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Feminist Campus Presents:
THE FEMINIST STUDENT VOICE
Welcome to The Feminist Student Voice—your go-to source for unapologetically feminist news, stories, and action, straight from students!
Each month, we’ll bring you the latest on campus activism, reproductive rights, gender justice, and everything in between—written for students, by students . Whether you're looking for ways to get involved, need a feminist take on current events, or just want some inspiration from badass organizers across the country, we’ve got you covered.
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Appalachian State students vote as if their lives depend on it!
TAKE ACTION: BLOCK THE SAVE ACT
It was 105 years ago that women in America won the right to vote through the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A woman’s right to vote was not handed to us. We marched, we were jailed, we were force-fed in prison cells, we were mocked and vilified, and some of us died. But we did not stop until the 19th Amendment became law.
Now, extremists are trying to roll it back. The SAVE Act just passed the House—and it’s nothing more than a voter suppression scheme dressed up as reform. It would require every voter to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. Only original birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers are accepted.
If passed, it could block millions of women from voting—especially those who’ve changed their names, moved, or don’t have access to the necessary documents. Over 21 million citizens in this country don’t have either a birth certificate or passport.
This isn’t about security. It’s about silencing women. And we’re not letting it happen.
Call your Senators and tell them BLOCK the SAVE Act.
Find your Senator here! [[link removed]]
Finding My Room in the Feminist House: Reflections from the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference
Emily Bronson, East Carolina University | April 23
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As my iPhone lock screen read 8:04am, the lobby of the hotel continued to fill with people from all across the country. A low excited chatter filled the conference hall as feminists from all across the country mingled over breakfast. It was day one of the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference. the first time, coming from a small rural county in North Carolina, that I thought "Wow, there are a lot of women just like me here who are passionate about all the things that I am passionate about."
Booths featuring information about reproductive healthcare, the Equal Rights Amendment, and the work of different social justice organizations lined the back of the room. It was the start of an impactful weekend. I crossed paths with environmental feminists, political science professors, congresswomen, life-long activists, and I quickly noticed the one thing they all had in common: a passion that you could feel from across the crowd.
I had the pleasure of interviewing a few conference-goers this morning, asking these young feminists what they were most looking forward to about the weekend ahead of them. Many shared with me that they were excited to meet like minded activists and others let me know that they were most eager to learn from the speakers, panelists and their peers. The panels began, and I ultimately chose ones focused on the politicization of higher education, and writing as a force for change. Many of the sessions were standing room only, which I wasn’t surprised by when I read the line up of panelists.
Madelyn Amos, the Director of the Feminist Campus and the conference organizer, kicked off the General Assembly with a heart-felt and uplifting welcome. She introduced Ellie Smeal, the founder and president of the Feminist Majority, to the podium. Later the first afternoon, my fellow intern and I led the Southern Caucus to provide a space for students from southern states to connect, and maybe commiserate. I was pleasantly surprised that my fellow college feminists brought up issues that I too was facing on my campus. We relished in our shared understanding of what it means to advocate for feminist values in traditionally conservative environments.
Ellie, with decades of organizing experience and a heart filled with passion for equality, shared why conferences like this one were so important. One after another, inspirational women took the podium shining light on their work towards equality, justice, and a better world for generations to come. We discussed ways to include and invite cis men in our efforts for progress. We strategized on how to overcome the over-politicization of human rights advocacy. I quickly noticed how our organizing efforts were becoming more holistic as we each took a piece of advice from one another, eager to bring it back to our campuses.
I distinctly remember a quote from Leela Strong, the director of the Center for Information Research on Civil Learning and Engagement. She said, “Justice isn’t polite; it’s disruptive. You’re not existing in democracy–you’re redefining it.” The room represented diverse lived experiences, with participants spanning the full spectrum of gender identities, sexual orientations, racial backgrounds, and cultural heritages. I typically shy away from telling people I am from the South, but I had never been more proud of southern states than I was at that moment.
It was my first time attending NYFLC, let alone attempting to document it. And it was It made me think back to a political theory class that I had taken. My professor said, “Feminism is a house with a lot of rooms in it. One for each issue that is to be fought for. However, the walls of those rooms are thin, and if you listen, you’ll be able to hear what and who the movement wishes to uplift.” I was, in fact, listening—with ears and heart wide open.
[[link removed]] Coming to the conference, I had a slight idea of what to expect. I knew that I would come away with a new idea for an event on my campus, a quote that I will reuse 100 times, a person that really stuck out to me, and memories that I would cherish with my two best friends.
