Blog connects students with women’s issues

Carmen Leng

The Margaret Sloss Women’s Center has spread to the Web with the addition of a blog in attempts to further connect with students. 

The development of the blog began at the MSWC when Penny Rice, Margaret Sloss Women’s Center director; Chris Fowler; Christine Peterson; and Elizabeth Steinborn began brainstorming innovative ways to connect with students at the beginning of the semester.

The women came to the conclusion that instead of trying to outdo the million fliers posted on every campus bulletin board, they would create a blog, which is free and eco-friendly.

“The blog is very exciting to me because it’s cost efficient and doesn’t kill trees,” Rice said.

Due to the women’s studies operating budget being cut 56 percent, the women needed to find a cheaper method to attract students to the women’s center and thought an online blog would be the perfect way.

Pete Englin, director of the Department of Residence, once said to Rice, “We need to meet the students where they are at.”

The Internet is where they are at.

The women’s center posted its first blog post Nov. 16. Although it’s mostly geared toward women, the blog is a site where all students are able to leave their own comments on the posts.

The topics are completely random, entertaining and educational issues that happen to come off the top of the women’s heads that day, with guest writers encouraged to contribute.

“I found the blog topics very interesting to read and will be looking forward to reading about their new topics in weeks to come,” said Taylor Julian, sophomore in pre-business.

Steinborn, graduate in educational leadership and policy studies, would like the blog stories to change two to three times per week to keep the blog updated. Each blog will have contact information posted if students ever have questions on the site’s entries.

Besides entries, the blog also consists of events and programs offered at the Sloss Center, a monthly calendar and a category cloud. The category cloud allows visitors to click on a certain topic, from body image to sexual assault, and provides more information on the topic.

More and more visitors have been to the blog in the time that it’s been up and running, but the women’s center organizers encourage everyone to check it out and leave comments of their own.