ROSIE hopes to diversify USU
Currently, the Aggie Blue Pride Light only shines blue if a men’s football or basketball game ends in victory. ROSIE is working to get the seven female Utah State University teams also honored in such a way when they conquer a great rival.
“We are trying to get equality throughout all sports,” said Tara Earl, a junior majoring in exercise science and member of ROSIE. “We want each womens team to pick a top rival and if they win, we will light the A blue in their honor.”
New to USU this semester, ROSIE is a club that stands for Righteously Open-minded Sisters/Supporters Inclusive of Everyone.
“There hasn’t been a university women’s club since the 1980s,” said part-founder Jill Henderson, a junior majoring in social work.
According to the club’s creed, the club “will provide a safe, protective place for women of diverse backgrounds to meet, share and use our voices in the community to empower ourselves, breakdown stereotypes and educate USU and Cache Valley. Everyone is welcome regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity.”
Stacy Hata, a freshman majoring in biological engineering, said, “I think it’s good that they’re recognizing that women need more rights, and that they’re doing something about it. I’ve never been able to do anything like this before.”
Other students had similar thoughts.
“I like being in an environment that is accepting of everyone,” said freshman English major Lissa Woolf.
The club has many goals.
“We want to raise awareness, save the planet, create equality, just the normal wants. There is a need for diversity … I hope that we can fill it,” said co-founder Anne Thomas, a recreation resource management graduate student.
Sarah Benanti, a co-founder of ROSIE and forestry graduate student, said, “We want to build a community of women representing this campus. We want to help them find their voice.”
ROSIE is a split of the Pride Alliance, an organization accepting of various sexual orientations.
ROSIE’s plans for the month include a booth in the Diversity Carnival on the Oct. 24. The carnival is held on campus and is an entire community event. After the carnival, members will head to the Gender Blender, a Halloween party open to traditional costumes or cross-dressing. ROSIE’s current foremost interest is to become an official USU club.
New students are welcome to the meetings, held Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center, Room 312. Membership in ROSIE will eventually include modest dues, mostly to pay for T-shirts.
“I am excited to be here,” said Elisha Dillon, who is working on her second bachelor’s degree in nutrition. “We’re just now deciding on officers.”
-ashschiller@cc.usu.edu