In 1994, the University of Scranton, a Catholic and Jesuit university based in Northeastern Pennsylvania, created a space intended to empower women. The center was started because of the Jesuits’ 34th Congregation document, which said that we should overcome “the legacy of systematic discrimination against women”.
The women’s center eventually combined with the university’s Cross Cultural Center, once the university staff recognized the need for all people to work together for gender equality and that gender discrimination affects more than just cis-gender women.
The center is currently run by a director, graduate assistant and student staff, including work study students and interns.
Maria Marinucci, Director of the Women’s Center, said that their goal is educating about bringing awareness to and advocating for social justice.
“We do so through different lenses,” said Marinucci. “We are really looking to raise awareness for gender equity, gender inclusion and intersecting identities.”
The overarching goal of the Women’s Center is learning how to work with equitable communities. The center’s programs aimed at the college community offer education on body-image and how that differs based on gender and gender-based violence.
The center also holds workshops on gender and sexuality and the gender pay gap.
Marinucci said that the center has shifted in the last couple of years to a more student live programming model, meaning that most of their programs, events and workshops are run by student staff.
“We choose themes that we are going to focus on for the year,” said Marinucci. “I work with student staff to choose the theme, and then they research that theme and figure out what they want to educate their peers about.”
Because of COVID-19, the center no longer offers events or workshops in-person. The center now holds all of their events over Zoom.
Marguerite Cummings, a student staff member, was in charge this semester of planning workshop Wednesdays for her theme of healthy relationships and self-care.
“On Wednesday nights, I send out a Zoom link and people can come and do different activities with me or maybe research different topics,” said Cummings. “It’s a lot of what you want to do. It’s nice to have that kind of freedom.”
One of the biggest events of the semester is the center’s annual love your body week, which is a week-long journey to self-acceptance run by Cummings. “It’s really about finding every aspect of yourself and finding body acceptance,” said Cummings. “Obviously, the turnout wasn’t as large as it usually is when we host in-person, but it was great to see people come and learn and engage, even if it was only on Zoom.”
Through events of anti-violence advocacy and health and body integrity, the center attempts to understand the structural aspects of privilege, discrimination, and oppression while still remaining faithful to its Jesuit mission.
“Jesuit values promote caring for any person in front of you for all that they are,” said Marinucci. “So a lot of the work that we do intersects with our Jesuit mission.”
The center staff and event particpants discuss justice, serving those who are in marginalized groups, and service to the community and to the world, including discussions of climate change. “I think that the more we can connect what we are doing with the broader goals of our institution, the more support we get,” said Marinucci. “Our Jesuit mission is crucial to who we are.”
However, as a Catholic university, there are certain things that they do not do as a women’s center, including discussions of reproductive health in terms of contraceptives.
“For me, it’s all about acceptance and just being kind to people,” said Cummings. “The center is a great way to learn about inclusion while still balancing Catholic values, and everyone can get involved.”
Anthony Savercool, Graduate Assistant of the Women’s Center, said that his favorite thing about working at the center is the opportunities it allows its student staff members. “I really love working with student staff,” said Savercool. “The center allows the student staff to come from different lenses, seek out what they are passionate about and educate peers in different ways.”
The center sees students from all different types of majors and minors, from Health Promotion to Women’s and Gender Studies.
“Anyone can get involved,” said Savercool. “It has really become a safe place for students to learn and grow.”
