Creation of UWU
In October of 1971, various women students at Pitt joined together to create a proposal for a new women's organization on campus. This organization, called the Undergraduate Women's Union, would put an emphasis on women's issues at the student level and allow for undergraduate women to have their voice represented in a way that would be recognized by the university's administration. The creation of the union came about as the Women's Liberation movement continued to gain momentum across the United States, yet the union was initially hesitant to align themselves with Women's Lib as to not be "stereotyped." Undergraduate and writer for the Pitt News Ellen Ganley organized the union's proposal and served as the initial leader with faculty members Konnilyn Feig and Connie Carroll as advisors.
After the proposal was passed, the UWU's first meeting was held on November 10, 1971. The focus of this meeting was to plan a demonstration outside of the Student Health Center to demand continued gynecological services after scheduling appointments was stopped due to administrative budget cuts.
The sit-in at the Student Health Center was attended by 25 undergraduate women. This protest put pressure on the administration to address how these budget cuts disproportionately affected women on campus. In the Pitt News article to left, student Gail Hornstein is quoted as saying the booking delays are "a direct affront to women on this campus."
