Woman’s work redefined

C.A. Schneider

The Woman’s Centre volunteer pointed the way to the coat racks, and the refreshment tables as people of all ages entered the Faculty lounge on March eighth. The group had come together to celebrate the 84th International Women’s Day.

Eighty-four years ago , on November 23, a group of shirtwaist makers decided they had enough of the poor working conditions, and went on strike. These shirtwaist makers, most of whom were women, did more than just go on strike, they in- spired all people to put up a fight for fair treatment of workers, especially women.

It was this struggle for equal treatment that inspired the creation of International Wom- en’s Day. This day has become a day for remembering all the women who have fought for fair treatment and bucked tradition to achieve their dreams.

This year’s event here on campus in honour of Interna- tional Women’s Day was enti- tled ‘‘Expanding Herizons: Re- defining Woman’s Work’’. The speakers included Joy Hanley, Dr. Shelley Burton, Sister Ann Gillis, Jennifer Taylor and Sybil Frei. These women all work untraditional jobs and love it, at least most of the time.

Joy Hanley is the co-owner of Little Christo’s Pizza and runs her own catering service as well. She has an insight into the world of business that few women have ever gotten. She says that in her position she finds that ‘‘the more I prove I’m capable of doing well, the more people expect me to do’’. She believes that in the past year her greatest contribution to the world of women has been the birth of her third son Michael. Since she was unable to take time off from the company after his birth, Hanley has taken her son with her everywhere she has gone. He stays with her in the office, and in the board room. She feels that they have proven that a baby is not a problem in the business world. She also feels that as she has matured family has become much more important to her; so she has learned to better manage her family and work to get the most out of both of them.

Dr. Shelley Burton is an assistant professor right here at AVC. She is also a veterinary clinical pathologist. Her job is to analyze samples from live animals to discover what the

problem is. She interprets blood and urine tests, analyses slides of fluids from ill animals (i.e. fluid from around tumours) as well as teaching third and fourth year classes. Although she loves her job, she finds that there simply aren’t enough hours in the day.

Sister Ann Gillis is a counsellor who has worked with women for many years: first at Anderson House then at Mann Centre; now at her own counselling program called Another Step. As a woman living within a religious community she has seen first hand the effects of stereotyping. She encourages the women she counsels to take the hardestjourney you can take, the journey within yourself. She feels that empowerment is the key to redefining the woman’s role.

Jennifer Taylor is a teacher here on campus, too. She talks from teaching in an almost en- tirely female department, Home Economics. Taylor spoke to the unrecognized role women play oe in food production. She noted that women are typically the food preparers and spend on average over double the amount of time preparing food that men do. She also spoke about the difficulties of being in a department that is not recognized for all its facets. She noted that there is at present only one male home ec. student. She also spoke of being from PEI and feeling like she had to ‘‘ prove myself every step of the way.”’

The final speaker of the day was Sybil Frei, one of the candidates forthe PEI NDP leadership. She spoke of volunteer work, and how what you choose to do is a political statement. ‘Personal is Political’? was her motto for this speech. She believes in trying to improve the status of women in all she does, whether it be activity in trade unions, community working or party politics. She believes that change comes from being a part of the systems that hold the power.

This event proved to be an enjoyable and informative way to spend International Women’s Day. The Women’s Centre and Women’s Studies department, who organised and funded it, outdidthemselves in the planning. The evening went off without a hitch and even soon-to-be President Epperly seemed to appreciate all the work put into the event.

Brock University applies for gambling licence

By Jordan Barkovitz (CUP)

Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., wason its way to becoming one of the great party schools of Canada when bureaucracy stepped into the picture.

The Brock University Students’ Union’s idea of bring- ing in studentsto Isaac’s Pub on Tuesday nights was going according to plan until it realized bingo is a form of gambling, and the pub would need alicence.

So instead of getting the cards and markers out right away, the students’ union submitted an application for a bingo licence to the City of St. Catharines. The decision to give the student union a licence is expected by the end of March.

Student union president Paul Bruin says several students approached the students’ union about holding a bingo night.

He says that if Isaac’s, which is owned by the student union, gets the licence, the sale of alcohol will be prohibited during the bingo nights. This is a condition of the licence.

Bruin says the night will be an “‘alternative social

and have a good time.’’ Se, Sane Kathie Newman, a lottery licensing inspector for the

City of St. Catharines, says, ‘‘It is an unusual request.”’

She expressed concerns about whether the alcohol ban would been forced. ‘“How are you going to control shutting off the taps andnot serving alcohol?’’

Terry Varcoe, Brock’s vice-president ofadministration, says the university administration is staying out of the situa- wes Tl don’t know if we’ ve even thought too seriously about it. We havea hands-off approach with the students’ union. Basically, we have no position on the matter,’ Varcoe says.

Provided the gambling licence is granted, Tuesday night bingo will join Isaac’s other events such as the Monday night pool shoot and Wednesday comedy nights.

Any profits from bingo made by the pub are to go to the Brock Student Foundation, a charitable organization that funds

capital expenditures on campus.

RCo

DaDOLO\w

Nominations will soon be open for the following positions on the UPE] Student Union Councit Executive: President Vice-President External Vice-President Internal Vice-President Finance Vice-President Operations

Councillors: 1 Board of Governors Rep 4 Senate Reps 5 Arts Reps 3 Science Reps 2 Business Reps 1 Nursing Rep 1 Veterinary Medicine Rep 1 Senate MAPUS Rep 1 First Year Rep 1 Graduate Student Association Rep

Class Executives Class executives for First, Second,

Third, and Fourth Year classes, President

Vice-President Secretary Treasurer

Non-voting Members: MAPUS Representative Ombudsperson

Dates to remember:

Nominations March 6-17 All-Candidates Forum March 22 Advance Polls March 27&28 Regular Polls March 29&30

Nomination forms may be obtained at the Student Union ffices in the Bam.

_ £vent,’’ He saysthat it’s ‘‘a different way for students to interact March 14, 1995