March is Women’s History Month, and SRU’s Women’s Center has been organizing various events to celebrate.
The Women’s Center has been at SRU since the 1980s, providing education, resources and events for students on campus to grow and learn.
Dominic Cristini is the Assistant Director of Gender and Sexuality overseeing The Women’s Center and The Pride Center.
“Women’s History Month at large is here to celebrate and highlight the achievements and contributions of women throughout history,” Cristini said.
“The Women’s Center is very focused on gender equity and making sure women have a seat at the table, and that everyone has the ability to advocate for themselves,” Cristini said.
Cristini got involved after realizing he enjoyed having the opportunity to help support people.
Cristini worked professionally at SRU as an area coordinator prior to his current job.
“After a couple years, I said, ‘how do I take that and work into populations that need even more support on a larger level?’” Cristini said.
When Cristini found out that SRU was hiring, he felt that working for the Women’s Center and Pride Center was the “perfect fit.”
“I could work together to help support both populations with my passion and love of support,” Cristini said. “Throughout the year, I try to make sure we have education around gender equity [and] health equity.”
The Women’s Center works with various organizations and clubs on campus to provide new educational opportunities.
Recently, the center just completed their second networking night, partnering with Alumni Engagement and The Career for Career and Academic Progress.
The aim is “teaching women some business skills and making a network of professional colleagues in the work force, and in the field they are going into. That may help them professionally develop into whatever field they might turn into,” Cristini said. It’s also “making sure that women have support from a diverse network of professionals to help support them wherever life takes them.”
The Women’s Center and Pride Center partner together often to organize events.
“There’s a lot of overlap in terms of…access to a lot of different items, especially. They were experiencing a lot of liberations in the same time period as well,” Cristini said. “So a lot of history overlapping. So, it’s nice to do a little history lesson sometimes. Women got credit cards at the same time gay people were experiencing the right to exist.”
The Women’s Center encourages individuals to reach out and ask questions, as well as work with the center for events and programs .
“I wish more people would realize that we are here and we would love to work with them,” Cristini said.
For more information about upcoming events, students can visit The Women’s Center’s CORE page and follow their Instagram at sruwomenscenter.
“People should just come to our things and learn, and advocate for others to learn from us, and tell their friends to pay attention to the messages that come. I think people should also be involved in their campus community and advocate for the issues that are at hand,” Cristini said.
Some events students are able to attend include the following:
March 13, Legacy Lecture: Mary Lincoln’s Photograph Album, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Smith Student Center 323. Sponsored by the SRU Women’s Center
March 25, Consent 101, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Smith Student Center 323. Sponsored by SRU Women’s Center.
March 26, Women and Allies Mentoring Event, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. By President’s Commission on Women and Gender Studies Program.
March 28, ‘26 Spring: Street Couture, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Theater. Sponsored by Q.U.E.E.N.S Org.
March 31, Scholarship Fair, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Theater. Sponsored by the Office For Inclusive Excellence.
“Get involved in and support the female-led clubs and organizations on campus,” Cristini said. “The Women’s Center just wants to see everyone thrive, so be involved on campus.”
