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December 5, 2003

MARCH NEWS


CAMPUS MARCH CO-SPONSORSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW!

The momentum of the March is growing daily. At present count over 400 organizations have become co-sponsors! Coalitions are forming around the country to bring as many people are possible to the nation’s capital on April 24, 2004 and show this country’s leadership that women’s issues are important and need to be taken seriously.

As of December 3, 2004, the following FMLAs and affiliated groups have signed on as co-sponsors of the March:
Boston University Women's Center (FMLA affiliate)
Brandeis FMLA
Bryn Mawr College Voices for Choice
Clark Women’s Center (FMLA affiliate)
Exeter Academy
F.O.R.G.E. - Winona State University
Feminist Caucus of the American Humanist Association
Feminist Majority at UIUC
Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance - San Jose State Univ
Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, University of Massachusetts, Boston
FMLA - Indiana State University
FMLA - Ohio Wesleyan University
FMLA - SUNY at New Paltz
FMLA of Connecticut College
George Washington University FMLA
FMLA-Indiana University- Bloomington
FMLA- University of Chicago
Kutztown FMLA
Northeastern Illinois University-FMLA
OASIS of Howard University
Queen’s College Women’s Center (FMLA affiliate)
R.A.W. - Brooklyn College
Temple Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance
University of Wisconsin Green Bay Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College Feminists an FLMA affiliate
Vassar College Feminist Alliance
Women's Issues Organization - Loyola U. New Orleans

Is your group missing from this list?
Get your FMLA or FMLA Affiliate listed on the national March for Choice website and fill out the online form at: http://march.feminist.org/FMFsign_and_tell2.asp. Be sure to put “FMLA” or “FMLA Affiliate” first and then your campus name, so that we can easily see all of the FMLAs listed!

FMLAs PLAN ON BRINGING BUSES TO THE MARCH ALL THE WAY FROM WISCONSIN!

The University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee Feminist Majority Foundation affiliate, the College Feminists, are teaming up with other progressive groups on campus to bring a bus to the March all the way from Wisconsin!

MORE MARCH FUNDRAISING IDEAS

The Feminist Majority Foundation Boston University affiliate, the BU Women's Center has come up with a great fundraising idea: all of the students who have joined the March Coalition so far are compiling in names and addresses of their friends and families and the group is doing a mailing to them all asking them to donate $5 to help their loved one attend the March. Great idea!

PHILADELPHIA AREA FMLAs AND AFFILIATES GET READY FOR THE MARCH

Congratulations to the FMLA's at Bryn Mawr, Temple, Kutztown, and Swarthmore, and Penn for Choice at University of Pennsylvania for organizing such successful March for Choice events in Philadelphia! The total attendance for the events was over 500! Eleanor Smeal and Kim Gandy reminded everyone of the threats to reproductive rights and the emphasized the importance of the March on April 25, 2004. Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work and dedication!


CAMPUS NEWS


SAN JOSE FMLA GETS PRESS

The San Jose Mercury News recently interviewed student leaders of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance at San Jose State in response to the late-term abortion ban. The group also received campus press for their event questioning sexuality and gender norms, “PoMoSexuals look to lose society's labels.”

FMLAs COMMEMORATE WORLD AIDS DAY

The Penn State University FMLA participated in a large coalition of progressive groups led by the Penn State Global AIDS initiative to organize “World AIDS Day 2003: Live and Let Live" on campus. The day included a candlelight vigil, HIV/AIDS Film Documentary screenings, and advocacy workshops including “Children and AIDS," "Trade, AIDS and Global Justice," "Global AIDS 101," and letter writing. The event also featured a keynote address - "HIV/AIDS and the Politics of Identity" - that was held on Monday, and featured generous donations of food from area restaurants.

