Best Place You've Never Heard of at Saint Mike's: Center for Women and Gender

Center for Women and Gender in a bit of snow.

When you visit Saint Mike's, tours will frequently bring you by the academic quad, first-year quad, library, Tarrant/Ross athletic center, Alliot and Dion. Each of these are central to the SMC experience in their own way, but unfortunately you can't fit all the coolest places onto one tour.

The Center for Women and Gender, located right across the parking lot from Tarrant/Ross, is by far one of the coolest places on campus. Not only does the CWG host progressive speakers, events and student organizations, but the building itself is really cozy and has a full kitchen. Plus it feels homey, which can be a nice escape when classes get stressful.

Living room.

I first started visiting the CWG when I began attending Common Ground meetings my first year. Although now they meet in the Multicultural Student Affairs office, I've always appreciated venturing over for a variety of reasons: such as the pancake breakfast they do each semester, pre-trip India meetings, a workshop by Robyn Ochs on self-care for activists, and Common Ground coffee hours. At the moment, I'm sitting on a couch in the CWG living room for the hour before my 12.15 class.

Not only has the CWG been extremely functional in my experience, I've also learned quite a bit outside of class from events/groups/conversations related to things I've done, seen, or heard via the CWG. My understanding of gender, race, and class politics have hugely impacted the way I think about these systems of oppression in the context of politics and the economy. I wouldn't have learned all that I have without this place!

If you're a prospective student I highly recommend getting in contact with Julia (jberberan@smcvt.edu) so you can drop in and visit. And current students, if you've never been over this way it's well worth a visit!

Thanks to the CWG and the people who run it for all that they've given this campus. It's truly the coolest place you've (now) heard of at SMC!

Below: more photos!

One Billion Rising bulletin--a global campaign to end
violence against women.

Kitchen and front door.

I call this room the 'study'.