The Women’s Resource Center functions to support female students on campus who make up 58 percent of the student body population.

Jenny Whyte, coordinator for the center, said that it offers a variety of resources which include peer counseling, study space, discussion groups and more.­

“The Women’s Resource Center offers a safe, supportive environment for students to connect to one another and to have discussions on issues pertinent to them with the overall goal to increase student success,” Whyte said.

The center was established in 1990 by the Women’s Center Working Group, a committee that consisted of Fresno State students, faculty and staff.

Whyte said that she believed a center such as this was important to have on campus and available to students because of gender issues that still exist.

“Women might outnumber men on campus, but inequity still exists in many realms,” she said. “Women need a place to connect and to find support.”

Along with the support the center offers, it acts as a teaching agent to students on campus on present day issues.

“A women’s center is central to educating the campus on issues such as sexual assault and harassment, dating and domestic violence, as well as for celebrating and highlighting accomplishments of women throughout history,” Whyte said.

Whyte, who has had previous experience working in educational settings and community-based organizations, was excited to work with the center that combined her passion for women’s issues with higher education.

Bernadette T. Muscat, the chairperson for the Women’s Resource Center, wished to be involved with the center based on her studies and work experience with victims of violence.

“The Women’s Resource Center works to address violence against individuals on campus””specifically intimate partner violence, sexual assault, amongst others,” Muscat said. “They are concerned about helping people overcome the trauma of the victimization whether it happened before they came to campus or while here.”

Muscat said that it was important for all to feel like they have a place to go to on campus. “The Women’s Resource Center is open to everyone. It is vibrant and engaged in hosting a variety of great activities and events that occur as a result of the time and dedication of the staff and student volunteers,” Muscat said.

Throughout the school year, the center has hosted various events and activities such as LunaFest, Take Back the Night and the Vagina Monologues.

The center can be located in the Center for Women and Culture in the Thomas building.