What used to be a dusty, cramped room for storage will now be filled with hope, healing, and laughter. Marygrove’s Women’s Center, now established in room 030 of the Liberal Arts Building, offers a sanctuary of resources, from assault crisis hotlines and Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Questioning (LGBTQ) support networks to information on academic curriculum and programming in women’s studies. Where stacked chairs once collected dust, now sit several shelves of books available for check-out, from history to self-help. Two cozy couches and lounge chairs have replaced the area once reserved for cluttered desks and printers. The once barren walls now wear the proud artwork of female artists, including a cycling display of canvas paintings.
“We envision that the Women's Center might come to be known among students as a kind of oasis where they can stop by to browse and stay to study regardless of their majors, in a safe, rigorous, and supportive environment,” said Darcy Brandel, assistant professor of English.
The Center is open to men and women from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Work-study students, like Veronica Johnson will greet you with a big, warm smile, offering aid and resources. Johnson, a social work major, has a drive to help those who need it most.
Read more: Women’s Center Manifests on Campus