GSWA
April 10, 2014
The Stories are ‘All True’
"I am an empowered woman, empowering women." These were the last words of Goshen Monologues, spoken by 35 women in a room filled to capacity Tuesday evening. The Monologues, a series of personal stories written and performed by Goshen College students, faculty and staff women, premiered in a two-hour show in Umble Center. The audience of 446 in Umble and an overflow of 19 in the Yost room, who watched a live stream, ended on their feet. Stories were told as individual, partner or group monologues, and divided into five sections, including imparity, body, assault, relationship and identity. Each dealt...
November 4, 2013
For The Record
In light of this week’s special sports insert, I want to focus on a topic that has come up fairly often this fall: attendance at women’s soccer games versus men’s. I’ll be the first to admit that I do not play or understand sports very well, so I am no expert on the situation, but I live with three soccer players, who do, in fact, tell me how much they appreciate a full set of bleachers. I think this discussion is an important one to continue, not just for the women’s team, but for our campus community as a whole....
October 13, 2013
For the Record
Here are some facts*: Every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Eighty percent of those people are under the age of 30. Fifty-four percent of those assaults are never reported to the police. And two-thirds of them are committed by people known to the victim. I can remember clotheslines of t-shirts strung at Schrock Plaza in October since my freshman year at Goshen. That first year, I ignorantly thought it was just a really cool art project. But the shirts symbolize a lot more than pieces of artwork: they’re a part of Goshen’s annual Sexual Violence Awareness...
October 6, 2013
Bringing light to a darkness
This coming weekis Sexual Violence Awareness Week. Sponsored by multiple clubs and coordinated by Jenny Beer and the Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition, this week will feature nine events to create awareness, conversation, and solidarity in regards to sexual violence. Prashansa Dickson, a second-year student and International Student Club leader, hopes people will become more involved and informed about these important issues addressed throughout the week. “I think it is important that we stand in support of raising awareness about such a prevalent problem,” Dickson said. On Sundaythe Clothesline Project will go up in Schrock Plaza, presented by the Social Work...
March 20, 2013
GSWA celebrates women and chocolate
At the annual Goshen Student Women’s Association (GSWA) Chocolate House on Sunday, participants enjoyed homemade chocolate goodies but also an evening of performances dedicated to celebrating women and the men who support them. According to Becca Kraybill, a senior, those involved in putting on the Chocolate House — the performers, planners, bakers and announcers — were a mix of GSWA members and volunteers. The event was largely a group effort led by the seniors of GSWA. “The chocolate theme has been a tradition for over a decade,” said Kraybill, who emceed the event with Kate Friesen, a junior. On the...
October 11, 2012
Sexual Violence Awareness Week raises shirts and consciousness
This week, members of the Goshen College community have come together to participate in Sexual Violence Awareness Week. The week of reflection is meant to foster awareness and conversation on campus related to issues of sexual violence. Sexual Violence Awareness Week consists of many events coordinated by different groups on campus. The Clothesline Project—represented throughout the week by hanging shirts with words from those touched by sexual violence—is organized by students in the Social Work Action Association. A Monday morning convocation by Dr. April Lidinsky addressed how images and advertising can reflect cultural values that promote sexual violence. On Tuesday...
April 11, 2012
GSWA features talent and treats at annual Chocolate House event
An evening that combines poetry, music, dance, women’s empowerment and chocolate bacon cupcakes can mean only one thing: the annual GSWA Chocolate House. Each spring the Goshen Women’s Student Association invites GC students to join them for an evening dedicated to celebrating women and their talents in the arts. This year roughly 15 female Goshen students will share personal works of visual and performance art at the event. “[Chocolate House] is one of my favorite events of the year because it’s all about appreciating the gifts of women right here in our own community,” said Krista Kaufman, a senior social...
