By Jackie Blaney

Marie Wilson, advocate of women’s issues, shared her views with the University on the power of women’s voices in the United States.

Wilson proudly showed off her T-shirt bearing the words “Go Vote, Go Run, Go Lead, Go Girl” while speaking to a diverse audience of young and old in the Student Center on Thursday. She strongly urged women to take action and not remain in passive roles. She cited statistics that showed the United States is 60th in the world for women’s representation in government: The U.S. has nine female governors, as well as six CEOs.

The U.S. is requesting that Iraq place 25 percent of their women in government positions, yet the United States has 14 percent female representation in Congress, she said. Despite these numbers, Wilson reminds her audience that women will be a key voice in the upcoming election.

“Women are going to be the deciding vote in this election because we are the majority of the undecided vote,” she said.

Wilson is the founder and president of the White House Project, an organization dedicated to increasing female representation in government as well as changing the perception of women in a leading role. She has also served as a delegate to the fourth United Nations World Conference on women, which was held in China in 1995. Other accomplishments include founding Bring Your Daughter to Work Day, as well as introducing President Barbie into pop culture.

“I do believe we have to go to culture to get to culture,” Wilson said.

The League of Women Voters sat outside the Student Center Theater until the end of the lecture, ready to assist anyone who was not currently registered to vote. Inside the Student Center Theater, Wilson reminded her audience about the impact voters can have.

“I hope you will join us in actually trying to get out the vote,” Wilson said. “It will mean you will have a voice in the future.”

The White House Project plans on administering training sessions for women on how to run a campaign, as well as handle the media when they run for office. Wilson dreams of putting a female in the White House one day in the near future and considers these sessions a step in the right direction for women’s participation in government.

“I think what Marie Wilson is doing is great,” junior Samantha Tucci said. “We have to work on society’s view of women or we’ll never get anywhere.”

Marie Wilson urges women to vote with t-shirts reading “Choose or Loose” (Stephanie Woodrow)

Marie Wilson, women´s activist, urges females to vote. (Stephanie Woodrow)