Feminist of the Year Awards Announced
Five students were recognized for their feminist work. Vishawn Greene ’21 and Itzel Diaz ’20 offered remarks about student winner Treasure Brooks ’21. The founder of the NGO Operation TOM, Brooks taught a workshop on body image at the yearly Sister-to-Sister Summit in November to an enthusiastic middle school audience. As the new copresident of the Black Student Union (BSU), she helped stage Apollo Night in March and the Night of Black Culture in April, which included a graduation ceremony for BSU members. Brooks also helped design the student contributions to this year’s Gensler Symposium on Feminist Reponses to Racism, organizing a productive discussion on the topic between various student groups.
Grace Vedock ’20 described the contributions of Taite Shomo ’20. as a Feminist of the Year. Vedock said that as the main organizer of this year’s “It Happens Here”—an event that brings to light stories of sexual assault—Shomo showed a deep commitment to bettering the College community by making all survivors of sexual assault feel safe and validated. Reading from the nomination for Shomo, Vedock said that Shomo, a survivor herself, is perceptive and respectful of other survivors’ needs. She is firm in her belief that survivors should be heard, validated, and believed. Vedock added that Shomo is an important source for people seeking emotional support, and she is fiercely committed to treating people with the utmost respect and kindness.
Isabelle Lee ’20 praised Natalie Cheung ’18 and Pippa Raffel ’18 for establishing the student organization SPECS (Sex Positive Education College Style). Over the past two years, Cheung and Raffel have developed a curriculum to educate their peers on contraception and consent. The two students have staged a wide variety of events such as a sex-positive Valentine’s celebration, a sex-ed bingo night, and informational tables in front of the dining halls on various occasions.
Cara Eisenstein ’18 was also honored as a student Feminist of the Year. Annie Blalock ’20.5 commended Eisenstein for her work with the student organization Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM) during the last three and a half years. As the copresident of FAM, Eisenstein set up a Generation Action chapter within FAM to collaborate with Planned Parenthood Northern New England. According to Blalock, the chapter’s events are harnessing the power, energy, and enthusiasm of young people to fight for reproductive freedom and for fundamental justice for all.
The event concluded with Madison Jean Philippe ’20 performing his original song “Promise Me.”