Women and men gathered by the dozens to march around Oswego State’s campus to advocate for equal rights between genders on Wednesday March 21.

Organized by the Women’s Center, the Women’s March drew in students who wanted to voice their concern with inequality that women still face today. Despite the chilly weather, the students marched on with their signs, their voices voices shouting chants of female empowerment and solidarity.

“We seek equality in the SUNY Oswego community and beyond through engaging discussions on social justice, joining others in the fight against sexism, racism, classism and all other oppressions, and offering a safe space for all genders,” according to the Women’s Center Laker Life page.

Curiel says that the Women’s Center has been working towards amplifying their voice and making themselves known on campus.

“I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback. A lot of people didn’t know what Women’s Center was a semester ago, a year ago, and today, you can ask people on campus and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, I know about them,’” said Emely Curiel, vice president of the Women’s Center. “That was really our goal. To get up here and bring awareness to who we are and what we do.”

Some of the chants included: “Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes, and no means no,” “Women’s rights are human rights” and “Love, not hate, makes America great.” The event highlighted the difference in wages between men and women, gender violence, and the current movement of Equal Pay for Equal Play for the women’s club sports teams funding from SA.

“We all decided to grab our signs, reclaim our time and march for what’s right because fighting for what’s right is worth it, and fighting for equality and women’s rights is always worth it,” said Omar van Reenen, director of diversity, equity and inclusion for Student Association.

Men’s club sports currently is given 65 percent more in Student Association funding overall than their female counterparts. When this information was fully realized, women’s club sports teams collaborated to advocate for equal funding with #EqualPayForEqualPlay on social media.

After the trek around campus, those involved joined the Women’s Center in the Marano Campus Center food court once again to hold a discussion and debrief. One woman who went up to the microphone was not an initial participant, but she joined when she heard the chants outside her residence hall. Others spoke of their own experiences and hopes for reaching gender equality.

“We thought it was important to bring the same awareness that was happening in Washington D.C. and all over the world, and all of the togetherness,” said Ryan Rodriguez, president of the Women’s Center. “It happens in January, but we want to continue it during March because it’s Women’s Her-story Month.”

The Women’s Center will be holding a Ted Talk-style event, “Who Am I?” in which students can talk about their lives and how they have gotten to be where they are now. The event will be held April 12 at 6:30 p.m. in Sheldon Hall, according to Laker Life events. The organization is also working with van Reenen to provide free menstrual products to students on campus.

Photo by: Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian