Inside the Harley Hall first-floor lounge, a group of students gathered to discuss the thing they are deeply passionate about: feminism.

The Feminists of Shippensburg is the newest club to Shippensburg University, having only received SGA approval on Oct. 6.

The club began when SU freshman Natalie Woleab felt that the university did not offer a space for students to discuss feminism and equality.

“At my old high school, we had a women and leadership club, and it was dedicated to creating a safe space for women, fighting for change and equality, stuff like that,” Woleab said. “When I came to Shippensburg, there was nothing quite the same as that.” 

This observation led Woleab to go through the process of creating a brand-new club. After a few weeks, the Feminists of Shippensburg was born.

The group focuses on creating a safe space for women while combating casual misogyny and rape culture.

“Whether you’re a trans woman or a cis woman, whoever you are, you’re welcome to come discuss what it’s like to be a woman and the hardships you go through,” Woleab said.

Their typical meetings vary from walking around campus to see if the bathrooms are keeping their menstrual products stocked to discussing future events to discussing historical feminists.

While the club aims to be a safe space for women, it welcomes its male members with open arms.

“I joined because everyone important in my life is a woman,” club member Dylan Ross said.

Woleab has big plans for the club’s future. She wants to host fundraiser events to provide rape whistles to students, as well as being donating to women’s shelters.

She is working on collaborating with the SU chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) to have a double screening of Barbie and Oppenheimer, or “Barbenheimer.”

The Feminists of Shippensburg also plans on attending annual events, such as the Carnival of Consent, to promote their club. They have already attended Love Your Body Day on Oct. 13.

The club has grown quickly, now with about 20 members. The club meet every Tuesday at 5 p.m.

For more information about The Feminists of Shippensburg, check out their Instagram @feministsofshippensburg or stop by at one of their weekly meetings.

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