Women Advocates was started in 1995 by a small group of Women's Studies students at Penn State University. The group's original intent was to provide a forum for Women's Studies students to meet and discuss issues affecting them. Since then, Women Advocates has grown to include in its credo a dedication to grassroots activism (through an affiliation with NOW) and commitment tocommunity service. The current constitution was written by Nicole Kresch (Journalism and Women's Studies, '98) and Kristen Beam (English, '98). Women Advocates was granted official university organization status in November of 1997.

The purpose of Women Advocates is to serve as a resource to students interested in feminist issues through working with the Women's Studies Program. Our overall goal is to promote equality for women, by overcoming such discrimination based on sexism, ageism, heterosexism, and the like. We hope to help accomplish this goal by operating on three fundamental principles: academic support and career opportunities in the Women's Studies field, community service, and feminist activism. Any other activities that Women Advocates participates in are all with the intent to create a strong union among Women's Studies students. For Women's Studies majors and minors, Women Advocates will serve as a liaison between the program's faculty, staff and students. As well, all members are able to participate in two subgroups: a Community Service Committee and the Ni-Ta-Nee NOW (National Organization for Women) Task Force.

Women Advocates has formed an alliance with NOW as an official Task Force for the local chapter, Ni-Ta-Nee NOW. The purpose of the Task Force is to further the goals of NOW through political activism on campus.
            As an affiliate of the local chapter of NOW, the Task Force will support the

goals as written in their Statement of Purpose: "We strive to 'bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society  NOW.' Areas of concern include economic rights, reproductive rights, lesbian/gay rights, older women's rights, homemakers' rights, feminization of power, eliminating racism, early childhood development, violence against women, education discrimination, and many others. We believe in diversity and are an affirmative action organization."