Silver City, NM– With F! Week beginning at Western New Mexico University, it’s only right to mention the American Association of University Women club.
The AAUW is a national club that came to WNMU two years ago. The club brings awareness to women’s issues such as equal pay, group rights, how to negotiate your salary, and much more. “At the student level, we concentrate on Title IX awareness and listen to women on campus to see what issues we can help them with,” said Jill Rae Smith, the president of the organization.
An example would be if a women was sexually assaulted in the dorms. The club would then give them the necessary information to help them through their struggle. While the club focuses on women issues, men are able to join because it allows them to understand these issues. Smith says that they can be seen as “allies.”
AAWU also participates in numerous projects. A recent event they partook in came last year as they aided with the “Expand Your Horizon Network.” This non-profit organization is “dedicated to providing gateway STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] experiences to middle and high school girls that spark interest in STEM activities and careers.”
Smith, who was appointed president last fall, graduated from WNMU last December with a Bachelors in Science and Sociology. She joined the AAWU for two reasons: because her friend was enrolled and because of the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. This conference (NCCWSL), which is ran by AAWU, helped Smith learn “leadership skills” and “understand different point of views.”
The club meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at The Center for Gender Equity.
Additional Information: www.nccwsl.org
