Each month, Northeastern women come together to talk about issues we all face, and when I went to the first discussion group, I loved it! For this week’s Campus Celebrity I want to introduce all of you to the creator and facilitator behind NU Era of Women, Erin McIver!
1. What year and major are you?
“I’m a senior in the Plus-One Communication and Cultural Studies program.”
2. What else are you involved in on campus?
“This is my third year as an RA and this year I happen to be living in the Sustainability Living Learning Community where I focus on environmental issues and green-living with my residents. I’m also the Executive Director of Slow Food NU, a fairly new and super-cool group that promotes an increased awareness on campus of the interconnectedness of food, the environment, and human health. Through my time as a RA, I’ve had the pleasure of getting involved with a group of incredible people that now form the Social Justice Resource Center, a new center on campus that serves to promote awareness of social justice issues and social change. There, I work as a SJRC Ambassador and have been focusing specifically on women’s empowerment programming.”
3. Why did you start NU Era of Women?
“Right now we’re in what is considered to be a third wave of feminism, but most of the debate on women’s rights is centered around reproductive rights. Although that is a huge component, there is so much more to talk about! I wanted to create a forum for women at NU to come together and discuss the issues that affect us from the stigma attached to feminism to media representation of women to gender-relations right here on campus. The goal of NU Era of Women is focus on these areas and empower women of all races, religions, sexual orientations and socioeconomic classes to talk about the issues facing them.”
4. What is your hope for the program?
“My hope is that NU Era will empower women to speak up! Women make up 51% of the population, however we only compromise 17% of Congress. We can clearly see that there is a huge disparity there. I’d like for this program to empower women to speak up and be heard, to be mentors for other women and to carve out their own unique paths for happiness and success.”
5. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
“First woman President of the United States! No – that’s a little too much responsibility. In ten years I hope to be bouncing around the globe working for a nonprofit that either focuses on food, women’s rights or education reform. Oh – and have a successful taco food truck.”
NU Era of Women is a discussion group that will meet every month to discuss topics relevant to women in the 21st century. Our goal is to destigmatize the feminist of today and to empower women of all classes, races, sexual orientations, religions and backgrounds.
NU Era of Women is having its next discussion November 13th in the SJRC from 7-8PM. The discussion will be focused on the media’s representation of women! The SJRC can be found in 106 St Stephens Street, in the basement!