The SUNY NEW PALTZ FMLA is sponsoring a vignette in the campus “Tunnel of Oppression,” which is an annual event where a coalition of groups come together to create scenes depicting human rights violations like domestic violence, hate crimes, gay bashing, etc., The FMLA Events chair, Victoria Passarella, reenacted a back alley abortion scene to depict the very real response to illegal abortions where women seek any means possible in a desperate attempt to terminate a pregnancy.

HOW WILL YOU COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE?

Here are three ways you can commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade
1. Sign up attend the March for Women's Lives on April 25, 2004
2. Organize a delegation of family and friends to attend the March.
3. Educate your campus on the threats to safe and legal abortion.

IT'S NOT TOO EARLY

Start planning your activities now for Women's History Month (March), International Women of Color Day (March 1st), and International Women's Day (March 8th)! Some examples of possible actions are: a "did you know" campaign featuring statistics about women's rights around the world, a "faces of feminism campaign" that highlights women's accomplishments throughout history, a teach-in about the Global Gag Rule, a fundraiser for the women of Juarez, an international feminist film festival, or a speaker who can talk about an issue dealing with International Women's Rights. This is a great opportunity to work in coalition with other women's groups and multi-cultural groups on you campus. Consult the actions database at www.feministcampus.org/act/action-directory for many more ideas and to post some of your own!

CORRECTION:
We reported in the last Choices E-zine that the Vassar Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance was working on Get Out Her Vote, but it should have read that the SUNY New Paltz FMLA did work on Get Out Her Vote on campus. We apologize for the misprint.


FEMINIST COMMUNITY NEWS


NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN'S HEALTH EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER RELEASES NEW BOOK ON INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S HEALTH

The Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center has released a new book, Indigenous Women’s Health Book, Within the Sacred Circle, in a landmark effort to assist Native American women in developing self-advocacy skills to become active participants in managing their own health. The book provides guidance in both Western and Indigenous health approaches to specifically address Native American women’s health needs. Topics covered range from traditional midwifery, pregnancy, the politics of reproductive health, contraception, domestic violence, barriers to Indigenous women’s healthcare, health effects of environmental contamination, traditional herbs and remedies, Native American nutrition and weight loss, smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, and much more. Written by a group of compassionate Indigenous women, activists, health experts, and healthcare providers, this pioneering book discusses both physical and mental health issues from a variety of perspectives.

This book is a compelling resource for the health of our women, our families, and our collective future. The Native American Women’s Health Education Resource Center and Feminist Majority Foundation encourages all FMLAs and feminist activists to join the efforts to assist Native American women to take control of their physical and mental well-being. For more information on this one-of-a-kind book or to order it at $32.95 (+ $10.00 S&H), please visit www.nativeshop.org or contact Charon Asetoyer at 605.487.7072.


TAKE ACTION


ABORTION PROCEDURES BAN TALKING POINTS

We can never forget the picture of the President surrounded by old white men signing the first ban criminalizing an abortion procedure since Roe v. Wade. As Ellen Goodman pointed out, when President Clinton vetoed this same bill, he was surrounded by a group of women. Right now, as never before, a woman’s right to choose safe, legal abortion is in jeopardy. By passing a ban on so-called “partial-birth” abortion, Congress and the President are pandering to the right-wing, anti-abortion movement. Educate your campus on this ban and use these talking points when tabling, collect signatures of pro-choice support to grow your membership and/or March delegation.

Go to http://www.feministcampus.org/know/training-units/CriminalAbortionBanTalkingPoints.pdf.


CONTACT US


The Choices E-zine is a bi-monthly e-zine intended to keep members of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliances, the Feminist Faculty and Student Networks, and the online Choices Campus Community connected with each other, informed of feminist issues and events, and prepared to take action.

To start a group on your campus or for more information, please email CampusTeam@feminist.org or call a Campus Organizer toll-free at (866) 444-FMLA.

LET US KNOW!
Please let us know about your Leadership Alliance actions and accomplishments so that we can include you in our next newsletter and share your great ideas! Email us about your successful events or upcoming events, campusteam@feminist.org!