The acronym PCUW, pronounced "PQ," stands for the Penn Consortium of Undergraduate Women. In this section, you will find our Herstory, our Mission Statement, our Objectives, and our Constitution.



Who knows what women can be when they are finally free to become themselves?
Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique


Our Herstory


Penn's undergraduate women's groups - those dedicated specifically but not exclusively to the institutional advancement of Penn women - once engaged in woefully little collaboration. In November of 2003, then-junior Jennifer Lane sensed that the synergistic potential of these groups might be quite powerful. She undertook the task of inviting each President and Co-Chair to join the Penn Consortium of Undergraduate Women. Thanks to their enthusiasm, we now boast more than twenty members and are a thriving activist force on campus.


Since its inception, the Consortium has organized three annual Women's Weeks with its constituent groups. The first Women's Week in 2004 was entitled "Engendering Unity." In 2005, acclaimed author Naomi Wolfe came to speak about the politics of body image, while in 2006, Gloria Steinem, an influential feminist activist, spoke about the future of feminism in America. For 2007, the Consortium has invited Frances Hesselbein, chairman of the board of governors of the Leader to Leader Institute and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the United States of America's highest civilian honor) to be its keynote speaker. In all three years, the women's groups held very successful events of their own, which ranged from a student production of the Vagina Monologues, movie screenings, self-defense workshops, and speaker panels.


In addition to Women's Week, the Consortium has designed, developed, and printed a first-of-its-kind resource guide that caters to the needs and interests of undergraduate women. It is filled with useful information on various problems and situations that female students may need help in addressing, such how to handle sexual harassment by a TA or how to help a friend with an eating disorder. It also contains the biographies of the constituent groups in order to help undergraduate women find others with similar passions. The Consortium was greatly helped by the support from the Trustees' Council of Penn Women.


Steering Biography


Meg Hlousek - Chair


I am a senior in the College studying Urban Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. I spend my time on campus at the Penn Women's Center as the Chair of the Penn Consortium of Undergraduate Women and at the LGBT Center as an undergraduate representative on the Center Advisory Council and as a co-founder of Queer Ladies at Penn, a student organization. Although I'm not sure what the future has in store, I am excited to share my appreciation and enthusiasm for feminism with everyone around me.


Adrienne Edwards - Vice Chair of University Relations


I am part of the class of 2013 in the college studying Philosophy, Politics, Economics and serve as the Vice Chair for University Relations for PCUW. I am originally from NYC, specifically Queens and Brooklyn. On campus, I am also part of Society for Pre-Law Students of Color and Destination Hip-Hop. I am excited for Women's Week 2012 and all other PCUW & PWC initiatives for the rest of the year!


Rebecca Duncan - Co-Programming Chair


Greetings lovers and friends! I'm Rebecca Duncan, go by Becky, and call Orlando, Florida home base. I'm a small person with big plans to conquer/save the world-- all things vaginally related. In other words, I'm pursing my B.A. in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies and following the Pre-Medicine track. I will continue schooling to become a health care practitioner of some sort with a focus in women's reproductive health. I love to cook and eat, enjoy singing at the top of my lungs, value good company, and greatly appreciate sunshine.


Lakshmi Sivaguru - Co-Programming Chair


Hi everyone! My name is Lakshmi Sivaguru and I'm from Chandler, AZ. I'm majoring in Health and Societies while pursuing a minor in International Development. I like yoga, running, cooking (read: eating), and all things related to fashion. One day, I'd like to save the world! My favorite flavor of ice cream is Mint Chocolate Chip, and I am always down for an adventure!


Jenny Xiang - Publicity Chair


My name is Jenny Xiang and I'm from Wenzhou, China. In addition to my involvement with PCUW, I am the president for Sangam, Programming Chair for Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, Vice Chair of Service for PEER mentoring, Layout Manager for PennScience and Webmaster for Sigma Psi Zeta. A fun about me is that I am a huge Florida Gator fan!


Melanie Philip - Financial Chair

 

I hail from Brooklyn, NY and am a senior in the College. I am studying Health and Societies with a concentration in Disease and Society. I am also following the Pre-Medicine track and will pursue medical school following graduation. I consider myself a birth activist and have a strong interest in women's health. I hope to someday become a midwife or an Obstetrician/Gynecologist. In the meantime...I will continue to do the things I love which includes dancing, traveling, and reading awesome novels.

Jessica Xu - Communications Chair


I am Jessica Xu, a Sophomore in Wharton from Broomfield, CO. I am the Communications Chair for PCUW, and I am also involved in alpha Kappa Delta Phi as well as UPenn China Care Club. Though I am still trying to discover my passions, I love to draw, ski, write, and do martial arts.


Our Mission Statement


The Penn Consortium of Undergraduate Women seeks to enact the systemic change necessary for the unbridled self-actualization of PennŐs female students, faculty, and staff. We will always do our part to establish the institutional infrastructure within which women are empowered to reach their potential. We will take gender equity seriously, and will welcome the day that women ascend their own personal and professional ladders free of self-doubt and full of self-esteem.


Our Objectives


  1. To serve as a liaison between undergraduate women and undergraduate women's groups, and Penn's staff, faculty, and administration.
  2. To empower undergraduate women's groups to effectively fulfill their respective missions.
  3. To collectively advocate for gender equity at Penn, in all sectors and at all levels, through heightening consciousness of women's issues, affairs, resources, and history.

Our Constitution


» Download Constitution

Core Values


The following quotes substantiate PCUW's five core values:

  1. We work together to reach common goals

  2. We Work for Education, Enrichment, Empowerment, and Equity

  3. We Take Responsibility for Our Collective Statements and Actions

  4. We Share Our Skills, Knowledge, and Resources

  5. We Believe In Ourselves and Our Capabilities