February 23, 2005 The Northern Women’s Centre forget something? GRAPHIC PROVIDED The UNBC Women’s Centre provides many services on campus, including a volunteer program and training, workshops, a mentorship program, and library resources. Women’s Supplement Page 2 And We Are? Br Jo Brace CONTRIBUTOR To put it simplistically, WE are You! The Northern Women’s Centre exists as a space for women on the campus at UNBC and, despite its location, the centre is open to women in the com- munity. At the Women’s Centre, women have the opportunity to mect with other women, to relax, talk or plan action on women’s issucs, and the Centre also provides valuable referrals to community resources. The centre is run by a coordinator and a volunteer collective. The collec- tive members are responsible for the overall running of the Centre, plan- ning and organizing events, holding workshops, doing fund raiscrs, and ensuring that the Centre upholds its mandate and fulfills its mission statc- ment: The Women’s Centre is a non- profit organization committed to sup- porting, cducating and advocating for the diverse necds of women in Northern British Columbia. We arc dedicated to providing a 24- hour safe space for women and fur- thering gender cquality. Some of the services and programs available at the Centre are: the volunteer program and training, workshops, community resources and pamphlets, assistance and referrals, a mentorship program, free condoms, library resources, The Closet of women’s clothing, and December 6 and March 8 commemo- rations. One of the main fund raisers of the Northern Women’s Centre is Jezcbel’s Jam. An annual event since 2000, Jezcbel’s Jam has gained popularity in the Prince George community as a valuable fundraiser and as a venuc for all kinds of artistic expression for all artists. This year the event will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2005 in the UNBC Atrium. What is really exciting about this event is the kick off for International Woinen’s Weck which runs from Sunday, March 5 to Saturday, March 12, 2005. So come join us to celebrate with music, dancc, poctry reading, some local artists will be painting and drawing (this is an auction cvent where people can bid on the artist and a blank canvas and they will be able to take the art home with them at the end of the cvening). We are women work- ing to give women confidence, support, and resources they need to live free from oppression. Every year, procecds of this event are donated equally between the Northern Women's Centre and anoth- er deserving non-profit society, This year, the Northern Women’s Centre is pleased to announce that the proceeds of this cvent will be donated in part to AWAC, an Association Advocating for Women and Children. The university is part of the com- munity and vice versa, so it is not just its own isolated pocket. We are women working to give women confidence, support, and resources they need to live free from oppression. At the Women’s Centre, we work together in a safe and nurturing envi- ronment, where cveryone’s voice is equal and valued. Drop by and check out our space! We offer comfortable couchcs and some awesome people! What is Life on Campus? Br Lesiry BANISTER CONTRIBUTOR A couple weeks ago there was a Pro- Life table set up on campus. This has caused enormous controversy in the past and will continuc to cause contro- versy so long as abortion is still an issuc. This year the representatives took a more passive approach to attracting student interest, this a stark difference compared to past years wherein they would solicit students via morc aggressive means. In the past students were often very offended by the active solicitations considering they were very confrontational, it forced students blatantly state whether they were opposcd to abortion or pro- choice, and those who were pro-choice were often interrogated and shunned for making such a decision. Although this is an institution of higher learning, and I do fundamentally believe in an active voice for cither side of the debate, I do not think that cither side should be able to force their beliefs on another, In saying this, I also recognize the importance of the services on campus to be open to either decision a woman -or a family should make. All services should be available as medium wherc- in a family unit may discuss their options. Having a child and keeping a child may be the only options for some womcen, but for another, this may seem unrealistic. It is therefore unreason- able for an impartial counscling ser- vice to solicit their opinions when dealing with the decisions of another person. Now this is where the debate gets heated. Why should one person be able to make the decision pertaining’to the potential termination of anothcr “lite?” And, what is the real definition of life? Each side of the debate has a different definition, and this makes it impossible to create any constitutional laws that are appeasing to cithcr side, without violating the rights of the woman, At what point can the gov-. ernment claim sovercign control over the body of a woman, for the sake of the rights of the foctus? And, if the child is forced to be carried until term, who then cares for that child? All of these questions have different answers, depending on which side of the debate you are on. They also carry different weight, depending on whose rights you view to precede the other. Should the rights of the foctus over- ride the rights of the woman at all times? Or should they only override once foctus has reached the gestation period? Who knows? What I do know is that this debate will not be answered by this simple article in the university newspaper, but Thope it clarifies why most of the ser- vices on campus take a pro-choice stance. There are no laws on abortion and because of this it is not illegal, but it is not entrenched as legal through abortion laws or within our constitu- tion. Therctore, all options are given to the future parent or parents of the future child and the decision is their decision alone. The government has taken a “hands off” approach to abor- tion, and therefore so have public edu- cation institutions across Ganada. We as a campus community need to be inclusive to all students. Post sec- ondary should be something that is accessible to everyone; this includes single parents, familics, sexually active singles and those who choose ahsti- nence. An inclusive environment needs to be open and supportive of the deci- sions our student body makcs; it is not our place to judge them, especially if these acts are not illegal. About the Cover The cover art was produced as a collaboration between Laba Guebezai, Natalie Thomson, and Angel Resendes, vol- unteers at the UNBC Northern Women’s Centre. The cover’ only features the centre section of the large canvas painting. The painting, along with many others by talented female artists, is currently on display in the Women’s Centre.