The gender roles of women were discussed yesterday in a workshop sponsored by the Social Justice Leadership Center as part of an advocacy program meant to provide interaction among students on issues of diversity.
Students interested in changing the world now have the chance to learn more through this series, and even though SJLC saw a small turnout for their first workshop, they are positive about the series gathering steam.
At yesterday's workshop, "Advocates for Gender: The Role of Women," there were only two participants, but Michelle Espino, graduate assistant for Multicultural Advocacy and Services, said she expects more people to attend next week's workshop, "Advocates for Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Privilege."
Espino, who has been in charge of the SJLC for about a year and a half, said this is the first time the club has run the series, but she is not afraid of having small groups.
"The quality of discussion is more important than the number of people who show up," she said.
The SJLC, an offshoot of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, is hosting the weekly workshops to give students a chance to participate in dialogue about different diversity issues, Espino said.
The topics range from the roles of women, heterosexual privilege, ability, class, recycling and the consequences of war.
Kimmie Lewkowitz, an international relations and pre-law freshman, said she wanted to check out the workshops because they sounded interesting.
"I wanted to get a better feel for what programs were going on around campus," Lewkowitz said, who is collecting signatures to run for administrative vice president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona.
Lewkowitz said that if she were elected ASUA vice president, she would have a better feel for campus issues from participating in the workshops.
Regarding the program, Lewkowitz said she would recommend it to others and even wants to work with different colleges to try to make the workshops worth class credit.
"I think these workshops would make students more well-rounded and become more knowledgeable," Lewkowitz said.
The advocacy workshops are offered in collaboration with other leadership workshops focusing on student organizations and featuring topics such as positive confrontation, meeting management, group dynamics, money management and effective communication, said Kevin Nutter, a leadership coordinator for CSIL.
Although the workshops are not worth class credit, the leadership track of the series can earn students a leadership certificate, said Nutter.
Nutter is in charge of the leadership workshops but also works with Espino on the advocacy workshops, he said.
Nutter also agreed that small groups were more appropriate for the workshops.
"We're hoping that within the small group of people, it will light a fire within a few and then cascade," Nutter said.
Nutter also stressed the importance of understanding diversity in leadership roles.
"To be a good leader you need to be aware of social change," Nutter said.
In addition to the workshops, a film series is also being offered by the SJLC. Excerpts from movies based on social justice will be shown and discussed, according to an e-mail.
Advocacy workshops are offered every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the SJLC office, located in Room 412 of the Student Union Memorial Center across the hall from the CSIL.