Elizabethtown College has over 80 student groups on campus, each promoting a different goal and bringing something exciting to the College.  Some groups allow students to showcase their talents while bring students together through a common interest or to advocate a particular cause. This semester, students are working to create a new group, Students Advocating Gender Equality (SAGE). It is in the works to become the College’s only group to specifically focus on gender issues.
The mission of SAGE is to show the campus that gender inequalities still exist and remain a major issue in our society. While these issues may not seem prominent in 2012, people are undoubtedly still treated unfairly because of their gender.  The proposed club does not only focus on women’s issues but also men’s.  Both genders face stereotypes and are made to believe they should live up to these ideals.  SAGE’s goal is to not only make students aware of these issues, but, more importantly, to eliminate them.
Inspired by her women and gender studies classes, women and gender studies minor, senior Sarah Steinmetz, with the help of some classmates, decided the issues they were discussing in class should be brought to the attention of the campus community. Specifically, after taking Sex and Gender in Society, taught by Professor Katherine Taylor, students realized it was critical to advocate for gender equality at Etown. They felt the best way to do this would be to start an official student group.
Sex and Gender in Society discusses sexism, various stereotypes, women’s movements in history, current social issues and sexuality. SAGE member Kaitlin Bucklin, a junior, also discussed her concern in supporting gender equality after taking Sex and Gender in Society. “We want to get the awareness out there instead of people going with stereotypes they see on TV and in movies,” Bucklin said. “We want to get people to think how this affects you, your mothers, your sisters, your grandmothers and your girlfriends.”
In order to become an official group, OSA and Student Senate had to approve SAGE’s mission statement and constitution. Steinmetz began by reaching out to the women and gender studies director, Dr. T. Evan Smith, and talked to women and gender studies classes in an attempt to gauge student curiosity in the group. Eventually Steinmetz had enough student supporters to sign the required petition.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, interested students held a planning meeting where students were elected to officer positions; a constitution was constructed and a mission statement composed.
SAGE is led by Sarah, who is President, Brianna Wiest, Vice President, Katherine Tripp, Secretary and Alyssa Broda, Treasurer. Now, all paperwork must be looked over by SAGE’s faculty advisor and assistant professor of education, Dr. Amy Thomason, and eventually everything will be passed on to Student Senate and OSA for approval.  The process must be completed by the end of September or the club will have to wait until the spring for approval.
Although SAGE is not officially a student group, those interested have high hopes and have already started brainstorming activities for the club. In general, club members will meet bi-weekly to discuss current issues, listen to guest speakers and plan campus events.
SAGE aspires to promote gender equality in a way that will interest the students of the College. They plan to show movies that explain the need to break stereotypes and movies that show specific examples of where gender inequality still exists in society.
One event the club is excited about is re-introducing the Vagina Monologues to the college. The Vagina Monologues is an interactive program in which volunteers act out stories of female rape, assault and abuse.  It is a powerful and very moving experience for participants and viewers.
Steinmetz believes SAGE will also get students interested in the women and gender studies minor. “As people learn about these issues, they begin to get excited about it. They just don’t know it’s out there,” Steinmetz said.
In the short-term, forming the club, gaining student support and officially being recognized by Student Senate and OSA are the goals of the students working to make SAGE an official student group. While providing entertainment, these planned activites will also inform students of gender inequalities in a powerful way.
One important element Steinmentz, Bucklin and all members want both interested members and students to know is that SAGE is by no means only a feminist group.  In this day and age, Steinmetz believes the term feminism is misunderstood. “Feminism is not just promoting women’s rights but equality for all people: old, young, gay, straight, black, white, man or woman,” she said. While the club will begin by focusing on gender equality, it also supports equality for all.
As the club awaits the approval of OSA and Student Senate, a group of individuals have stood up for gender equality and will continue to do so.  If you are interested in becoming a member of SAGE or for more information contact Steinmetz at STEINMETZS@etown.edu.