Meet Shira Cohen, member of NeW at American University.

How did you first hear about NeW?
Abby Daniels, our current president and last year’s director of membership, reached out to me via Instagram telling me all about NeW. Right away, it seemed like an amazing organization that I wanted to join.

Why is having a NeW chapter on campus so important to you?
Having a NeW chapter on campus is important to me because it provides me with an outlet to meet like-minded women who I know I’ll be friends with for a lifetime. At a school where almost everyone seems to have the same political beliefs, it’s good to know I’m not the only one with different values out there.

What has been your favorite memory or event with NeW?
My favorite event with NeW so far was our bake sale in the Mary Graydon Center, during which we raised over $250 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation! Our events assistant, Eleanor Porte, brought her mini golden doodle, Bailey, and we decided to make her our chapter’s mascot!

Why is NeW important?
NeW is important because it gives conservative women like me an outlet to express themselves freely. In the “cancel culture” days of today, it is more important than ever to find a community of conservative women who will accept me for who I am.

What advice would you give other conservative women on campus?
I would tell other conservative women on campus that they are not alone. There are so many other conservative women out there — you might just not know it yet. Today, it’s harder to come out as a conservative than it is to come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. That being said, I promise you will eventually find other like-minded conservative women on campus either through NeW or simply your own interactions!

Learn how you can get involved with the NeW chapter on your college campus or find out how you can bring NeW to your school. If you have any questions about starting a chapter, contact us today.