At the WLRC and Campus Advocacy Network (CAN), we witness how gender-based violence (GBV) impacts student survivors’ college experiences, and we know that hearing stories of violence can retraumatize those who have encountered harm, betrayal, or oppression. Survivors, please know that we are here for you. Advocates are available to help you process traumatic experiences; build a safety plan; explore your rights and options; connect with resources;  file a report; or request supportive measures from your instructors, advisors, and supervisors. 

Here are additional resources that student survivors of sexual violence can access anytime:

We also know that sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking, and harassment are preventable. Everyone in our community has a role to play in ending GBV and supporting survivors. We hope you will join us in making UIC a safer place!

To learn more about how you can get involved, contact the Campus Advocacy Network or check out these resources:

Wednesday, September 30 | 3-4pm
WLRC & Zoom
Audience: UIC Undergraduate Students

Join us to heal through creating and crafting! 

For our first session for undergraduate student survivors and those who support them, we'll create blackout poetry (no experience necessary!) and share our favorite healing books.

Complete our HEALS Interest Form to learn more, RSVP, and stay connected with us.

[ID: "HEALS: Healing for Engagement, Action, & Leadership by Survivors" in white text over a magenta background. Below that are details about the HEALS program and a group of people with their arms around each other.]

Wednesday, September 30 | 4:30-5:45pm
WLRC, 1700 SSB
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Please join us for an activism conversation and intersectional community organizing workshop with Rey Wences, Senior Director of Deportation Defense at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, UIC and GWS alum, and 2026 Civic Engagement, Community Service, and Community Organizing (CECSCO) Honoree.

This program is free and open to the public with pre-registration. To pre-register, please email ffair@uic.edu.

[ID: Rey Wences, wearing a light blue button-down shirt and standing in front of a painting of blue flowers. Next to them are details about the Social Justice Activism Workshop.]

Monday, October 5 | 4-5pm
Zoom
Audience: UIC Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Join Annie McDonnell of Blue Origin and Ninoshka Friedman of Boeing, two UIC Engineering alumnae working in the aerospace industry, as they discuss their career journeys, the critical role engineers play in advancing space exploration, and why representation matters in shaping the future of STEM. 

[ID: Annie McDonnell and Ninoshka Friedman smiling toward the camera. To their left are details about the PERSIST(Σ) Beyond the Mission event.]

Tuesday, October 6 | 6-7:30pm
241 ARC
Audience: UIC Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Come play Sex Toy Bingo and Sex Ed Trivia! We’ll chat about building healthy sexual relationships and give away sex toys, condoms, Plan B, and other prizes.

Learn how consent and communication make intimacy more fun and fulfilling. Don’t miss a night of laughter, learning, and free goodies!

[ID: A series of sex toys on a bingo card, with details about the Sex Toy Bingo event below.]

Wednesday, October 7 | 3-5pm
153 BSB & Zoom
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for an afternoon with Black feminist disability studies scholar Anna LaQuawn Hinton, in celebration of her recent book, Refusing to Be Made Whole: Disability in Black Women’s Writing. Washieka Torres will join us as a respondent.

[ID: A blue and green flyer that features the cover of Refusing to Be Made Whole, which has an abstracted profile of a head looking toward the sky with radiating lines that resemble a seashell. Below is a portrait of Hinton, a smiling Black woman with an orange shirt and glasses and details about the event.]

Wednesday, October 14 | 3:30-6pm
AARCC, 723 W. Maxwell
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for the opening panel and reception for this traveling exhibit that explores the experiences, contributions, and legacy of Filipino nurses who migrated to the United States.

Exhibit curator and author Angel Abcede will join UIC faculty members Anna Guevarra and Karen Flynn to discuss the history, migration, and contributions of Filipino nurses in the U.S.

[ID: Three nurses flank a hospital bed with a patient lying in it. At the top is "Unheard Voices of Care: Filipino Nurses in America." At the bottom are details about two events related to the exhibit.]

Apply by Friday, October 9
Audience: UIC Undergraduate Students

WLRC offers tuition awards to support the educational pursuits of women undergraduate students who have a great deal of financial need that is not being met by financial aid or loans.

We especially encourage applications from women who are members of marginalized groups, e.g., lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women; women of color; women with disabilities; veterans; undocumented students; parenting students; and students returning to college to complete their education.

[ID: "Tuition Award" in blue and purple gradient block text and the "Women's Leadership and Resource Center" in dark blue block text with the UIC red circle to its left, on a white background. At the top is a purple-blue prize ribbon with "WLRC" in the center.]

As the academic year progresses and many of you and your families are being impacted by the actions of ICE and their abductions, WLRC and the Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change (CCUSC) want to underline our ongoing support to you all. Remember that there are multiple pillars on campus to help you stay resolute in completing your studies.

As you continue to fight the good fight, know that you are not alone in the urgency you are feeling. Our space is open to study, gather in community, and check in with staff. We are here to support your academic success through the end of the semester and beyond. We will continue to find courage in our solidarity and community, fight injustice, and build spaces of love and care.

