By Elizabeth Gerbush

The Feminist Action Network (FAN), Buffalo State College's student-based women's group, may need to change its name soon: to the Feminist No Action Network.

Faculty adviser Amitra Hodge is lamenting the disappearance of the group's once active membership. The brainchild of Hodge, assistant professor of sociology and coordinator of the women's studies program, and Kaiti Tastrom, class of 2004, the group was formed in the fall of 2002 after Tastrom inquired the previous spring about the existence of a women's space on campus.

“The only thing I had done in the past was to meet informally with females and we would talk about life issues , relationships , women in business and the workplace ,” explains Hodge.

With the birth of FAN came an official organization where students could meet to speak, learn and educate others about problems affecting women today, such as violence against women , inequality in the workplace and gender stereotypes . The group contained around 12 members, with 4 or 5 very active core members that sought out resources and headed the planning of events. With no official gathering place, the group would sometimes meet at Tastrom's apartment, coffee houses, the Women's Studies office in the Classroom Building and the Fireside Lounge in the Student Union .

The group networked and partnered with other campus organizations, including NYPIRG , Students for Peace and the University at Buffalo's women's group, organizing informational meetings designed to educate other students about issues like birth control , abortion , safe haven laws , self-empowerment , domestic violence , rape , the treatment of women in war ravaged nations , women and smoking and poverty's effect on women in Buffalo . FAN also participated in Take Back the Night , an annual rally against sexual assault, domestic violence, sexual harassment and stalking that is organized by Weigel Health Center .

“When it was active, it was really active,” says Hodge. However, after the core members graduated (with one transferring to a different school) last year, Hodge was unable to find the remaining members and the group became “stagnant, unfortunately.”

According to Hodge, a quiet period sometimes occurs with student organizations on campus.

“Sometimes a group will get a lull,” says Hodge. “We'll have an active group, and then if they graduate we have to bring it back up, and I think that right now, that's what's going on.”

Aubrey Finnegan, a senior design student, loves the idea of a campus women's group, as long as it's based on action and not just talk.

“I think it's a great idea, if it's about bringing forth change and not just sitting around talking about each other's problems,” she states. “I never knew that a group existed, though. Maybe a recruitment table should be set up in the union to publicize it.”

Hodge stresses that the group isn't history and could easily be reincarnated if it were to garner enough interest amongst the student body. Anybody interested in joining is encouraged to contact her at 878-3542.

“It's still in the books and the only thing we need is to get a core group of females and males so that we can get the money. USG [United Students Government] has money!” Hodge exclaims. “Students, where are you?”

Elizabeth Gerbush can be reached at gerbet47@buffalostate.edu .

‘Students, where are you?'

Amitra Hodge

FAN adviser Amitra Hodge is hoping to recapture student interest.