A celebration of sisterhood and femininity, Women’s Week took over the female population on campus Oct. 18 -22.
The theme of the, “Just Be”, week challenged the women of California Baptist University to embrace who they are as women of God, letting go of hindrances and breaking themselves from bondage.
“We decided on this theme because we saw a need for our women to celebrate who they are and who they were created to be,” Toni Jauregui, resident director of The Cottages, said.
“We wanted to encourage our female students to just be who they are and not who they think they should be.”
Bethany Scott, resident director of the College View apartments also added to the discussion of the week’s theme.
“We need to see the benefit of the sisterhood and embrace that instead of going against the community and settling for judgment, criticism, and disrespect,” she said.
Although this is only the 3rd Annual Women’s United Week, the week appears to be a success from year to year. Women of various ages and walks of life are challenged, encouraged and educated.
The first event of the week on Monday Oct. 18 was the Roommate Date. This attracted women across campus. A night of laughter, semiformal dress and Mexican food at the Kugel was an evening to remember.
A special women’s chapel held on Wednesday, Oct. 20 featuring Laurel Bunker, dean of campus ministries from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn. She spoke on sisterhood and what it means to be unified under Christ.
“We will not be a threat to Satan if we are not unified,” Bunker said. “Saand dissatisfaction are normal to life.”
Bunker revealed that unity is essential to sisterhood, covering four major points: the power of God is released when we are unified, there is peace when we walk in unity, there is purpose when we walk in unity, and when we walk in unity we proclaim the message of the Gospel.
That evening “Holy Sex,” a discussion of sexual topics was led by Bruce Stokes, dean of the school of behavioral sciences and Aine Bergin, assistant professor of psychology.
The A.J. Staples building was adorned with decorative pillows, picture-less frames, vases, couches and blankets, creating the atmosphere of a large living room. Refreshments were also provided.
Female students asked various questions via anonymous notecards written to Stokes and Bergin throughout the night.
The idea of “Holy Sex” from ideas of reaching every woman on campus, from varied spiritual walks and seasons of life.
“We wanted to focus on what a godly woman looks like in any part of life: single, dating, married, working or staying home. Out of that came the discussion of realizing that so many of our women are struggling with their sexuality and thus birthed the ‘Holy Sex’ idea,” Scott said.
Events such as “Holy Sex” have been seen as racy by some women on campus. The female resident directors see these events as a way to encourage education of the CBU female community.
“I hope that we challenge the women on our campus. In order to challenge our students we may have to make them uncomfortable but the hope in the long run is that they grow andhavefunthroughtheprocess,”Jauregui said.
The week ends Friday Oct. 22, with scheduled event “Look Up, But Never Give Up” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the outdoor basketball and sprung sand volleyball courts.
