National women's rights leader to speak at VCU

By Lissette Linares

Former president of the National Organization for Women, Eleanor Smeal will address gender equality issues at Virginia Commonwealth University on Sept. 27. Smeal, now president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, will speak on "Breaking Barriers and Moving Forward: Feminists Worldwide Pushing for Equality" at 7 p.m. in the Grace Street Theater, 934 W. Grace St.

"Ellie Smeal is one of the most significant figures in the contemporary U.S. feminist movement," said Diana Scully, director of VCU’s Women’s Studies Program. "It’s important for students to hear a historically significant woman address issues that will be part of their agenda in the next century."

Smeal has testified before Congress on a variety of women’s issues. She has played an key role in issues ranging from the integration of Little League to the passage of landmark legislation such as the Equal Credit Act, Civil Rights Restoration Act, Violence Against Women Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1991.

Smeal co-founded The Feminist Majority Foundation in 1987 to encourage women to become active in current issues and to assume leadership positions in society. The organization will host it second feminist exposition and conference, Feminist Expo 2000 in Washington D.C. in April.

Smeal’s talk is sponsored by the VCU Women’s Studies Program and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828-4041.