By: Heather Shea & Makenzie Morales
Virginia Woolf, the English author of fiction, penned a famous essay in 1929 called Room of One’s Own, in which her primary argument was that if a woman is to write fiction, she must have “Money and a room of her own.” While writing from a privileged position, Woolf’s point is still relevant today as access and availability of space forms a connection to our purpose.
Virginia Woolf’s essay reminds us of the newly acquired office space for Women*s Student Services and how while not exactly perfect for all of our needs, it represents significant progress toward re-establishing a Women*s Resource Center at MSU. Our new space in room 14 of the Student Services Building, the former home of the MSU sexual assault program now known as The Center For Survivors, consists of a collection of private offices, an open reception area, a conference room, and a future lending-library space. We feel the caring, feminist, good will of the office’s previous occupants and we feel fortunate to have the opportunity to begin to build a community space here.
Why is a space -- a room of one’s own -- important?
If we’ve learned anything from the past 18 months, we in W*SS recognize the importance of being together, in the same space, to share experiences, build coalitions, plan activism, and create community and a sense of belonging. Women*s Student Services is a space for anyone who has experienced discrimination or oppression on the basis of their gender identity. It is a place to find support and resources needed to be successful, and to find a community of people who share your experiences. It is also a space for those who wish to learn more about how things like sexism, racism, and ableism shape our society and for those who are devoted to learning and development. Having a supportive space on campus allows us to take a break from having to explain ourselves and take a moment to bring our focus back to our personal well-being.
We have more work to do, and we need you!
Please come visit us and share your ideas for our space. We need your help to continue to grow and shift campus culture. Women*s Student Services is located in the Student Services Building in room 14. We are open from noon to 5:00 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. We are closed on Thursdays, and open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Fridays. Feel free to drop by the office to get involved, ask questions, or to simply relax and have a conversation. You can set up an appointment with Dr. Heather Shea by following the link at https://hshea.youcanbook.me or with Makenzie Morales by emailing her at moral206@msu.edu. We hope to see you soon!
Interested in sharing your own "Thought Of The Day" or TOTD? Email us at wss@msu.edu.
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