Just because the campus-wideyear-long gender symposium is over, doesn’t mean the Mercyhurst Equality of Women (MEOW) is no longer active.

Fresh off of the heels of a well attended lecture in September discussing the imprisonment of Russian punk band Pussy Riot, MEOW will be featuring a local speaker to address national political issues.

MEOW will be hosting a dinner and discourse style event Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Molly Branigans. At the event, students will discuss current women’s issues in the news, including the controversial, and often debated Grand Old Party (GOP) ‘war on women’.

This first event features guest speaker Tina Mengine, current vice-president of advancement at Edinboro University.

Mengine, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of La Roche college has made a career in politics.

Before taking a position at Edinboro, Mengine served as the chief of staff for U.S. Representative Kathy Dahlkemper.

Mengine’s political prowess and expertise will be brought her presentation on women and politics, an issue many in the group are eager to discuss.

Freshman MEOW member Devin Firestone weighed in the upcoming event and its relevance.

“Women’s rights should be a part of our political discourse. The fact that the Republican party continues to advocate for policies contrary to women’s rights is abhorent,” Firestone said.

MEOW advisor Lena Surzhko-Harned, Assistant Professor of Political Science, hopes everyone can make it to the event, as it is a controversial issue.

“Clearly this is a topic that solicits many differing opinions. I look forward to a good discussion of all points of view on these important issues,” Surzhko-Harned said.

For more information about the event, contact Dr. Surzhko-Harned at osurzhkoharned@mercyhurst.edu.

Caitlin Handerhan is the current President of MEOW.