University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 5, 1992 5 February Sisters challenge KU women February Sisters member Christine Smith answers questions about her role in the takeover of the East Asian studies building 20 years ago. By Shelly Solon Kansan staff writer Twenty years ago, a group called the February Sisters occupied a campus building as a statement for women's concerns. Last night, three former members of the organization challenged women at KU to continue fighting for demands they made in 1972. "If you want to make a difference, you have to start telling other women what you want to do," said Christine Smith, one of the members, who worked at Watson Library when she participated in the protest. "All groups have to get together and tell each other what they think and work from there." Smith, who spoke to about 50 people last night at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave., said the February Sisters worked for two years before they occupied the East Asian studies building, then at 1332 Louisiana St., and gave a list of demands to the University. "We worked our butts off," she said. "Weformed committees. We had meetings. Women got together and talked about their concerns. We were all trying to get these demands. It didn't happen overnight." About 20 women and five children occupied the building and demanded a women's studies department, an affirmative action program, free day care and a women's health clinic. Mary Coral, who participated in the occupation, said that although some needs were met 20 years "Women still do not have adequate day care or health care," said Coral, who was then a wife of a faculty member. ago, some needs still had not been met. Sheila Ritha, a professor of philosophy at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and author of the textbook, "Issues in Feminism," also suggested ways that young women could continue feminist activity. "Identify the need of young women today and figure out how to fulfill it," she said. "We must look at what the February Sisters did and get a clue of what to do now." In Fall 1989, a group of women calling themselves the February Daughters, in honor of the February Sisters, formed on campus. Sharon Danoff-Burg, one of the original February Daughters, said the women formed for certain protests and marches but were no longer an active group. Now a member of Students Against Violence Against Womyn, Danoff-Burgsaid most of the daughters graduated or moved out of Lawrence, and those left were involved with other organizations. Connie Burk, also a former February Daughter, said that women's groups presently were focused on other issues but that she thought energy would be redirected toward the sisters' demands. "There's a long way to go to meet the demands," she said. LSAT • GMAT • GRE Tin Pan Alley RESTAURANT & BAR 1105 Mass.749-9756 TASTY, TONGUETICKLING, TIDBITS! All Day Breakfast, Appetizers, Satisfying Meals, and Desserts Classes Now Forming! MCAT GMAT GRE LSAT
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