More than 30 sophomore women and Residence Life staff members crowded into the lobby of Sikes Hall to eat brownies, drink milk and hear words of wisdom from ACU’s First Lady, Pam Money, Tuesday night.  The conversation focused on the rocky and romantic topic of relationships.
For two hours, she spoke to a room packed with women asking questions ranging from, “How did Dr. Money propose?” to “What is the guy’s responsibility when we’re on a date?”
Money gave the women tips, tricks and dating dos and don’ts, as well as insight into the minds of men. She said men are as scared to ask a girl on a date as girls are to not be asked.
Much of the discussion was intended to stay in the room, but some of Money’s points had recently engaged Resident Director Angela Bearden talking.
“The theme for this semester is identity,” Bearden said. “We give opportunity to hear different women with different voices speak. She had so many incredibly good points. It really is about respect and about love and not only for a man but for yourself.”
In addition to getting good advice, the women were encouraged to open up and speak freely. They even learned proper flirting techniques during a role play, in which Money pretended to be the shy, yet eager girl while the other women laughed.     Money said one of the key things she wanted to get across to the women is their worth to others and to God.
“T hey can set the tone, and they have a say in what happens,” she said. “They need to see their value as women. And we are valuable, not just as a gap-filler, but God made you the way you are.”
Money’s words strongly impacted many of the women present, including resident assistant and senior marketing major Alise Anderson.
“I need to have more older women in my life that I can learn from,” Anderson said.
Money has made appearances already in Smith, Adams and Barret residence halls, and Bearden said more presentations are in the works.