AAUW Student Club forming

December 6, 2013, interest meeting  for the AAUW Student Club.  Back row (L-R): Dr. Penny Messinger, Liz White, Lonje Cabey, Yolanda Stewart, Rachael Calvert, Maryssa DiFlavio, Holly Turano, Sara Graham, & Emily Kraft. Front: Caitlin Schuler

AAUW Student Club Forming at Daemen

by Penny Messinger

Are you interested in working to create gender equality, to increase women's access to education, and to help close the gender pay gap? If so, you might want to join the AAUW Student Club that is forming on campus. This club will pursue goals in line with those of the American Association of University Women, an organization established in 1881 to advance education for girls and women. In recent years, the AAUW has also been a leading voice in advocating for women's issues and for taking steps to close the pay gap between men and women. In the U.S., women make, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. You can read more about the AAUW here

Daemen College students are working with me to to formally organize this student club on campus. When it officially "launches" in Spring semester of 2014 we will seek to become a recognized affiliate of the AAUW, which will give Daemen students access to the resources that the AAUW provides, including information and guidance in pursuing education and professional employment. Students who join the club also receive a free "e-membership" in the national AAUW. We will also be able to take part in the activities sponsored by NCCWSL (pronounced "nick-whistle"), the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders, which you can read about here.  

The photo above shows some of the members of the club's Steering Committee, which will guide the group in the tasks of writing a mission statement, setting up club by-laws, working with the Daemen Student Association, and recruiting new members. Many interested students were not able to attend the interest meeting on December 6 because of schedule conflicts, but don't worry--there is still plenty to do. We will soon begin planning activities for spring semester, so your ideas and suggestions are very much needed!

The Buffalo Chapter of the AAUW has already offered assistance with other projects, most notably in co-sponsoring the lecture by renowned fair-pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter, in April 2012. You can read about Lilly's visit, and see many of the photos in the blog post from last spring, linked HERE.

If you are interested in learning more about the club, or want to join, please contact me (pmessing @daemen.edu) and I will add your name to the email list for the club and will be in touch with more information. My interest list already includes 30 names, which represents a lot of enthusiasm among our student body. Students from all majors are welcome to join.