Sisters for Health Education (S.H.E.) (1979-1982)
Historical Information
Sisters for Health Education (S.H.E.) was a Purdue University student organization which functioned to inform, support and provide referrals to women in the Purdue community regarding birth control, problem pregnancy, rape prevention and counseling, and general women’s health concerns. The group began in 1979 as an effort by three staff members to create a small women’s health center. This effort was resisted by the administration because of the fear of abortion counseling. The idea for a women’s health center was instead applied to creating a student group, led by the student Marcia Whisman and advisor Jackie Kassouff. Eventually, the organization opened a small counseling center on March 2, 1981, staffed by community volunteers and partnering with local groups such as Planned Parenthood, the YWCA, local churches, and women’s organizations. The Archives has no record of the demise of the program, however there are no collection materials created after 1982.