By Jonathan Zelinger || Contributing Writer

On January 8, 2017, Chelsea Reiman stepped onto the Franklin & Marshall campus, but no longer as a member of the Creative Writing Corps from the Philadelphia Alumni Writers House. Instead, Ms. Reiman began her new position as director of The Alice Drum Women’s Center.

The Women’s Center was established in 1992 at the pursuit of encouraging dialogue on women’s and gender issues, advocating for women, and promoting equality of campus. Since then, they have lived up to their mission statement and have continuously empowered women while educating Franklin & Marshall students through events like “Take Back the Night,” a sexual assault awareness event which takes place on campus every April.

The Women’s Center is very excited and proud to have found such a suitable and passionate director for their board. Reiman is undoubtedly a qualified candidate. She worked with the Creative Writing Corps at the Philadelphia Alumni Writers House and volunteered for the Poetry Paths Public Art Project for the City of Lancaster. She is a Tyrone Guthrie Writers Residency Fellow in Ireland and Bilby Scholar with the University of Utah Department of English. Reiman exemplifies a long-standing commitment to and experience with organizations dedicated to gender and sexual equality, from the Utah Pride Committee at the University of Utah’s LGBTQ Center to the Salt Lake City Independent Queer Choir and the Salt Lake City Pride Center.

Reiman is also surrounded by students who are as passionate as she is. Abby Lawlor, a senior WGSS and Government major and a student intern on the board sat down for an interview last week to give insight into the current attitude circling the Women’s Center. Lawlor says that she is “so excited to have Chelsea. She is no stranger to F&M and is the perfect person to have as the director.”

The Women’s Center is incredibly motivated this semester to put on new events and establish themselves within the campus community. A common misconception about the Women’s Center is that they are a campus club. In reality, the Women’s Center is a board that helps all social justice groups on campus. Their staff consists of the director as well as student interns. The Alice Drum Women’s Center is looking for more student involvement and encourages people of all genders to come and participate in the fight for equality.

Junior Jonathan Zelinger is a contributing writer. His email is jzelinge@fandm.edu.

By TCR