May 23, 2023
Restarted this past semester at Shawnee State University, the Women’s Initiative for Strength & Empowerment (WISE) is a woman-led organization. It was created to form a safe and empowering place on campus, where female students can come together to develop a connection with one another.
“Our goal for WISE is to reassure women they are not alone and they have a support group on their college campus,” said Riley Galloway, Secretary and Social Media Manager of WISE. “We also want to give women the opportunity to interact and speak out on their opinions, thoughts, and feelings no matter the occasion.”
Throughout the spring semester, WISE hosted events to allow students to gather and discuss how to better support one another, sharing what empowers themselves, and learning about perspectives from around the world with the Vagina Monologues – a play that is performed nationally by many universities and organizations.
“All ticket funds were donated to Title IX, which helps educate students on topics of safe dating, spotting domestic abuse, and more,” said Galloway.
Open to all on campus, WISE encourages the student body to be involved and learn more about how to support one another on campus.
“WISE is important to me because of the strong relationships between all the members,” said Galloway. “During meetings, a guard feels as if it is lifted where all the people there are not afraid to show their true selves. It is also important because we now have our own community where we can truly connect and be reminded we all have a voice that needs to be heard.”
To learn more about WISE or other campus organizations at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/campus-life.