FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2008

Contact: K.E. Schwab  

724.738.2199

 karl.schwab@sru.edu

Women’s Consortium converges at SRU for two-day conference       

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – More than 100 members of the Women's Consortium of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, the only PASSHE organization devoted to identifying and serving the needs of women, will visit the Slippery Rock University campus Oct. 16-17 for a Women and Politics: The Power of Choices, Coalitions Alliances and Collaborations Conference. 

            Consortium members come from all 14 PASSHE universities. Most conference events will be in SRU’s University Union.

           Jeanne C. Clark, director of communications for Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, best known as PennFuture, will deliver the 1 p.m. opening day keynote address titled “Building on the Power of Choices, Coalition, Alliances and Collaborations.”

           Second-day speakers are: Allyson Lowe, director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics and Public Policy at Chatham University, who will deliver the breakfast address titled “Education Today, Creating Choices for Tomorrow”; and Kathleen Wilson, vice president of Pennsylvania National Organization for Women, will be the 12:30 p.m. luncheon speaker. Her theme is “Building on the Power of Alliances…Where Do We Go from Here?’

           “We are pleased to be able to host such an important event. It has been more than a decade since SRU served as the host site. I think many in attendance will be surprised at our campus growth in the past 10 years,” said Jodi Solito director of the SRU Women’s Center. “We chose the theme because this is an election year, but in reality we are looking at politics in a broader scope. Whether we’re talking about the classroom, the boardroom, the meeting room or the dining room, everything is political.”

           In addition to Solito, SRU’s Paula Olivero, assistant vice president for student development, and Heather Frederick, assistant professor of political science, helped organize the event.

           Breakout sessions and conference meetings will operate throughout both days.

           Opening day registration begins at 11 a.m. in the union lobby.

           A 5 p.m. opening day President’s Reception is planned, followed by participation in SRU’s annual Lunafest Film Festival celebrating women in film sponsored by the consortium and hosted by SRU’s Women’s Studies Program. The 7 p.m. program will be offered in McKay Education Building. 

                  The consortium’s functions include meeting regularly with the state system’s Chancellor's Office to identify, address and monitor the concerns of women (students, faculty, staff) across the state system; recommending and establishing President's Commissions for Women at each state system university to identify, addressing and monitoring concerns of women at local campuses, including concerns of clerical staff; and supporting research regarding women across the state system.

           For additional information visit: www.passhewc.org. 

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.