Fighting for Women's Justice Worldwide

 

 

Kathy Sawfford has worked hard to improve the status of women worldwide and provide a safe haven for women who have been the victims of violence; this Tuesday Swafford’s hard work and honorable character were awarded at city council. The award presented by city council member John Gates was a commemoration to Swafford for being of service to victims of crime. Swafford is the director for Fort Collins Zonta Club International a worldwide organization that seeks to protect and provide resources for women as well as raise awareness about gender violence. The Zonta Clubs of District 12 donates money to projects contributing to women’s well being and meets regularly to create new projects. The Zonta organization has over 30,000 members and 1200 clubs in 65 countries.

Swafford says that she was honored to win the award and would remain committed to her cause.

“ It’ important to increase awareness about gender violence,” said Swafford as she accepted her award in front of city council members.

“Zonta is here to create activism and awareness about these issues,” Swafford said.

            Zonta comes from a Lakota Sioux Indian word meaning honest and trustworthy. The international club has donated over 11 million in funds to projects to better women all over the world. Swafford is only one of its members to prove the integrity of the organization.

Election Night: Multiple Places, Multiple Perspectives

 

 

The University Center 3:00pm

The chatter of students builds as a long line grows before the UC ballroom. Students in line search for black pens to fill out signature cards. Exiting the ballrooms students proudly display “I voted stickers” as a photographer for the Mirror takes their picture.

Chippers Lane Bowling Alley 6:00pm - 7:00 pm

Hours before the results of the election are in and Chippers Lanes has now changed two of their 12 TVs’ to news channels. Asides from that, nothing seems to reflect that it is indeed Election Day. A family of four takes turns rolling a blue bowling ball down greased wooden lanes.

The ball collides with the wood floor and veers off. Gutter ball. A couple of lanes over in a button up black shirt an associate of Chippers Lanes pushes a giant cleaning mechanism in a trained method, across the floor boards. The TVs above the family and the hunched worker flash the progressing election. The sound is off.

“Watch out dude!” shouts the associate to children passing by. He finishes greasing the lanes and hoists a tangle of yellow wire over his shoulder then starts off in the direction of the bar, where the Big Bang Theory plays on a flat screen.

Behind the check in counter Tracey Hillesand sprays the inside of bowling shoes with a disinfectant spray. Hillesand is studying business management at the AIMS she has been working at Chippers for the past four months. Although she is at work, Hillesand still hopes to find out the results of the election as soon as possible.

“ I’m following the election. I’m the one who changed the channel,” said Hillesand.

 It looks like a group of men in red shirts are meeting for a bowling tournament, they’ve gathered at a table and are talking loudly over beers.

 

Michener Library 7:00- 8:30 pm

In the Michener library, David Yerkman a junior communications major is scrolling through his emails, though pausing to check PBS.  Yerkman says that he is excited about this election and has been following it closely.

“This is the first election I’ve been able to vote for. I voted for Obama and I’m really excited to see the outcome,” Yerkman said.

Concerning issues Yerkman said that he was particularly interested in Amendment 64. He voted yes to legalize marijuana.

“ I voted yes, because I think it will have a positive economical impact. I didn’t vote for it because of its recreational use,” Yerkman said.

             It’s 9:10 pm and a watch party on 6^th Ave and 19^th Street is underway. Students are eating homemade tacos and watching the election progress on a laptop. PBS news announces that Obama has just won California.

“This is going to be a really close race,” says Jill Kappel a UNC alumna. Kappel is hoping Romney wins the election.

            “ If Obama wins I don’t think I would feel the effects instantly, but I agree more with Romney’s economic plan. If Obama wins I think I will be feeling the financial effects when I look to retire,” Kappel said.

                        When Obama wins Ohio Julya Brown shouts a gleeful, “Woo!”

            “If Romney wins it won’t be the end of the world. But I would be very disappointed,” says Brown a sophomore nutrition major.

             By 10:00 pm  Obama has over 270 electoral college votes and Romney 203. Many students expressed joyful sentiment. At the watch party on 6^th Ave students opened the door to the apartment and shouted out “woo hoo!” Read my blog.