Girl power has never been feistier at St. Edward’s University.

Women Empowerment started two years ago at St. Edward’s and meets every Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Ragsdale building. The group aims to provide a feminist outlook on campus and to allow a place for people to come to discuss women’s issues and feminist views.

The topics of the meeting change each week. The week of Oct. 27, the topic was women’s global issues, and the discussion focused on an organization called “Girl Effect.” This organization emphasizes the importance of helping the 600 million adolescent girls living in poverty to receive an education.

“By giving one of these girls a chance, you start the girl effect,” the Girl Effect website says.

The discussion also touched on other important issues such as unequal salaries for women, the growing gender gap in society and female genital mutilation. The meetings encourage students to discuss issues such as these in a comfortable environment.

This semester, the group is being lead by Jenny Goode and Nicole Seligman. They have been working with the university to try and gain more freedom with their club.

“In general, in…a group like Women Empowerment, or in other groups on campus, there’s a lot of things we can’t do because it’s a Catholic university and the Catholic views differ from our views,” Seligman said. “We’ve pushed [the university] this semester to get a free speech zone.”

Seligman said that stressing the importance of free speech is essential to the group’s purpose.

“Women Empowerment is here to give all different aspects of feminism a chance because [feminism] affects so much of our lives. This is just another outlet, because academically it’s kind of hard to get your voice out on campus,” Seligman said. “I think that’s why [Women Empowerment] started, to [help students] find other like- minded people at a Catholic school that believe in feminism and women’s choice.”

This year the group has also been actively participating in events on campus to spread the word about their club.

The club also recently won second place and the spirit award at the cake-decorating contest for the St. Edward’s 125th birthday party. They decorated their cake with four important women in history: Rosie the Riveter, a feminist icon from WWII; Cleopatra; Marilyn Monroe, and Frida Kahlo, the painter. The group chose these women because they represent universal sources of women’s power.

“We’re taking back the kitchen,” Seligman said.

The topics of the meetings are not always as serious as global issues. This week, the group will be discussing the raunchy costume phenomenon that has influenced American women to dress as scantily as possible for Halloween for years.

“People can totally bring [their own] ideas…and lead meetings, so it’s all just really equal,” Seligman said.

They encourage and accept any new members.

“We don’t hate men!” Seligman said. “It’s really cool for us to find other like-minded people on campus, like it is with any other club, so if you love being a woman or if you’re a man that just loves women and think they deserve equal rights, just come hang out. Women Empowerment. Let’s do it!”

Editor’s Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that the group has changed their name to Women Empowerment.