In the fall of 1989, many women and men at Laurier took exception to the traditional "panty raids" and the subsequent display of the spoils in the cafeteria. Exception was taken to the violence of the raids themselves and to the comments written in reference to women generally, as well as to gay men and lesbian women.
A small group of women begn meeting to address issues of unhealthy gender relations on campus. In subsequent meetings with WLU administration, it was discovered that the panty raids were sanctioned and organized by administration as a method of orienting new female and male students to life at university.
It was evident, then, that:
1) Laurier was promoting unhealthy gender relations on campus, and
2) There was no safe place for women on campus to voice their concerns, inform and educate themselves about
their issues, or receive affirmation for themselves as women.
From the Gender Relations Committee (an ad hoc group who formed themselves to address the issues of violence towards women on campus), a small group of female students began meeting to discuss the formation of a Women’s Centre at WLU. This group wanted to provide a safe place for women on campus to voice thier concerns, inform, and educate themselves about their issues, and receive affirmation for themselves as women.
WLU Women’s Centre: Middle "Herstory"
Despite the recent history at Laurier regarding the panty raids, the women supporting the development of a Women’s Centre met with opposition from the following:
- A group who wanted a Gender Centre for men and women
- A group who wanted a Sexual Relations Centre for men and women
- Some men on campus (students, administration, and faculty) who were generally opposed to women having a
place of their own
This group of women, feeling that there was a great need for a Women’s Centre at Laurier, advertised their meetings to discover if other women felt there was a need for a Women’s Centre at Laurier. With perseverance and the support of women and some men on campus, the Women’s Centre received approval and funding from the WLU administration in May of 1990.
Over the summer of 1990, a handful of women formed themselves into a collective and worked with the administration to refine the proposal and budget and to find a suitable space for the Centre on campus. This space had not been located by September, the proposal was still in draft form, and the contract with the university around issues such as accountability was not yet finalized.
WLU Women’s Centre: "Herstory" of the First Year
In September 1990, the women who remained involved with the Women’s Centre developed the following:
Terms of Reference for the Interim Collective:
i) Every member is responsible for attending meetings and expressing her views and allowing others to freely
express their views
ii) Individual members will express the views of the collective when representing the collective in the Laurier
community
iii) Wherever possible, decisions will be made by consensus of the members (those who have attended the two
previous meetings and who are actively involved in one or more tasks for the Centre)
Space:
i) Was located and set up for the 1990-1991 school year at 202 Regina Street;
ii) The Centre space currently comprises two rooms: one, an office, and the other a combined
library/reading/meeting room which has been appropriately and comfortably furnished;
iii) A definition of suitable space was forwarded to the WLU administration.
Organizational Structure:
The collective members participated in a workshop in which they examined the policies and procedures of other Women’s Centres and have outlined initial operating guidelines for the Women’s Centre at WLU.
Library:
A book drive during the fall launched the collection for related literature, books, pamohlets, and information for
the Centre’s library.
WLU Women’s Centre: More "Herstory"
During 1991 and 1992, the Women’s Centre became established as a safe space for women, and as a forum for advocacy and activism on campus. Film festivals, guest speakers, informational booths, and seminars have been presented by the Centre. Events such as the commemoration of the Montreal Massacre, a celebration of International Women’s Week, and an annual Open House to acquaint the community with the Centre have become regular happenings. As well, a weekly editorial column in the student newspaper, The Cord, serves as a space for members of the collective to express themselves and address the student community.
In the summer of 1993, space on the main campus was finally located for the Women’s Centre. The office was situated in the breezeway linking the Theatre Auditorium to the men’s residence. The library/reading/meeting room is designated as a women-first space and is located in room 220.
In the summer of 1994, the Women’s Centre resources were listed on the main library’s QCAT system to make them more accessible to all members of the university community. Differing editorial opinions between the Women’s Centre collective and the Cord led to the withdrawal of the Women’s Centre column from the paper and the initiation of the Women’s Centre newsletter ’Errata’.
Since its opening, the Centre’s usage has steadily increased each year. The Women’s Centre has continued its referral and advocacy work both within the university community and within the larger Kitchener-Waterloo community.