March 21, 2012
Goshen students celebrate Healthy Bodies Week
Giggles and shrieks abounded as plaster splattered during Tuesday’s activity for Healthy Bodies Week, a series of events hosted by Goshen Student Women’s Association. The event was body casting, in which women gathered and made plaster casts of different parts of their bodies, ranging from chests to hands and legs. Adrienne Yoder, a senior first-time body caster, said that there was “the initial shock of taking clothes off but then realizing that we all look the same.” Chelsea Wimmer, a junior, and Ashley Fehlberg, a senior, expressed similar feelings of liberation. “It was very freeing,” said Wimmer. “I experienced a...
April 14, 2011
Enjoy female talent and a chocolate fountain at GSWA’s Chocolate House
If joining women in celebrating through art and music isn’t reason enough for you to come to the Goshen Student Women’s Association (GSWA) Chocolate House on Friday night, then, “You should at least come for the chocolate fountain,” says Mara Weaver, a sophomore and member of the GSWA steering committee. “And you should really come for the female talent.” Both men and women are invited to the event, which starts at 8:30 p.m. this Friday in Newcomer. Chocolate treats, fruit, salty snacks and other delectables will be available for guests as they browse the art made by women that will...
March 23, 2011
Students celebrate their bodies during Healthy Bodies Week
In an open drawing room, in the midst of easels and half-finished artwork, 30 women milled about in various stages of undress. Many were coated with white plaster from neck to waist; others dried friends' plastered torsos with hair dryers. Within an hour, the body casts would be done. The creation of body casts on Tuesday night, March 22, was just one of the various activities planned for Healthy Bodies Week, a week-long celebration of body awareness and empowerment. "Once the clothes come off, you realize how similar bodies are," said Julia Baker, a senior. The events of Healthy Bodies...
March 10, 2011
Students learn from women around the world in NYC
Forgoing the option of using this year’s spring break as a chance to seek warmer weather, Sarah Dieter, Sara Klassen, Becca Yoder and Beth Martin Birky instead traveled to New York City, seeking to learn how the United Nations is involved in women’s justice issues around the world. Dieter, a junior, Klassen, a freshman and Yoder, a sophomore, are all taking Global Women’s Movement, a women’s studies course taught by Martin Birky, professor of English. The course examines gender roles in different global contexts. “Part of the class focuses on women’s unique cultural experiences and activism around the world,” said...
September 30, 2010
Take Back the Night rally set for Oct. 5
Sexual and Domestic Violence Awareness Week, Oct. 4-8, will include the annual Take Back the Night rally on Tuesday, Oct. 5, in Newcomer 19. The event is organized by Goshen Student Women’s Association, a student led group open to all women on campus. Take Back the Night is an essential part of Sexual and Domestic Violence Awareness week, said Ingrid Derstine, a senior on the GSWA leadership team. “Domestic and sexual violence is easily hidden, so it is hard to be aware and active in fighting it. For Goshen College, Take Back the Night provides a safe place for students...
March 17, 2010
Celebrating femininity through art
Goshen College women celebrated the female body on Tuesday night with creative art projects. As a part of Healthy Bodies Week, Goshen Student Women’s Association (GSWA) held a Women and Art night in East Hall. Various art projects were available such as collaging, drawing and body casting, and Java Junction provided drinks. Over thirty women participated in the body casting. Students each paid $4 for a small roll or $9 for a large roll. The women partnered up and took turns dipping strips of plaster in water and placing it on each other, making molds of their upper body. “It’s...
February 11, 2009
GSWA promotes healthy bodies
Goshen College students are becoming healthy students thanks to “Healthy Bodies Week,” sponsored by the Goshen Student Women's Association. “The goal is that it will catch on, and we can have a Healthy Bodies Week each year,” said Annali Smucker, a junior. “Originally, we wanted to do the ‘Vagina Monologues,’ but we decided the reason for that was to promote healthy images of women,” said Rachel Miller, a junior. “Instead, we decided to make a week of healthy bodies.” The week began with a Monday viewing of "Food Fight," a documentary on industrialized agriculture. The event was co-sponsored by PAX...