Image Courtesy of Elizabeth Egan/Norah Marriner, a member of Empower, leads a discussion about identifying signs of control in a relationship.
Empowering students to become educated advocates for campus safety is the goal of the St. Bonaventure University club, Empower.
Empower is a student-run group that uses trainings and creates programs for the campus community to help raise awareness on topics including bystander awareness, sexual assault, violence prevention and signs of unhealthy relationships.
Tatum Stitzel, a junior double majoring in accounting and finance, serves as the president of Empower. She became involved as a freshman after hearing about her brother’s involvement with the club and deciding it was an organization she wanted to become a part of.
According to Stitzel, Empower tries to have two events or discussions every month. Past events have included Take Back the Night, a national initiative to help make people feel safer walking around campus at night, and a discussion about how the phrase “Because I love you” can be used to manipulate people in a relationship.
Merrill said they also have a weekly meeting on Monday nights where they brainstorm different events and discuss what topics the group should be focusing on.
“We try to have at least two events each month,” Merrill said. “ Many of our events are tabling events around campus, however, we also hold discussions on different topics throughout the semester.”
The group has around 20 members with only a couple men participating in the weekly meetings.
Natalie Merrill, a sophomore majoring in history and double minoring in political science and Spanish who has been in the club since the fall of 2022, believes the low male involvement is due to the organization being seen as for women only.
“That is not the case,” Merrill said. “We want everyone to feel welcome to join Empower.”
“I think the reason there are not more men in the club is that people think we talk about ‘women’s issues”’, Stitzel said. “In reality, the issues we talk about can affect anyone and happen to anyone.”
Stitzel said the group is currently discussing ways to make sure their events better include men and all other voices.
“My favorite part about Empower is the people I have met doing it over the past few years,” Titzel said. “To anyone considering joining Empower, I would say it’s definitely worth it.”
For Merril, her favorite part of Empower is that it is fun.
“Our weekly meetings are genuinly filled with laughter and as the years have gone on we all have become friends and gotten to know each other,” Merrill said. “It’s good to feel like you are making a difference while having fun and meeting people as well.”
Merrill said anyone considering joining empower should just give it a try.
“Show up to one meeting and bring a friend and just see what we’re about,” Merrill said. “Our advisor Tara Kent-Leonard would also love to talk to anyone who is interested in being a member so feel free to stop by her office in Reilly 200 (she always has coffee, candy and snacks).”
eganea20@bonaventure.edu
