JOMC 441 A Field Trip to the Women's Center

I have been past the Carolina Women's Center dozens of times, but until today had never stepped through its doors. It wasn't that I wasn't interested in women's issues or feminism or anything like that, because I am, but I never had a specific reason to visit.

The Center itself is pretty modest-- a few offices for directors, a meeting room, and a small cozy library-- but you can tell a lot of big things happen there. First, there are directors and associates who all specialize in different subjects. Dr. Fogle, the head director, concentrates on the issue of human trafficking, and there are other center leaders who specialize in gender identity issues, pregnancy, and other topics relating to women's struggles. Though most of the women were out of the office this morning, I did get a chance to pick up literature on several of these topics to see what the Center had to offer.

I was most impressed, though, by the library, located in the small annex beside the Center. The main room has hundreds of books and DVDs available for check out by UNC students interested in learning more about women's issues. Also, there are a few small rooms off from the main room where meetings take place, and a lactation room for students who are nursing.

After having visited the Center, I wish I had gotten more involved earlier in my college career. Their programming all seems really exciting, their resources were interesting, and the people there were incredibly friendly. I plan to spend more time there in my last semester at Carolina so as to leave this place a stronger woman than when I arrived.