Women’s Centre will not take ‘RyeSAC’ tag
By Mikhael Bornstein
The Ryerson Women’s Centre is fighting to save not only its independence, but its name.
RyeSAC President Paul Cheevers has twice asked the Ryerson Women’s Centre to change its name to the ‘RyeSAC Women’s Centre,’ but received a unanimous refusal both times.
The Women’s Centre has traditionally been autonomous from RyeSAC.
“The Ryerson Women’s Centre’s political autonomy is what makes the centre a safe haven for women with eating disorders, women who have been harassed on campus,” says Kelli Campbell, the RyeSAC Women’s Issues Commissioner. “Would a woman who is being sexually harassed by someone on the RyeSAC Board of Direcotrs feel safe coming to the centre if it has no autonomy and is politically affiliated with RyeSAC?”
Cheevers says he only wants to give credit where it is due.
“The Women’s Centre is a big part of RyeSAC, and you want that reflected in the name,” says Cheevers.
In his letter he argues that the name change is necessary to support RyeSAC marketing efforts. “RyeSAC gives the Women’s Centre $15,000 annually. They sought a financial increase (last year) and we granted it… It would only seem logical for the funding organization to have a part in the Women’s Centre name.” Cheever says about the demand.
In a letter to Campbell, the RyeSAC Women’s Issues Commissioner, Cheevers wrote, “…a certain level of autonomy has always been respected by both the women’s centre and RyeSAC. While the executive agrees with this autonomy, we are strongly recommending and encouraging name change.”
However, the week before orientation Cheevers did more than encourage the name change. He instructed the Copyrite staff not to print an orientation pamphlet with the “Ryerson Women’s Centre” name on it.
Cheevers relented after the Women’s Centre appealed to the RyeSAC General Manager John Fabrizio. “He authorized the Copyrite to print about a hundred copies,” said Campbell. “But if we tried, I don’t believe the Ryerson Women’s Centre can get any more printing done there. We’ll get ou printing done off campus if we have to.”
Gwen Yorston, the Women’s Centre Coordinator, doesn’t find Cheevers’ funding argument convincing. “If you receive funding from an organization, should you take their name? The United Way provides funds for the Family Services Association but does not insist on the name United Way Family Services Association.”
Campbell points out that the Women’s Centre has made several changes in support of RyeSAC. “Although it does not match the specially selected decor of the Ryerson Women’s Centre, we [The Women’s Centre] have allowed our doorjambs to be painted the RyeSAC blue; We have put RyeSAC logos on our posters and advertising.” The Women’s Centre is willing to include, “Funded by RyeSAC” on all printed materials.
Over the past 10 years RyeSAC has changed their name three times. Yorston wonders if there will be another change next year. “Just imagine how little recognition in the community we [Women’s Centre] would have if we had changed our name three times.”
Cheevers says he will bring the issue back to the RyeSAC executive committee for further discussion.
Campbell says it is not likely the Ryerson Women’s Centre will change its name without a struggle.
“For RyeSAC to force a name change in spite of the collective opposition of the women who use and operate the centre, this is exactly the type of oppression the Ryerson Women’s Centre was established to overcome in the first place.”
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