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Clarion University hosts parenting forum

The question and answer session at the pregnant and parenting forum.

A parenting forum to provide information for pregnant and parenting students was held recently at Clarion University. Clarion University’s Pregnancy and Parenting Resources Initiative sponsored the forum.

The purpose of the Forum is to assemble all of the major university offices and work out a coordinated program of services to aid pregnant and parenting students. Students, who also play a role as parents, were able to ask questions to professors and discuss various issues that arise in their unique situation.

Joyce McCauley Brenner from Feminists for Life of America moderated and directed the forum. Feminists for Life is a national organization that supports pregnant and parenting students, communicates available resources and helps create a central location for information on campuses.

Feminists for Life implements creative ideas like forming and training volunteer babysitting corps to help parenting students find time for class, study or a personal break; purchasing diaper-changing stations for campus bathrooms, raising money for student parents with a “back to school” rummage sale; and recording classes for pregnant and parenting students who must miss class.

Additional Clarion University offices involved in the forum included Keeling Health Center, Academic Affairs, Counseling, Financial Aid, Housing, and the Siler Center.

The Pregnancy and Parenting Resources Initiative is open to participation of anyone interested in promoting services for pregnant and parenting students. For information contact:

Students for Life – To be placed on a master list, contact Dr. Thomas Rourke at trourke@clarion.edu. Student leaders are Gina Fazenbaker, e-mail s_gmfazenbak@clarion.edu and Steve McNulty, e-mail s_smmcnulty@clarion.edu.

Women’s Studies Program – Dr. Deborah Burghardt, e-mail dburghardt@clarion.edu; or intern Bonita Mullen, e-mail s_bcmullen@clarion.edu

Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance – Dr. Robert Girvan, e-mail Girvan@clarion.edu. Student leaders are Kelly Surgalski, e-mail s_kjsurgaldk@clarion.edu and Stacy Duran, e-mail s_smduran@clarion.edu.

Women United – Dr. Deborah Burghardt, e-mail dburghardt@clarion.edu, or Tiona Williams, e-mail s_tjwilliams@clarion.edu.

The Pregnancy and Parenting Resources forum was sponsored by Clarion University’s Office of the President, Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, University Health Center, Women’s Studies Program, Pregnancy and Parenting Resources Initiative, Students for Life, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and Women United.

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