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PrintMU senior Angie Vo may have had trouble picking an academic major — but not a political cause. Vo, a magazine journalism major with a biology minor, is a strong activist for women’s issues.
She is involved with Columbia organizations such as the Women’s Center, Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom and the Feminist Student Union. In April, she participated in the March for Women’s Lives in Washington, D.C., the largest civil rights march in U.S. history.
Vo, who is from Joplin, said before she came to MU she was not politically involved. An introductory class in women’s studies taken during her sophomore year sparked her interest in activism.
“That class really inspired me because I saw that there are people my age and they’re doing something,” Vo said. “That’s when I started volunteering at the Women’s Center.”
When it was time to raise money to attend the march, Vo decided to draw on her interest in fashion and organize a show. She said she wanted to show people a non-stereotypical image of feminists.“I think that feminists in general are not what people think,” she said. “I think that a lot of people care about women and agree with feminist issues but there are negative connotations with the term feminist.”
Vo said the march, which included more than one million activists, was “so overwhelming, so cool.” She said the experience was one of the most inspiring moments of her life.
“We made history with everyone who was there,” she said. “All our work and everything came together at that moment.”
Vo is trying to decide between an internship with a women’s organization, an internship at a magazine and attending law school. No matter what choice she makes , she said she knows she will continue her involvement in activism.
“I don’t think I’d be able to give it up.”
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