Notes of Hope: WoHo event supports and encourages women

The Notes of Hope posters on display in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Atrium are composed of note cards with “messages that are inspirational or empowering in nature in regards to women, feminism, or any sort of topic of that nature,” according to sophomore Kyle Simon. Simon, a resident of the Women’s House, organized the display as his house project for this semester. He said the event is an ideal segway to this week’s Women’s Week programming, which includes lectures, film screenings and performances, namely an appearance by slam poet Andrea Gibson on March 30 in Phillips Auditorium. Take Back the Night, an annual Women’s Week event, is tonight at 7 p.m. in Bishop Cafe.
The Notes of Hope posters on display in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Atrium are composed of note cards with “messages that are inspirational or empowering in nature in regards to women, feminism, or any sort of topic of that nature,” according to sophomore Kyle Simon. Simon, a resident of the Women’s House, organized the display as his house project for this semester. He said the event is an ideal segway to this week’s Women’s Week programming, which includes lectures, film screenings and performances, namely an appearance by slam poet Andrea Gibson on March 30 in Phillips Auditorium. Take Back the Night, an annual Women’s Week event, is tonight at 7 p.m. in Bishop Cafe.
By Hannah Urano
Transcript Correspondent

Sophomore Kyle Simon is hoping to “show the women of Ohio Wesleyan how much they’re loved and, at best, encourage more students to get involved in feminist projects at school or in the Delaware community”—all with note cards.

Sophomore Kyle Simon, a member of the Women’s House (WoHo), said he organized the “Notes of Hope” campaign as his house project for the semester.

According to the event’s Facebook page, “Notes of Hope is a campaign where students are given index cards to anonymously write messages that are inspirational or empowering in nature in regards to women, feminism, or any sort of topic of that nature.”

Simon said he tabled in Hamilton-Williams Campus Center (HWCC) last week, passing out note cards and encouraging students to jot down their messages.

“I had a multitude of students come up and write on more than one note,” he said. “Faculty and staff have written cards too.”

Junior Gus Wood said his general reaction to Notes of Hope is “the overwhelming sense of pride in (the OWU) community for reaching out and sharing their support for the struggles of women.”

“I think it will add a sense of locality and solidarity,” he said.

“People will walk into (HWCC) and see their peers’ words of support and love and know they are not alone.”

During the tabling process, Simon said he decided not to read what people were writing.

“Leaving them completely unread until I display (them) means a lot to me personally as I want the notes to have as large of an impact as possible,” he said.

As a member of WoHo, Simon said he “does (his) best to contribute to a lot of queer or feminist activism and events on campus,” and encourages other students to do the same.

Simon said the timing of this project was perfect, as it “thematically contributed to Women’s Week.”

The Notes of Hope posters on display in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Atrium are composed of note cards with “messages that are inspirational or empowering in nature in regards to women, feminism, or any sort of topic of that nature,” according to sophomore Kyle Simon. Simon, a resident of the Women’s House, organized the display as his house project for this semester. He said the event is an ideal segway to this week’s Women’s Week programming, which includes lectures, film screenings and performances, namely an appearance by slam poet Andrea Gibson on March 30 in Phillips Auditorium. Take Back the Night, an annual Women’s Week event, is tonight at 7 p.m. in Bishop Cafe.
The Notes of Hope posters on display in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center Atrium are composed of note cards with “messages that are inspirational or empowering in nature in regards to women, feminism, or any sort of topic of that nature,” according to sophomore Kyle Simon. Simon, a resident of the Women’s House, organized the display as his house project for this semester. He said the event is an ideal segway to this week’s Women’s Week programming, which includes lectures, film screenings and performances, namely an appearance by slam poet Andrea Gibson on March 30 in Phillips Auditorium. Take Back the Night, an annual Women’s Week event, is tonight at 7 p.m. in Bishop Cafe.
According to Wood, Simon’s roommate in WoHo, Women’s Week is “essentially a week devoted to the causes of women.”
“A lot of programming like discussions, documentaries, and of course Take Back the Night happen during the week,” he said.

Like Simon, Wood said he hopes other men on campus take Notes of Hope and Women’s Week to heart.

“I just want them to consider how much they are given and how much privilege they walk around with,” he said.

“I want them to see the women on campus and in their lives as powerful, independent, and strong people that deserve their respect, and justice,” he said.

“The programming for Women’s Week offers a moving look into the struggles and problems that women face, and may move the men in the audience to action. I want them to walk away changed.”