Many students are interested in activism but do not know where to start. Luckily, UNCW has plenty of organizations centered around advocacy. For those focused on gender equality and advocating for the overall population, The Feminist Student Alliance (FSA) is a good fit, regardless of gender or other identities.

FSA’s mission is to promote feminism positively on campus, which is done through programming, which includes volunteering out in the community and on campus, film screenings, panel forums and open dialogue.

“There’s often a difference on what people think is feminism and what actually is feminist,” Julie Martin, president of FSA, said. “We want to break that stigma.”

FSA frequently partners with other organizations with similar goals and missions, such as working with the CARE Office to promote awareness of sexual assault during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Last Tuesday, FSA tabled at CARE’s Take Back the Night Event, where they created posters and banners supporting those affected by sexual assault and pledging to stand against sexual assault.

Another issue FSA is tackling is making feminine hygiene products more accessible to students under their Free Feminine Hygiene Campaign. This initiative was first started in the spring of 2019 and is continuing to be pushed by FSA and other campus members and organizations.

For Martin, FSA serves not only as a way to advocate, but a safe, supportive space where she can collaborate with like-minded students.

“Feminism is important to me,” Martin said. “We want to empower women and make sure everyone’s treated equally, and this club gives me the space to do so and connected with people like me.”

The Feminist Student Alliance’s meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of every month in Morton Hall 104 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. For more information on FSA and its events, email club president, Julie Martin, at [email protected].