Inside look at the Women’s Center
The Women’s Center provides a physical space with a table and couches for USD students to spend time in, as well as a Mother’s Room for moms who are nursing.
Cameron Fruehe/The USD Vista
The center is mostly funded by Associated Students and hopes to receive more funding from USD
As the director of the Women’s Center, Erin Lovette-Colyer has sought to engage the campus community in meaningful conversations since she first arrived at the University of San Diego in 2007. Lovette-Colyer is the first director and full-time professional within the center, and she advises students in the areas of gender-related issues and works closely with administration to develop various initiatives. Throughout her 11 years at USD, she finds social justice to be at the forefront of her efforts, encouraging women to find their voice and create change.
“I’ve joked with folks mostly beginning in October,” Lovette-Colyer said. “People will come up to me and say, ‘Wow you must have a lot to talk about in the Women’s Center these days,’ and I’ll have to bite my tongue and say, ‘No.’ We’ve been talking about this the whole time.”
The Women’s Center originated as an Associated Students committee in 1995 and has gradually developed into the student-centered learning community that it is today. It is staffed by both undergraduate and graduate students. Embracing Catholic Social Thought as its foundation and improving the lives of women as its goal, the Women’s Center fulfills its mission by engaging the campus community in an educational dialogue.
The center has brought attention to the many issues impacting women everywhere by coordinating a variety of programs throughout the year. Through prevention education and the Campus Assault Resources and Education (CARE) network, the center has teamed up with USD staff and administrators to provide support and resources to students affected by sexual and relationship violence.
The Women’s Center offers opportunities for USD women to build community, explore their identity, and learn more about feminism. Hosting annual events such as the “First Year Women Rock” dinner discussion series, the center invites first-year women to participate in genuine conversations about sisterhood, relationships, and life in college.
USD senior Madison Ryan has been a member of the Women’s Center student staff since last semester and is especially grateful for the way it has significantly shaped her college experience.
“The Women’s Center has been a place that has contributed to my sense of belonging at USD,” Ryan said. “I’ve been able to learn from other women in the community and hear voices that are often excluded from important conversations. It’s been a great place to make strong, supportive friendships.”
The center has encompassed the theme of belonging as one of its building blocks — an opportunity for women and men to explore themselves and feel encouragement to express their identities. Providing a series of discussion groups centered on the idea of student wellness, the Women’s Center offers an LGBTIQ+ Rainbow Wellness group, an LGBTIQ+ and Allies group co-sponsored by PRIDE, a multicultural women’s circle, and a men’s group. Through its various discussion groups, the center has remained true to its mission of empowerment and continues to try to bring about change within the USD community.
The financial support of Associated Students provides the Women’s Center with the necessary funds for its programs and yearly events. AS acts as its primary ally, funding $35,000 – 40,000 yearly for the center’s programs, including both its Empower Leadership Retreat and Women of Impact luncheon. The university itself funds $10,000 yearly for the center’s operating budget, and also provides for sexual assault awareness week, the director position of Lovette-Colyer, and the education prevention coordinator position of Amanda Luckett.
The center seeks to provide education to the USD community about women’s issues.
Cameron Fruehe/The USD Vista
“Of course there’s always a desire for more funding,” Lovette-Colyer said. “The provided resources around staffing are clear commitments from the university. These are issues that they’re committed to taking up and there’s a great deal of support in that.”
Lovette-Colyer explained how President Harris recognizes the tremendous impact the center has on the campus community and acknowledges the awareness it has raised for issues such as sexual violence.
“He’s articulated his commitment to the work that we’re doing based on the many messages that he is sending about the university’s dedication to issues around social justice,” Lovette-Colyer said. “He was able to come to Take Back the Night during sexual assault awareness week last year and I’ve spoken with him about the importance of the issues that we take up. He’s been extremely supportive.”
In the spring of 2017, conversations regarding funding began between Associated Students and the USD administration. The Women’s Center was not aware of the discussion between Associated Students and administration at the time it was occurring, according to Lovette-Colyer.
With the leadership and support of President Will Tate and Vice President Shannan Conlon, Associated Students facilitated this discussion.
“It was a goal of AS to acknowledge the efforts that the Women’s Center makes on campus,” Conlon said. “We wanted to help them secure an additional budget that all of the other centers had on campus, and (we) believed that they too deserved this financial support.”
After sitting down with Vice President of Student Affairs Carmen Vazquez, Tate and Conlon spoke of their desire to further assist the Women’s Center. They stated how Vazquez remarked that she also thought it was a wonderful idea, but that she could not promise anything at the moment.
“She was extremely supportive of our idea and it was nice to know that the administration was on board with giving the Women’s Center a budget,” Conlon said. “The university had already planned out its own budget for the 2018 school year. Therefore, the center will have to wait until next year to reach out again. I think they have real potential for the future.”
Lovette-Colyer will continue to dedicate time and effort into the Women’s Center as long as she believes that the USD community will improve and grow from its efforts.
“We’re always looking for ways to reach new students and invite them into conversations about different issues,” Lovette-Colyer said. “They’re not new issues, but it’s staying committed to growing in knowledge about them. I’m hopeful that years from now we won’t need any of the care services because it won’t be an issue.”
Despite the fact that the AS initiative was never written into the student affairs budget, it is clear that the Women’s Center will continue to serve the USD community in various ways. While the center is not fighting for funding, AS’ meeting with Vasquez is a hopeful step in the future to receive all forms of encouragement from USD, including financial support for the 2019 academic year. In the meantime, the center will continue to perform outreach activities and raise awareness on gender-related issues.