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A N.E.W. diversity

"N.E.W." does not stand for "No Education for Women," the "Network of Eventual Wives" or "Nuts for the Elimination of Women."

N.E.W. stands for the Network of Enlightened Women.

N.E.W. is a group of young women who quietly gather in the basement of one of Mr. Jefferson's pavilions on Wednesday nights. We sit around a table, eat chocolate chip cookies and carry pink binders with our agendas. We discuss our position as women in society. We acknowledge and appreciate that we have more opportunities than any other generation of American women.

So why all the fear of us?

Why am I, as the president of this organization, constantly receiving e-mails lambasting N.E.W.? Why are columnists condemning our events? Why are feminists questioning our motives?

It is because we embody the most dangerous type of threat to any feminist, or, for that matter, liberal -- we actually walk the walk, rather than just talk the talk of diversity, tolerance and intellectual freedom.

By hosting Dr. Christina Hoff Sommers, N.E.W. challenged the dominant discourse at the University. Rather than using feminist tactics such as protesting, rudely interrupting or writing inaccurate commentaries on an opposing viewpoint, we countered "The Vagina Monologues" by engaging it intellectually.

Not surprisingly, some feminists chose to take the low ground by critiquing our fliers, organization and statements out of context, rather than actually engaging the argument. So, I will debunk their two main critiques.

Firstly, some feminists complain that Sommers was advocating that we simply ignore violence against women in the hopes that it will go away. In her speech, Sommers explicitly said, "I want to acknowledge that 'The Vagina Monologues' has made one valuable contribution to society. [Eve] Ensler has used it to raise vast sums of money toward the cause of fighting violence against women ... Nothing I say here today should be taken as criticism of her humanitarian work, which is vitally needed and admirable."

By listening to Sommers' speech, that argument is completely discredited. Sommers clearly stated that she supports the fight against violence against women, but does not think it is necessary for the feminists try to co-opt Valentine's Day, the one day set aside each year to celebrate love, to do this.

Secondly, some feminists claim that there is no reason to counter "The Vagina Monologues." Sommers gives us three convincing reasons. Firstly, it is "atrociously written." Secondly, it is anti-male. Thirdly, it paints women as desperate and pathetic, while claiming to empower them. This is her most persuasive point. Sommers highlighted that one of the main arguments of the National Organization for Women, which led the feminist movement of the 1970s, was that women were equally as intelligent and capable as men. Thus, NOW believed women should be treated the same way as men, rather than being reduced to their bodies. However, "The Vagina Monologues" does just that.

Rather than engaging these arguments, the feminists have once again chosen to ignore them. I encourage people to challenge Sommers. That is exactly the intellectual exchange that should be occurring on college campuses, especially at Mr. Jefferson's University. However, genuine intellectual diversity on many women's issues is missing at the University, and feminists are determined to stamp out the brushfire we have created.

The University has a place where a wide range of women's issues should be debated: The Studies in Women and Gender (SWAG) Department. But this is not occurring. In most departments, there are professors with differing viewpoints, who can critique each other, and in turn challenge each other to be accurate. However, women's studies departments throughout the country have successfully created a bastion of feminism where conservatives need not apply. For example, I could not find one book or article by a conservative female author on the introductory SWAG course syllabus. The introductory class to a department whose mission statement is to "analyze history and culture form a women's perspective" should include at least one reading reflecting a more conservative viewpoint.

N.E.W. was created to fill a void. Our goal is to foster the education and leadership of conservative university women. N.E.W. is devoted to promoting intellectual diversity. We do not advocate forcing women to stay at home. However, unlike our feminist counterparts, we do not advocate forcing women to work outside of the home. Last semester we read Danielle Crittenden's book, "What Our Mother's Didn't Tell Us: Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Women." This semester we will have mock debates, a women's panel and one more speaking event. We will be discussing current events that impact our lives.

So again I ask, why all the fear?

Let me ensure our friends and foes alike, the fire of intellectual diversity is still burning bright and the Network of Enlightened Women will continue to proudly spark and carry that flame.

Karin Agness is the president of the Network of Enlightened Women.

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