The University of Toledo

The Brown Bag Lunch Program

The Eberly Center for Women: 20 Years of Service by Carrie Ann Lewis

The Brown Bag Lunch series began in October, 1979. This series of programs brought together University staff, students, faculty, and members of the community for a lunchtime meeting and speech on a particular topic. Brown Bags have been promoted through posted flyers on the University campus, articles in the Collegian and other campus publications, as well as the Toledo Blade and community- oriented publications. These programs are offered at no charge, thanks to the volunteer speakers who offer their time and expertise. The topics of this program reflect our changing society, within the university itself as well as the world in general.

Someone once said, "Politics is a dirty business... but women have been cleaning up other people's messes for centuries." In 1988, Dianne Mills, Director of the Center, wrote: 'Political parties are now beginning to realize that women's vote counts and are lobbying for our attentions. Issues are abortion, ERA, and government involvement in daycare.' And later, in 1988, 'Women in Ohio - Social and Economic Status' is published. The publication shows that the number of single mothers continues to grow: "female-headed families, the fastest growing family type in Ohio, have increased by 38% since 1970." These statements only begin to demonstrate some of the changes which women have experienced over the past twenty years, changes which can be seen in the Brown Bag topics.

From the Grassroots to the World Wide Web: A Herstory of the Anti-Sexual Violence Movement