Northridge : NOW President to Speak on Campus

Hoping to stir voter consciousness and combat the conservative agenda, Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, will speak Monday at Cal State Northridge, according to campus organizers.

Ireland’s address, “Politics of Hate,” will comment on such issues as affirmative action, violence against women, gay and lesbian rights, and reproductive freedom.

Her stop in the San Fernando Valley is part of NOW’s West Coast initiative against what the feminist organization calls “the wrongs of the so-called right.” Ireland is also scheduled to speak in Colorado, Washington and Oregon.

After her speech, Ireland will host a workshop on grass-roots organization.

Aurie Llamas, interim director of the CSUN Women’s Center, said the student organization sponsored Ireland’s speech to stir political awareness on campus.

“Because CSUN is basically a commuter school, many students aren’t as involved as they should be. We need people to understand when we talk about women’s issues, it’s not just about abortion,” Llamas said.

Ireland will speak at 7:30 p.m. in the CSUN Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St. The 9:30 p.m. workshop will be in the Student Union’s Thousand Oaks Room.