Spring Break
Feminist Fair opens discussion about equality at home, overseas
Booths at Feminist Fair bring men, women together to discuss equal rights; Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance will protest Genocide Awareness Project today in the quad
Caitlin Cagle
Issue date: 6/3/09 Section: News
OSU's Women Center held their annual Feminist Fair on Tuesday in the MU Quad. The fair brought together women and men fighting for equal rights, from movements for Peace in Darfur, to the soulful melodies of Valerie Lopez, who sang and performed in the quad.
The fair's theme, Beach Party in the Quad, brought interested students in with informational booths, where feminist groups passionately discussed their movements.
"We hope to teach students that feminism means equality for everyone. Equality for men and women, not just women," said senior Elise Abramson, president of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance.
The FMLA organization plans to protest in the quad tomorrow, where the Genocide Awareness Project will be taking place.
"The Genocide Awareness Project needs to realize that abortion is not genocide," Abramson said, "and that it is personally offending to students. We encourage students to take a stand and join us tomorrow. There will also be a petition to sign."
Students gathered around the FMLA booth, examining their poster and engaging in discussions with members of the group.
"We are really just trying to enlighten students," said Michaela Hammer, a student interested in the idea of eco-feminism. Eco-feminism explores the connections between oppression against women and the deteriorating environment.
"Basically, women's issues and environmental issues are interrelated. Environmental sustainability has everything to do with equality and social justice," Hammer said.
Hammer, along with the Student Sustainability Initiative, works with OSU students to provide a "sustainable community" at Oregon State.
Aside from the informational booths, the fair also offered students entertainment, courtesy of Valerie Lopez, a musical artist who performed at the fair. Lopez's music brought in students, who stood in front of the booth to watch and listen. Lopez's songs were met with applause and enthusiasm.
"I think it's really interesting that a lot of students believe that feminists are just people who hold themselves higher than others," said senior Hunnan Pope, who attended the fair, "when in fact they just believe in equality for everyone. It's very interesting to learn about."
Caitlin Cagle, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
The fair's theme, Beach Party in the Quad, brought interested students in with informational booths, where feminist groups passionately discussed their movements.
"We hope to teach students that feminism means equality for everyone. Equality for men and women, not just women," said senior Elise Abramson, president of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance.
The FMLA organization plans to protest in the quad tomorrow, where the Genocide Awareness Project will be taking place.
"The Genocide Awareness Project needs to realize that abortion is not genocide," Abramson said, "and that it is personally offending to students. We encourage students to take a stand and join us tomorrow. There will also be a petition to sign."
Students gathered around the FMLA booth, examining their poster and engaging in discussions with members of the group.
"We are really just trying to enlighten students," said Michaela Hammer, a student interested in the idea of eco-feminism. Eco-feminism explores the connections between oppression against women and the deteriorating environment.
"Basically, women's issues and environmental issues are interrelated. Environmental sustainability has everything to do with equality and social justice," Hammer said.
Hammer, along with the Student Sustainability Initiative, works with OSU students to provide a "sustainable community" at Oregon State.
Aside from the informational booths, the fair also offered students entertainment, courtesy of Valerie Lopez, a musical artist who performed at the fair. Lopez's music brought in students, who stood in front of the booth to watch and listen. Lopez's songs were met with applause and enthusiasm.
"I think it's really interesting that a lot of students believe that feminists are just people who hold themselves higher than others," said senior Hunnan Pope, who attended the fair, "when in fact they just believe in equality for everyone. It's very interesting to learn about."
Caitlin Cagle, staff writer
news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231
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