A surge of activism on campus was rooted in a project assigned in a women’s studies course.

A proposal to remove a mural in Willow Hall and a discussion forum on homophobia were two examples of “outrageous acts,” the title for the projects the Women’s Studies 201 students undertook.

“[The outrageous acts project is] supposed to help [students] connect all of the stuff we’ve been dealing with over the semester into real life,” said Karen Kessel, assistant professor of anthropology and women’s studies lecturer.

Kessel said the project is designed to promote the empowerment of women and to educate others. She said students are encouraged to challenge stereotypes and raise public awareness.

Class topics can get depressing, Kessel said. The outrageous acts project gives students a chance to feel like they are making a difference in the areas that interest them.

Samantha Sexton, freshman in pre-advertising, is part of a group fighting to have a mural in Willow Hall that depicts military men carrying a woman removed. Sexton said the project originated as an outrageous act for Women’s Studies 201, but she and group members intend to continue fighting to have the mural removed after the class is over.

“I loved [the outrageous acts project]. This is a project I’m actually proud of,” Sexton said.

She said the project made her feel empowered and like she was standing up for what she believed in.

In addition to protesting the mural in Willow Hall and organizing a forum discussion on homophobia last week, Kessel said students in the class have organized food drives, educated freshmen about date rape and attempted to organize a baby-sitting service for single mothers.

“We don’t encourage them to go out looking for trouble … It’s more about giving them a sense of empowerment,” Kessel said.

Steven Schlautman, freshman in pre-business and a Women’s Studies 201 student, said his group project involved giving out hot cocoa and collecting donations for a single mother’s family. He said the project made him feel good about himself, because they raised over $230 in donations.

Mary Kuster, freshman in food science and class member, said she thought the project was beneficial. Kuster and other group members wrote a grant proposal to establish a new campus organization for student parents. She said the project made her more aware of the need for such programs on campus.

Kuster said the group did not have time to present the proposal to the Government of the Student Body, but they plan to continue with the project and bring it to GSB’s attention soon.

Kessel said she became involved in the class three years ago when she came to Iowa State. The class curriculum had already been developed when she began teaching it and the outrageous acts project was already part of the course at that time.