This week Iowa State is celebrating Women’s Week 2001, “Changing the Climate.” This is a very important celebration and offers a fantastic opportunity for ISU students to hear perspectives they may not have heard on issues they may have thought weren’t very important.

Last night, Marie Wilson, president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, the only national women’s foundation, spoke at the Memorial Union about women in power. Tonight Nikki Bado-Fralick will be discussing women’s spirituality across different cultures. Other speakers and presenters will close out the week with an array of discussions, from women and conflict resolution to women as victims of war.

There is no reason anyone couldn’t attend, at the very least, one of these events.

It’s easy to brush off these events as presentations by and for “militant feminists” or “lesbians,” but the reality of it is that these issues being talked about affect everyone, male or female.

There should not be a negative stigmatism attached to terms such as “feminism” and “women’s rights.” Celebrations like Women’s Week 2001 only help eliminate these false stereotypes.

ISU students need to make sure that any issues brought to the forefront during Women’s Week should not disappear once the official “celebration” comes to a close.

Women’s Week should be every week.

It’s a shame we are at the point in our society that the only time issues of importance to women are highlighted is during a week set aside.

Why not encourage such speakers year round?

Why not stop by the Sloss House for more than free cake?

There are always avenues to get involved with women’s issues – not only during the celebration. Joining FMLA is just one way to get involved advocating important issues all year.

Whether anyone wants to come out and say it or not, women are still not treated equally. Misogyny runs rampant in all areas of society and women are still looked at by some as willing sex objects, still discriminated against in the work force and beyond.

These are the problems; now’s the time to work on solutions. The first small step is enriching yourself by attending the events of the week.

The next step is to make women’s week a year-long event, advocating issues of importance to today’s women.

It’s no secret we’ve evolved as a society. Women have more rights today than at any other time in American history.

But that fact does not mean we’re done. It doesn’t mean we should say “good enough” and be on with our ignorant way of life. Everyone needs to take the time and effort to be a part of Women’s Week.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell