The Village II Commons will soon be undergoing some changes. Sharon Payne, an assistant professor of health and human services and the faculty advisor for Women's Resources, will be moving her office there. A grant has been written to reconstruct VII commons into a Social Science lab. "Health and human services, psychology, sociology, recreation and leisure, and perhaps business courses will be using this area," said Payne.

Payne is currently located in Cypress, a trailer next to Blocker Hall. The Cypress is used as an office building for part-time professors and computer services and is the current location of Women's Resources. "Women’s Resources," said Payne, "provides information and referrals for women on campus, whether they are students or faculty and staff."

The Cypress is also currently the home of the Health and Human Services library. Over the summer the Women's Resources area, the Health and Human Services library and Payne's office will move to the VII commons. The Batten Center has provided more room on campus. The proposed Social Science lab will be official when the grant is approved and the money is provided.

"People from social sciences can do their research," said Payne. "Most of the studies done by social scientists need to be confidential because they are done on people. We also have specialized computer programs that require professors to be present, and now this can be done in a confidential area." The proposed Social Science lab will be subdivided into different areas.

One area will be the Women's Resource office and another will be a seminar area. The psychology department will use an observation room with a double-sided mirror. There will also be an area for the computers will specialized software along with office space.

The Third Annual Celebration of Women's Voices was held in the Hofheimer Theater at 8 p.m. March 22. Admission was $5 and all proceeds were donated to the Women of Hope Project. "We raised $570 for Women of Hope," said professor Sharon Payne of the Women's Resource Office. "This is the largest amount of money we have raised through ‘Celebration of Women's Voices.’"

The event originated with the initiative of theater professor Dr. Sally Shedd. "I had the idea for it the first year I was at Wesleyan," said Shedd. "I wanted to start a campus event that honored Women's History Month while bringing together a wide variety of people–students, faculty, staff, community members." Shedd consulted Payne to see if the Women's Resource Office would be interested in co-sponsoring such a project.

"Sharon was very enthusiastic," said Shedd, "and ‘Celebration of Women's Voices' was born." Payne, in charge of deciding on a local charity to benefit, discovered a new foundation, the Women of Hope Project (WOH). "Each year the Women's Resource Office polls students about agencies with whom they have contact and about which they have concern," said Payne. "One year a student was doing a health and human services internship at the agency we selected."

This year, however, the agency was selected in a much different way. "I saw Women of Hope on Channel 13 and thought their cause was timely," said Payne. "I discussed it with Dr. Shedd, Dr. Drake and others, and we decided to go with it." Women of Hope co-founders Betsy Beamon and Teressa Rerras shared the birth of their foundation and its goals at the event.

"It's an organization, a foundation by women for women," said Rerras. After Sept. 11, many learned about the oppression many Afghani women had faced under the rule of the Taliban. With many of these women, mostly widows, now living in refugee camps, the women and their children are hungry and hopeless.
"Betsy and I started asking ourselves last October, ‘What could we do to make a difference?'" said Rerras.

The women recently traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greeted with open arms, the women personally met and gave donations to the Afghani women. They also came in contact with many surprises and disturbances. "In six short years," said Beamon, "the entire education system for women collapsed." Because of Taliban laws, women could not teach nor attend school.

"Some of them even shaved their heads, dressed like boys, and tried to sneak in," said Rerras of the young girls desperately wanting an education. "The burka keeps them invisible," said Beamon. "Illiteracy keeps them immobile." The WOH is trying to change that.

"They are a great group," said Shedd, "and the status of women in that part of the world is a very timely issue." The project aspires to continue such efforts in various communities worldwide. The building of what they call Hope Village is already in progress in Kabul, Afghanistan. "It provides a place where widows can live in safety," said Rerras.

The village will contain homes, a school, a workshop for the women to create their handicrafts and more. More importantly, women will be taught how to import and export their own goods. "I think it was important that they wanted to help the Afghani women to have the chance to be able to take care of themselves instead of just sending food, supplies and donations," said junior Melissa Giarrizzo. "It's a matter of pride to be able to provide for yourself and your family, and that is exactly what they are doing." Hoping to return in June, the co-founders' primary goal is to raise funds to help the young girls return to school and to aid in the completion of their first Hope Village.

"The women of Afghanistan have been oppressed and horribly abused for many years under the Taliban," said Payne. "By supporting Women of Hope, we hoped to have an impact in their recovery." Senior Martine Green has participated at two of the three “Celebrations of Women's Voices.” "I've learned a lot from the charity itself," said Green. "I think once you find out what the money is going to, you feel better about donating your time and talent."

Giarrizzo was attending the event for the first time. "The two hours went by so quickly," Giarrizzo. "I am constantly amazed at the talent that the students here exude." A dance entitled "The Walking Dead," choreographed by Director Beverly Cordova Duane, was performed by Shannon Acuff of the Second Wind Dance Company. It presented the plight of Afghan women, danced in full burka. Professor Bill Ruehlmann read selections from the work of Dorothy Parker.

Associate Dean of Students Lina Cottingham presented a short comedy monologue entitled "Graceland." Women's as well as men's voices were indeed heard as several contributed their own reflections and words of others. The night was one of humor coupled with harsh realities. It was a collection of creative arts—poetry, story reading, dance, and music—all for a good cause.

Director of Residence Life Keith Moore is the new head coach of the cross country team. Former coach Matt Puryear recently resigned. According to Athletic Director Sonny Travis, "Coach Puryear was a part-time coach, and he has administrative aspirations in Chesapeake. He wanted to devote more time to his full-time job. Coach Puryear did a great job of bringing the cross country program to a very competitive level."

In the search for a new coach, Travis immediately thought of Moore, often seen running around campus. Travis said, "I respect the fact that Keith ran in the Boston Marathon. It shows that he is a serious runner who knows how to train." Moore has run in three marathons and three half marathons and is currently training for his fourth in each category. He plans to run in the Bay Bridge Tunnel Marathon in October.

While Moore has never before coached any sport at the collegiate level, he has previously coached high school athletes. Moreover, he has experience advising runners on improving their program and training for distance. "I am looking forward to having an impact on students in another way," said Moore. "I hope to have a positive influence on student athletes and help them be successful both personally and academically."

Moore has already had the opportunity to meet with some of the returning team members and plans to meet with them each individually to establish personal, academic and running goals for the next year. "Everyone will need to play their part. As a team, I expect them to be supportive of one another; individually, I expect them to challenge themselves," commented Moore.

Moore is already busily planning for his new team, emphasizing cross-training and a solid work ethic through the summer months. He is working with Aquatics and Fitness Director Willie Harrell to develop a cross-training program that will help maximize the team's performance. While Moore is already very busy as the director of Residence Life, he does not think he will struggle with these new responsibilities.

"I really enjoy being busy," he said. "I don't feel like a productive individual when I have down time. Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I do things better when I have a lot on my plate." Travis noted that Moore's presence on campus will be a plus to recruiting. Already, Moore is meeting with prospective runners from the class of 2006. He mentioned that there are some good prospects among incoming freshmen who have already paid their deposits.

Moore said, "I look forward to establishing a relationship with the team. I hope they will work hard and have fun. You have to run happy."