Portland State’s Women’s Resource Center has moved into a new space and is hosting a grand opening event Wednesday, Feb. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m.
After months of negotiations with PSU, the center moved to its new location in the Montgomery Hall Basement over winter break. The new space is 20 times larger than its former space in the basement of Smith Memorial Student Union, allowing the center to expand its resources to students. Signs outside the Montgomery Building lead to the new location.
"We had quickly grown out of our 100-square-foot space in the Smith Building," said Aimee Shattuck, coordinator of the Women’s Resource Center. "Our new location in Montgomery is 2,000 square feet with more library and meeting space."
Last term, the staff of the Women’s Resource Center held a public meeting to discuss the move. The majority agreed that moving to Montgomery was the best option due to size, accommodations and better visibility on the Park Blocks.
"[The new location] will be close to proposed family housing," Shattuck said. "People commented on how nicely the Women’s Resource Center fit with the history of [the Montgomery Building] as the first women’s residences in Portland which helped working women moving to the city."
The Women’s Resource Center also added a caf퀌�-style lounge with enough breathing room for student clubs, study groups and individuals to come study and hang out together. Unlike the basement location in Smith, windows line the room allowing natural light to fill the space.
In the corner, a bookcase full of clothing is available for swapping the old with the new. Computer access for students is also available next to the toy box and community bulletin board.
"We want families to feel comfortable bringing their kids here while they work on homework, study or meet with their student groups," Shattuck said.
A wide variety of books and videos involving women’s issues are on hand for students to check out up to two weeks at a time. Resources such as the Returning Women Students Program and the Interpersonal Violence Advocacy Program were also added over the past year.
The only concern with the new space is disability access. "We will be installing better signs and an intercom in the near future," Shattuck said. "But for now, we encourage students with disabilities to check in with the main front desk of Montgomery Hall to find their way to our basement location."
The Women’s Resource Center is also looking forward to performing this year’s "Vagina Monologues" on Feb. 10, 11, and 12. Tickets are available next week at the box office and Ticketmaster.
For more information, visit http://wrc.pdx.edu.