Sister Circle has started this school year with new goals, new standards and a new attitude. With the departure of their advisor Keisha Bentley, the women of Sister Circle had to take matters into their own hands.

They began their own executive board for the first time and made sure they would be recognized on campus as a club for all women.

It is an organization for women to discuss issues that arise within the community about women and to help build unity among the women at the University of La Verne.

This is its first year as an actual club on campus.

In past years Sister Circle was not recognized because it wasn’t student run.

Until she left ULV this year, Bentley basically ran the club on her own.

“This year the club is run by the students because we have an actual executive board and actually recognized as a club on campus and we are going to have more activities for the ladies,” said Chantae Smith, who served as president earlier this year.

Sister Circle meetings are held every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Founders Hall room 9 and all women are welcome to come.

“We are trying to branch out and unite women of all races,” Smith said.

Because of the way Sister Circle was formed by Bentley, making it a subdivision of the African-American Student Alliance, many students believed it was only meant for black women.

“Sister Circle is for everybody, all women, and that’s a point we are trying to make this year,” Krystle Luckey, a senior movements and sports science major said.

“We are trying to branch out and unite everybody,” she added.

One issue Sister Circle is currently trying to address is the criticism from other organizations on campus.

“It is really sad that people strongly believe that we will fail but I know we won’t because we have a strong executive board,” Luckey said.

“We get a lot of criticism because of AASA’s reputation and the fact that people think we are just a group of AASA women with drama,” Smith said.

However, other members of the executive board see the growth and are not letting the negativity get to them.

“I think we are growing tremendously. I’m proud of the organization compared to last year, we are getting the word out and the outcome shows,” said Nicole Sullivan, a junior liberal studies major and Sister Circle’s publicity manger.

“From the beginning we didn’t have much support, as much as we want our fellow mother and brother organizations to support us, we are making progress on our own,” she added.

The women of Sister Circle have already begun doing a lot of work.

With the nominations of executive board members and the dropping of presidents so quickly, the women of Sister Circle have finally begun to settle into their positions.

Smith, who started the year as president, had to decline the position because of registration issues.

Smith decided to pass the postion onto Vice President Luckey.

“At first I was weary of the position because we were a little unorganized but now that things are settled and I have a great e-board I’m happy about it,” Luckey said.

Sister Circle is now preparing for their “Big Sister Little Sister Brunch” that is scheduled to be held in the beginning of December.

“I think the brunch is going to be awesome and can’t wait for that to happen,” Luckey said.

“The club is really fun and people should come because I think it is allowing people to form friendships and bring people together, and I love that,” she added.

Amira Seyoum can be reached at aseyoum@ulv.edu.