feel that the Women's Center's contributions go much deeper than people see," said Veronica Medina, who graduated from the School of Social Work in 1979.

Medina -- a member of PennGALA's steering committee -- added that by bringing smaller focus groups together, they can garner even more strength and support.

"We make those bridges that make Penn a better place to be," she said.

The programs -- which were rather academic in nature -- were able to teach even some older alumni a thing or two.

"It's nice to be able to come to your old school 20 years after you graduate and still learn something new," Rao said.

DiLapi noted that because of this Homecoming's success, there is already hope for involvement in future Homecoming weekends, and talk of developing a feminist alumni network "as a way of joining women and their allies."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.