The Women*s Center on the Washington State University Pullman campus invites the community to celebrate its 50th anniversary and has planned several special activities in recognition of this historic milestone.
The theme for the anniversary is “Shining Together: Celebrating 50 years for Collective Empowerment,” and honors the center’s legacy of uplifting marginalized voices and advancing gender equity while looking toward the future.
“The Women*s Center is like a lighthouse that sheds light on dark issues impacting women,” said Amy Sharp, director of the Women*s Center. “It is more than a physical location; it builds community and provides advocacy for what women need to be successful.”
From 4–7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, the center will host a free art exhibition and keynote address with renowned artist Sophia Wallace in the Jordan Schnitzer Art Museum on the WSU campus.
Wallace is known for her groundbreaking CLITERACY Project and uses art to challenge societal taboos surrounding female sexuality, advocate for body sovereignty, and address the marginalization of female and queer bodies. Her work spans text installations, sculpture, and performance, making her a force in contemporary art and gender advocacy.
Wallace’s creations have been featured internationally, with exhibits at venues like Sotheby’s and the Leslie-Lohman Museum. Her work has also been highlighted in major publications including The New York Times and The Guardian.
The exhibit, entitled Radiant Resistance, is currently available for viewing in CUE 302 through March 5.
The center will host a “Shine Together Brunch,” from 10–11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, at the Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center. Seats must be reserved prior to the event. The brunch will feature a panel discussion inspired by Shine Theory and the center’s enduring legacy. The panel will feature Amy Sharp, director of the Women*s Center; Tania Henriques, president of the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU); Chloe Ko, president of the Multicultural Greek Council; and Mariam Sylla, vice president of the Black Student Union.
In partnership with WSU Libraries, the WSU community is invited to access The Dilemma of Desire, a full-length film about female sexual desire and powerful gender politics. Access the film by logging into the WSU Libraries website.
Women have shined throughout WSU history
The Women*s Center, originally called the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), was founded in 1974, two years after the women’s rights movement introduced federal legislation called Title IX. Education historically excluded women due to gender roles, legal barriers, and lack of educational preparation, and Title IX helped provide momentum that spurred the creation of women’s centers at universities across the country to support, empower, and advocate for women. At WSU, the President’s Commission on the Status of Women formed in 1971, followed by the WRC a few years later.
The first organization for women at WSU, called the Women’s League, formed in 1912. The group changed its name to Associated Women Students (AWS) in 1928, and all undergraduate women automatically became members. A collegiate women’s honorary society, Gamma Tau, formed in 1913 by senior women, and recognized leadership, interest in music, dramatics, athletics, oratory, debate, literacy work, and department activities. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that women’s rights movements gained momentum and AWS took a more visible role on campus.
The Women*s Center has had many signature programs over the years including Week Without Violence, National Education for Women’s Leadership Summer Institute, Women’s Transit, and Reinterpreting Reality Art Exhibits. In 2020, it created Harpy*s Magazine to provide an avenue for students to express themselves through art and written words.
The National Council for Research on Women recognized the center in 2013 for its efforts by bestowing its Diversity and Inclusion Award. The WRC changed its name to the Women*s Center in 2018 — the asterisk symbolizes its support of all genders.
Sharp said the Women*s Center has always been adept at evolving with the times and it has never shied away from addressing issues head on.
“Our students, faculty, and staff have always risen to the occasion whenever injustice raised its head,” Sharp said. “It gives me goosebumps to think about what we’ve accomplished in the past and what we can continue to do in the future.”
