University Women

MARIAN WESTER SHAFER, age 83, died on April 1, 2004, in Lakeway, TX. Some people described Marian as a pricklypear - tough as nails on the outside, but all soft and sweet on the inside. Born in Seymour, Missouri, and reared in nearby Fordland, MO, she was blessed with keen intelligence, a love of reading and persistent intellectual curiosity. While in high school, she kept house on her parents' Grade A Dairy Farm just outside town along with reading and participating on the debate team.

With the women of Afghanistan, Cambodia, Vietnam and other poor nations in mind, an international group of leaders in education and development has begun raising money to establish a private university for women in Asia that would be accessible to the poor. The proposed university, initially with the size and curriculum of a small liberal arts college, would include students from all Asian cultures, many on scholarships, said Lone Dybkjaer, a member of the European Parliament and a former Danish environment minister, who is a co-chairwoman of a group that announced plans last week for the institution.

IN THE MIDST of our frenetic culture, women are stitching together ways to support each other.More than 75 women attended an open house Tuesday for a new chapter of the MOMS Club -- one based in Ellicott City. Most of the women brought young children to the meeting at First Evangelical Lutheran Church.The children's squeals and chatter reverberated off the tile floor as Linda Lagala-Spano of the MOMS Columbia chapter explained that MOMS stands for Mothers Offering Mothers Support.She noted that the club recognizes the sacrifices that mothers and families are making -- financially, socially and professionally -- to have women stay at home with their children.

WHEN I FIRST heard about Raising Hopes Infant Center on Distillery Drive in Westminster, I thought, "The name says it all -- Raising Hopes."Since 1995, Raising Hopes has been helping teen parents stay in school by providing child care, transportation and support groups for them to share the joys and hassles of being a parent.Raising Hopes is helping eight young mothers finish school, including Colyn Brumfield, who is attending the Carroll County Career and Technology Center so she can become a nurse.

Lucy Somerville Howorth,102, a lawyer and longtime fighter for women's rights, died Aug. 23 in Cleveland, Miss. Mrs. Howorth was a pioneer in the women's movement, breaking ground in her Mississippi and becoming a major political player in Washington.In 1961, she was named adviser to the President's Commission on the Status of Women. She joined the forerunner of the American Association of University Women in 1918. She was among the first female appointees by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Board of Veterans Appeals.

Soccer enthusiasts have a big weekend on tap.The 19th annual Columbia Invitational Soccer Tournament will be played Saturday through Monday.Presented by the Soccer Association of Columbia, the event has attracted 248 teams from the United States and Canada."

The earth is getting to be a pretty small place.Students and staff at Archbishop Spalding High School are learning more about the international community with the help of visiting teacher Robert Marcz.The 26-year-old Fulbright Exchange Program participant from Pecs, Hungary, is teaching world history and geography this year at Spalding.In his native country, Marcz is on the staff of the Apaczai Dual Language Grammar School, where geography, history and biology are taught in English. His mother is a primary school principal, his father an athletic coordinator and his brother a teacher.

Another article yesterday incorrectly identified one of th organizations urging the state Senate to delay its vote on the confirmation of John S. Arnick as District Court judge. The correct name is the American Association of University Women.The Sun regrets the errorsFour legislators and a coalition of legal activists and women's groups are asking that tomorrow's planned Senate vote on the confirmation of John S. Arnick's judgeship be delayed pending further investigation.That message was delivered at a news conference in Annapolis yesterday, where Judith A. Wolfer accused Mr. Arnick of being "not entirely truthful" when he testified under oath Friday to the Senate Executive Nominations Committee.

Doctor to speak to university womenDr. William Harlan, an associate director of disease prevention at the National Institutes of Health, will be the guest speaker at a meeting of the American Association of University Women, at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Dunloggin Middle School, 9129 Northfield Road in Ellicott City.Dr. Harlan is responsible for overseeing the recently established Women's Health Initiative, which will develop recommendations for prevention of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke and osteoporosis, all major causes of death and disability among American women.

WASHINGTON -- Women's activists are seeking jobs in th Clinton administration the old-fashioned way. By nagging."Women are waiting," Harriet Woods, who apparently presumesto speak for all women, told President-elect Bill Clinton in a letter on behalf of the Coalition for Women's Appointments. "They will not be satisfied with two or three out of 14 Cabinet seats."Women make up 51 percent of the population and 54 percent of registered voters, Ms. Woods said. Her demand: a Clinton administration that consists of 50 percent women.