Check out the Womxn’s Centre – A safe haven designed for students on campus
The Womxn’s Centre is a University of Windsor Student Alliance (UWSA) service, providing a safe space and welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds and expressions. It has many resources for various programs and centers around Windsor that focus specifically on gender-based issues and support for women at all stages of life. The mission statement of the Womxn’s Centre: “Advocacy of the fundamental rights of womankind, to educate others on issues surrounding women and to promote and enhance the status of women.”
The Womxn’s Centre staff consists of 15 student volunteers The centre works alongside the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention, Resistance, and Support (OSVPRS).
Kim Courtis, Womxn’s Centre Coordinator wants students to know the centre is there for them.
“My advice to UWindsor students is to familiarize yourself with all of the incredible support systems and groups offered at the university and to reach out to as many groups as you can! Remember that no matter what you are going through, you are not alone and there are people out there who want to support you and be there for you through it all.”
Ayat Ibrahim, an undergraduate student at the University of Windsor says the Womxn’s Centre is a welcoming environment. “I attended the ‘cats against catcalls’ event at the Womxn’s Centre and it was a really nice atmosphere.”
“I didn’t know that they offered period products, it was great to learn about all the resources they offer to students,” she says.
The centre offers tampons, pads, condoms, and pregnancy tests, as well as a safe space for womxn to come to.
Courtis encourages all students to join the Womxn’s Centre, Women in Engineering, the OSVPRS, and Women in Law at the Vigil honoring the victims of the École Polytechnique massacre that took place in Quebec in 1989.
You can find them at the memorial outside of the CAW at 11 AM on Tuesday, December 6 to learn more about this massacre and its victims as well as ways to prevent violence against women in the future.
The best way to contact the Womxn’s Centre is through email (womxnctr@uwindsor.ca) or through Instagram (@womxnctr) to stay up to date on events. If you are looking for support due to an act of violence and/or sexual harrassment, please contact the OSVPRS through email (svsupport@uwindsor.ca) or through their form on the Uwindsor website.