Microfinance, the extension of small loans (usually $100–$300) given to the poor to start income-generating programs, has become an popular way for corporations large and small to make a difference in society. But unforeseen issues can come into play. A symposium on October 19 hosted by the UO Center for Women in Society, along with workshops organized by students (many of them business students), explored the topic of women's rights, microfinance, and entrepreneurial solutions to poverty. Lundquist College instructor Ron Severson also moderated the symposium, which provided on-the-ground insights from microfinance officers and asked some tough question about the practice. More.