Women in technology gather for support

Females in Technology (FIT) conducted a weekly meeting on Monday in the John T. Myers Technology Center.

The group's president, Sarah Rodie, a junior mechanical engineering major, said this group has been in existence since the spring semester of 2007 and was created for the purpose of uniting females at Indiana State having various majors which in some way deal with technology.

Although its meetings and activities are open to all students who wish to attend, it is geared towards females with a technology-related major. Rodie said "six percent of technology majors at Indiana State are females."

"With such low enrollment of females in technology, it is important for girls in technology to group together for networking and professional development," Rodie said. Latisha Taylor, a freshman aviation administration major, said the women have a close bond being in a "major dominated by men."

Another group member,Jennifer Berger, a junior construction management major agreed that it was essential for women in these majors to network due to a "lack of women in the classroom."

Together, Berger and Rodie said FIT has recruited representatives from 15 majors in the College of Technology and is actively seeking newmembers. Berger also said the main concern for Females in the College of Technology is recruitment. Freshman women majoring in technology are recruited often and encouraged to attend FIT's meetings.

Rodie said women are even recruited from high school, as was the case in a conference FIT held on Sept.28 in which 85 women attended.

Sarah Marietta, a freshman construction management major, said she enjoys FIT because it offers a tremendous social and career network for any of the females at Indiana State majoring in technology.