One Voice events to celebrate women

USC's Baha'i Club will be organizing various activities next week for the One Voice Campaign, which is dedicated to promoting gender equality. Student-organized Baha'i clubs on college campuses across the country will be participating in the One Voice Campaign.

The campaign coincides with the observation of International Women's Day and the effort aimed at the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations convention on elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. The United States is the only democracy in the world that has not ratified the treaty.

Baha'i Club members will be in Hahn Plaza from Monday through Thursday handing out statements of their beliefs to promote awareness of the group. They will also be making presentations to deans and directors on campus to further the faculty's understanding of the Baha'i faith.

"The Baha'i writings state clearly that the achievement of full equality between women and men is essential to the progress of civilization, and requires the full commitment of women as well as men to its realization," said Arghavan Rahimpour, a club member and a sophomore majoring in psychobiology. "I hope that by having as many people as possible participate in the local One Voice Campaign, we will do our little part to advance the cause of equality."

The Baha'i faith was founded over a century ago by Baha'u'llah, who said, "Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God."

"We promote the fundamental unity of oneness and the independent investigation of truth," said Samir Koirala, a club member and a graduate student in neurobiology.

A statement issued by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States explains the plan for human development and prosperity: "The world of humanity is possessed of two wings: the male and the female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength, the bird will not fly."

"For me, this club represents the foundation of my belief system, and through this club I can work for what I believe in," Rahimpour said. "Right now is the time for action, and through this club I can do that to achieve oneness of humanity."

The Baha'i Club meets once or twice a week, depending on the number of upcoming activities the club is sponsoring. The club currently has eight members and is open to anyone, regardless of religious background or ethnicity.

"The club is open to anyone dedicated to racial unity," said Tajalli Greengus, a club member and a senior majoring in Spanish.

For more information, call Greengus at (213) 764-1457.

Wilma Ellis will speak about the equality of women and men in the Leavey Library Auditor-ium at 6 p.m. Tuesday. She will hold an informal discussion in Sierra Apartments at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

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