The Center for Women and Gender holds first event after Sarkeesian threat

 By Aubrie Waldron
JCOM 1130 Section 3

On Thursday, the Center for Women and Gender held an event in the Merrill-Cazier Library featuring speakers Stacy Louck Sturgeon and Craig Simper. It was the first event put on by the center after Anita Sarkeesian's speech was cancelled due to threats she and other university personnel received via email on Oct. 14.

"The threats that were given to her were also given to our center," said Reni McBride, staff assistant at the center. According to McBride, the threats made extra security precautions for Thursday's speech necessary.

According to Ann Berghout Austin, the director of the Center for Women and Gender, a police officer patrolled the foyer outside the classroom where Sturgeon and Simper were speaking. She also said there may have been officers in "plain clothes" inside the event.

The Center for Women and Gender is an independent department within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Women and Gender Studies program helps students recognize and understand issues that affect the world today concerning gender, age, race, ethnicity, class and sexual identity.

Through the center students may earn a minor or an undergraduate or graduate level certificate of study in women and gender.

"A lot of our discussions have been about how the traditional role of women is changing," said Amy Atkinson, a USU student who is enrolled in several women and gender studies courses. "Roles in homes aren't as set as they used to be. In class we talk about what influences in the world are making it so more men and women have equal responsibility in both house work and careers."

According to Austin, completing the program can give students an advantage when it comes to job searching.

"A women and gender studies certificate or minor is something that indicates to potential employers that you are interested in fairness and equality," Austin said. "Minors and certificates usually don’t get a person a job by themselves, but they certainly serve as a reinforcer for that person’s qualities. They give you an edge, and often it is just the edge to make the difference."