Katie Samek-
The Women’s Action Coalition (WAC), Students for Reproductive Freedom (SRF), and Gustavus Women in Leadership (GWiL) would like to cordially invite Gustavus to join them for a laugh at “Women Are Funny!”, a comedy performance featuring comedians Soo Ra and Shyloh Blake. This event will take place on Thursday, April 25th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall.
A make-your-own-trail mix bar will be available for students, along with popcorn and mocktails. Each of the three organizations will have a booth set up before the event for interested students to sign up for and learn more about these organizations on campus.
Soo Ra is a Miami-based comedian who now resides in NYC, having made appearances on an assortment of outlets such as BuzzFeed, Fusion Comedy, and WorldStar Hip Hop. She has also been a guest on several notable podcasts, such as Kill Tony and Talk Clearlyer, and has had the honor of opening for famous comedians like Jeff Ross, Tony Woods, and Kyle Grooms. Students can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and X accounts, all under the username @hoora4soora.
Shyloh Blake is a local stand-up comedian, based out of Minneapolis, MN. The host of “Stand Up Saloon” at The Saloon in Minneapolis, she was selected for the 2023 10,000 Laughs Festival in Minneapolis, MN, appeared in the 2023 Sno Jam Comedy Festival in Sioux Falls, SD, and was a finalist in the 2022 “Funniest Person With a Day Job” contest at Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy at the Mall of America. She has been interviewed by MPR News, Twin Cities Live, KFAI Radio, and Voyage Minnesota magazine. Students can follow her on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Threads, all under the username @shylohblake.
The Women’s Action Coalition (WAC) strives to highlight the successes and efforts of women in all walks of life, as well as create a safe space for women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and allies so that meaningful discussions and a strong sense of community can be fostered without judgment. Meetings are held every Monday night in the WAC/Counseling Hub Room (Jackson Student Union room 105) to talk about women in sports, indigenous women, intersectionality, and more.
“If students are interested in WAC, they should come to our Monday night meetings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.!” Vice President of WAC and Junior Raquel Vaughn said. “Or, if they prefer, they can reach out to any one of the executive board members via email at g-wacexecboard@gustavus.edu.”
Gustavus Women in Leadership (GWiL) is a women’s organization with the mission of preparing, promoting, and inspiring Gustavus women to reach their potential, in both their professional and personal leadership development. The group aspires to develop women so they can advocate for themselves, live purposeful lives, and serve their neighbors for a better world. Some of their largest events over the last year included an internship panel, Career Quest, the International Women’s Day Event featuring Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, and the End of the Year GWIL Banquet at the American Swedish Institute.
“We are always looking for more people to get involved with GWIL,” Communication Co-Chair of GWiL and Senior Morgan Kelly said. “If students are interested, they can find our booth outside Alumni Hall during the event, or they can send an email to myself (morgankelly@gustavus.edu) or Avery Rowan (averyrowan@gustavus.edu) to be added to our email alias.”
Students for Reproductive Freedom (SRF) partners with Planned Parenthood General Action to educate the college community about reproductive health and rights, to translate increased awareness into pro-choice activism on campus, and to serve as a coalition partner to state, national, and international reproductive rights efforts. SRF believes in the fundamental right of every individual to manage their fertility, supports full access to comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services, preserves, and protects the essential privacy and rights of each individual, advocates for public policies that guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services, and supports access to medically accurate educational programs.
Overall, there are high hopes for this event that the groups are bringing to Gustavus: “We hope to break the stereotype that ‘women aren’t funny’ by bringing these two wonderful women to campus,” Kelly said. “This has been a highly requested event, and it’s an honor to bring these two to Gustavus and spread awareness about the history of misogyny in the field of stand-up comedy.”