Opposition to Women-only Swim Program Did Not Materialize

People Acting Together in Howard members packed the Columbia Association's tiny board room Tuesday night to provide a voice of support in a debate that never materialized.

About 55 residents, concerned that opponents of a women-only swim program would ask the board to cancel the program, organized to show their support but it wasn't needed, and the program will continue — at least until January or February.

The initiative is a pilot program. Association staff members will evaluate the program and its attendance after three or four months — it started Oct. 25 — to see if use justifies its existence, a staff member told Patch earlier this month.

News articles about the program over the past week have elicited comments described as nasty, hateful and vitriolic by association staff member Jessie Newburn.

"We've been watching the comments as well, and it's been really tough to see and hear the comments," she said before the meeting began. "Some of the comments have been horrible, horrible — and there's no way of telling if the people are even in Columbia."

The request for the program originated in the local Muslim community by women who cannot enjoy swimming in a co-ed setting because of religious dress codes.

While the idea was initiated by Muslims, it has been embraced by women of many religions and by those who cite personal modesty as a reason they support the separate swim times.

The pool selected for the program was "either a low-use or a no-use pool," Newburn said.

"The time selected is in the middle of the day, and it costs less than $100 a week for the program," she said.

While the board room was packed to overflowing, no one spoke out against the program.

To save time, several designated PATH speakers delivered their comments to the board while the group stood to show the board how widespread support of the initiative is.

Katlin Lamke, 18, told board members she used to enjoy swimming when she was a child but unwanted attention from boys made her stop one of her favorite activities when she was 14.

Thanks to the women-only swim times, which provide a "stress-free" environment, she will once again be able to participate in the activity, she told the board.

Several local clergy members showed up in support of the effort, and the room was filled with people of many races and faiths.

At the conclusion of the meeting, PATH members gathered in the lobby, where lead organizer Cynthia Marshall asked members to participate in a one-word debriefing.

They offered words like "united," "delighted," "empower" and "gratitude."

"We often talk of the world as it is and as it should be," Marshall told the group. "The work we do is trying to make the world as it should be, and we had one of those moments tonight."