Emily (right) and two ECU students at NYFLC. What I came away with that I didn’t expect was a new, more inclusive form of feminism that I hadn’t realized was possible, a new passion for intersectionality, an unrealized sense of "Oh yeah, I can do this," and more friends than I could have ever imagined meeting. I keep telling myself, "I can’t wait for next March.”
FEMINIST QUAD TALK
[[link removed]] Feminist Campus: Quad Talk is your platform to share bold opinions, fresh takes, and thoughtful reflections on the world we’re navigating. Whether you’re tackling the latest social issue or cracking a joke about the chaos, this is where your voice matters. Submit your piece (500 words or less please!) to be part of the weekly collection on the Feminist Campus website of young people’s perspectives on the political and social issues shaping our lives today. Let’s talk about it—your way.
Submit your piece here! [[link removed]]
As States Crack Down on Reproductive Healthcare, Colleges Can Make a Difference [[link removed]]
Ava Slocum, Columbia University | April 24 Dobbs legislation, some large public university systems, such as in California and New York, now offer abortion care through campus health.
Back in 2022, I had just finished my freshman year of college when the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision. Since then, I’ve still been able to live in two states where abortion is legal; I’m from California, and I go to school in New York. My own college, Columbia, started offering medication abortion on campus in 2024. In the fall, I interviewed a group of students at our affiliated sister school, Barnard College, who are working to make abortion available there too.
But now, as a senior about to graduate this spring, I’m thinking about my peers in other states—women who started college at the same time that I did, but have watched their access to reproductive healthcare drastically shift over the last four years while they’ve been students. New York, like other blue states, has become a destination state for abortion-related travel after Dobbs . Higher traffic from out-of-state patients can increase demand and wait times at abortion clinics. By offering abortion on campus, colleges can not only help their own students but also support overworked, understaffed local clinics.
Nearly six million students currently attend college in states where abortion is banned or severely restricted. In states with abortion bans, colleges can help students access emergency contraception (also called EC, the “morning after pill” or the brand name, Plan B). EC access on campus makes it easier for students to prevent pregnancy in the first place, reducing the need for stressful and costly out-of-state travel for abortion care.
More than half of college students in the United States are women, and many states with some of the highest student populations—like Texas, Indiana and Florida—have made abortion completely or mostly illegal. The organization Emergency Contraception 4 Every Campus (EC4EC) helps stock EC in vending machines on college campuses around the U.S. It also works with student groups to create peer-to-peer EC distribution services at schools where EC is hard to acquire through the college itself.
As we’ve seen from a number of tragic recent cases, abortion bans are deadly. While we watch abortion restrictions unfold nationwide, is there anything colleges can do to help their women students? Less than two months into the new Trump administration, we’ve been seeing reproductive rights under attack at the national level. As more and more young people flee states with abortion restrictions, colleges can let their students know that help is still available.
Right now, 14 states have total abortion bans. But in the 36 where abortion is still at least partially legal, colleges can offer abortion through their student health services.
By offering abortion—especially medication abortion—on campus, schools can remove many barriers for students. Even in states where abortion is legal, college students are an especially vulnerable population, often lacking the time, money and resources needed to research abortion options and travel to find care. Thanks to post-
FEMINIST GROUP FEATURE: KENT STATE URGE
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What key issues have you been organizing around this year?
In the fall, we focused on voter registration and educating students on the importance of voting in order to advance gender equity and reproductive justice. Most recently, we worked with other student groups to fight back against SB1, the Advanced Higher Education Act, which unfortunately passed and will restrict a lot of important resources on campus.
What challenges have you faced organizing on your campus?
One challenge is the struggle forming a cohesive group to organize and fight back against pressing issues. There are so many different student organizations on campus with differing focuses and it has been difficult to get everyone to work together as a united front. It’s a work in progress! We also faced some pushback from opposing viewpoints who don’t agree with our mission.
How does your group define feminism?
To us, feminism is the idea that everyone deserves to be treated equally and have equal access to imperative resources, no matter their gender, race, ability, or sexuality. We use this concept to fight for equity in our community. We aim to offer resources as well as a safe space to anyone who needs it!
What campaign are you the most proud of?
Recently, we worked with OSA, USAS, and other organizations to protest SB1 and push back against the bill passing. It was quite stressful to come up with a plan of action and work out the logistics. There was a lot of planning that took place and compromise. Despite that, we were all able to come together and execute a protest where our voices were heard by many! Although the bill passed, the fight isn’t over and we are proud of the work we have done on campus.
We want to hear about the work you're doing on campus! Reach out to [email protected] for your group to be featured.
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Feminist Campus is a program of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
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