Office of Internal Communications
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January 27, 2005 CELEBRATES A YEAR OF SUCCESS
It’s all in a year’s work— helping 1,500 University of Houston students, faculty and staff, including a battered mother in need of shelter and immigrant women seeking legal aid. As the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) celebrates its first year, its director says she hopes to reach even more of the university community in 2005. “As we make more and more contacts across campus and in the community, we will be able to expand our database of resources and our programming. I look forward to serving twice as many people in the coming year,” said Susan Rosthal, WRC director. The center, which opened in January 2004, is a referral resource facility. The WRC aims to improve the lives of women at the university — staff, students, and faculty — by gauging their needs, sharing information and resources, and advocating for change on their behalf, according to Rosthal. “Establishing this much-needed center has been very satisfying for me,” Rosthal said. Her satisfaction, she says, stems from assisting so many women and men, one of whom is Johnny Gutierrez, lead custodian at the University Center Satellite. Gutierrez, a UH staff member for 22 years, praised Rosthal for her work in locating an attorney for him. “I thought this center was just for women, but I found out that it helps everyone,” Gutierrez said. “It’s a good idea.” In addition to one-on-one assistance, the WRC also has presented numerous programs, including rape and breast cancer awareness seminars and book discussions. The center collaborated with other departments to host various campuswide activities such as World AIDS Day and the Great American Smoke-Out. The center hosted two international delegations on U.S. Department of State tours. Center officials also registered new voters, distributed free movie and Houston Symphony tickets and provided meeting space for student groups. Recently, the center became one of three campus sites with a lactation/nursing room. This year, the WRC plans to sponsor more programs and develop an advisory board with representation from students, staff, faculty, alumni and the Houston community. “I’m looking forward to another productive year,” Rosthal said. Francine Parker
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