As Women’s and Gender Studies grows as a major at Keene State College, doors open for women to speak and aim to inspire developing students.
On Monday, April 21, the Women’s and Gender Studies Honor Society welcomed Senator Molly Kelly to speak at Rhodes Hall. The event covered issues such as legislation on abortion, capital punishment, domestic violence and gender equality. Kelly discussed with students what it means to be an engaged citizen to promote activism and take care of the well-being of the community.
Kelly, surrounded by a circle of students, spoke about how she made her way to where she is today. As a native of Indiana with ten siblings, Kelly is an alumnus of KSC. While studying history and philosophy, Kelly said she lived in what is now the Tisdale Townhouse complex with three children and three jobs. She mentioned she juggled managing family housing at KSC, waitressing one night a week and working a paper route. Even with her workload, Kelly said her education and time at KSC really changed her life.
“I remember sitting in class one day, and I felt that somebody had opened up the windows in my life and that there was fresh air and new air and a whole renewal of my life, and it happened here on this campus,” Kelly said. She later graduated law school from Franklin Pierce Law in Concord, N.H.
Brian Cantore / Photo Editor:
New Hampshire State Senator and KSC graduate Molly Kelly speaks about Women’s rights in a classroom on April 21.
Having been elected to State Senate four times and senator for eight consecutive years, Kelly told students how she made her decision to run during her work on other campaigns. “One day it occurred to me that — wow — I am working so hard for their voice to be out there which was important, but I have a voice. And when I realized that I had a voice and I had a voice that I wanted to be heard, was the turning point for me to get involved and actually run,” Kelly said.
Students who attended the event were able to interact with the senator through a question-and-answer session. Kelly discussed with them their interest and involvement with their Women’s and Gender Studies classes while many students related papers they were researching and writing to the discussion. One topic a student spoke about was the equality between students and professors. They spoke of the importance for professors to allow students to have a voice.
“When you form your opinion, you may change it again in your life, but you’re forming it now based on not just something you think works for you, so it’s really important. Don’t ever underestimate that based on age. And your imaginations, people get older and our imaginations don’t go as far as yours. Your imaginations are very important,” Kelly said.
The majority of the group who attended the event was also involved in a feminist group on campus. Alanna Griffin-Bales, a KSC student, asked Kelly how she feels each day as a female political leader and how she feels about the climate surrounding her position.
Kelly said, “Nobody’s going to give you permission to feel equal, you have to believe in yourself. And it’s not easy in a world where the marketing is what is and the premise is so strong.”
Kelly then discussed some of the projects she had been working on throughout the year, including an attempt to change part of the Constitution.
Kelly said while trying to make an addition to the Constitution with Senator David Pierce from Lebanon, they realized the word ‘men’ in, “All men are created equal,” was too specific.
Kelly and Pierce decided it needed to be changed to the word “individual.” Kelly said although their change passed through the Senate, it failed once it got to the House.
Some students also discussed their recent trip to D.C. and some experiences they had there. The topic brought up many questions from students about the process in passing bills. Kelly explained the process in which bills are deliberated and said she had been working on a bill herself that would allow a mother to breast feed or express milk at work. Kelly told students the bill is an example of an issue that does not only concern women.
“That’s not a women’s issue, that’s a family issue, it’s a healthcare issue and it’s an economic issue and that’s how I think we have to talk about some of these issues as well, not only that this is about women,” Kelly said.
She also expressed the value of students being involved in the process of passing or not passing a bill. “The biggest influence in the senate, when we have hearings on a bill, is when people like you come to testify. When the students come, everybody drops everything, it’s amazing…And you come and tell the story of how it affects you or what you want to do or why it’s a good bill or not, it can change everything,” Kelly said.
With all the topics and issues that were debated, both Kelly and the students said they felt the event was a success.
According to Kelly, she was impressed with what the students had to say. “They talked about their research and backed up their arguments with primary and secondary sources and learned a lot doing that. I think that was really important, and also when they talked about that, the academic world and what they are learning gave them a stronger voice for themselves,” Kelly said.
In addition, Patricia Pedroza González, a professor for Women’s and Gender Studies, said she was happy with the experience and discussions that took place.
“Clearly she [Kelly] is a strong politician in New Hampshire and I like that she approached issues specifically about New Hampshire and Universities,” González said.
The professor also shed some light on the Women’s and Gender Studies major at KSC.
“It’s a beautiful major. It’s not only talking about women but it’s about how we learn some specific social identities like gender,” González said.
Alison Rancourt can be contacted at arancourt@keene-equinox.com