Additional Campus Resources:

[ID1: A heart, outlined in red, with rays emanating from the top. ID2: A pair of clasped fists, outlined in red, with rays emanating from the top.]

Survivors, we are so glad that you are here, and we want you to thrive. Start the year strong by learning your options and connecting with the resources you need!

Reach out to the Campus Advocacy Network for free, confidential support if you have experienced gender-based violence (sexual assault, harassment, stalking, domestic/dating violence, or family abuse), or if you have questions about safety or healing.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

To connect with an advocate:

Did you know? 

CAN services are here for everyone! We serve students, faculty, and staff of all genders and sexualities. We're here for you if you experience violence yourself or if you are supporting a friend or loved one. 

[ID: A grey t-shirt with "Someone you love is a survivor" painted on it in red and white. Red and black hearts are scattered around the words.]

If you are a student leader, instructor, or supervisor, please consider inviting CAN to speak to your class through our Don’t Cancel Your Class! program, or request a training for your department, college, student organization, or other campus unit. 

[ID: Three students participating in a dating timeline activity on a tabletop.]

Faculty, please include info about us in your curriculum and syllabus:

"If you have experienced sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, stalking, or harassment, there is help available. The Campus Advocacy Network provides free and confidential services to UIC students, faculty, and staff who have experienced or are experiencing interpersonal violence. 

Pregnant and parenting students are also welcome to contact CAN for resources, information, and support.

If you would like to speak with an advocate, please email CAN at can-appointment@uic.edu, call (312) 413-8206 and leave a voicemail message, text (312) 488-9784, or fill out CAN's Ask An Advocate form online at can.uic.edu/ask. To learn more, visit CAN's website at can.uic.edu."

[ID: A CAN team member standing next to a presentation screen and facilitating a discussion on how to respond to a disclosure of gender-based violence.]

Check out what's happening at all our sibling centers this week!

Founded as a direct result of campus activism, the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change (CCUSC) work collectively to produce knowledge and shift university culture, validating the multidimensional lived experiences of historically and currently excluded communities. Informed by social justice frameworks, the Centers support students, faculty, and staff as they build a strong identity and sense of belonging, becoming change agents for a more just campus and society. The Centers connect our communities and design intercultural and engaged-learning opportunities, student mentorship programs, cultural programming, advocacy, collaborative research, and community partnerships. Through these efforts, the Centers expand the educational and transformational mission of UIC.

UIC Graduate College: Weekly Funding Opportunities List
Check out this weekly email full of funding, job, and fellowship opportunities for graduate students!

UIC IRRPP: Funding Opportunities
IRRPP's funding programs support the scholarly, community development, and educational activities of UIC faculty members and graduate students whose work focuses on race, ethnicity, and public policy.

UIUC Women's Resources Center: Hiring for an Advocacy Position
Apply by October 6
The WRC is hiring an Advocacy Coordinator/Assistant Director, Advocacy to assist in the coordination and delivery of survivor/victim support services. 

UIC Suleiman Naber Student Engagement Award
Apply by October 9
Provides $500 to honor a student who has helped build community through their leadership or everyday acts of participation and support including engagement with the Arab American Cultural Center or related student organizations. 

UIC African American Academic Network: Sista Squad: Black Goddess Vibes
Wednesday, September 30 | 2:30-4:30pm, 2800 SSB
Join us for a body positivity, self-love, wellness, and confidence-building workshop created for Black women and nonbinary students.

KAN-WIN: Peer Advocacy Leadership Training
Late September - October
Join this five-session program that provides essential education on gender-based violence and helps develop skills for violence prevention & intervention in your community. Available in Mandarin, Mongolian, and Korean languages. Participants receive a $100 stipend. 

Between Friends: Light Up the Lakefront
Thursday, October 1 | 4-8pm, Ohio Street Beach
To mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we will gather to light candles in a striking visual tribute to all those affected by domestic violence. 

KAN-WIN: Walk the Walk & Talk the Talk
Saturday, October 3 | 9:30am - 12pm, Humboldt Park Boathouse, Chicago
Enjoy an outdoor walk while we engage in community conversation and collective art building around themes of justice and community accountability for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

UIC Asian American Resource and Cultural Center: Beauty in a Bottle: Colorism in Asian Skincare
Monday, October 5 | 5-6:30pm, 723 W. Maxwell
Join AARCC and Alpha Phi Gamma to examine the effects of colorism in Asian beauty products! Free skincare products provided by Good Molecules.

Chicago Abortion Fund: A Home Here: Post-Abortion Community Circle
Tuesday, October 13 | 7:30-8:45pm, Virtual
Join us for a drop-in circle for anyone who has had an abortion. This is a space for connection, reflection, and simply being with others who share a common experience. There’s no need to share unless you want to.

¿Y Yo También? Latinas Respond to #MeToo: Online Book Launch & Celebration
Tuesday, October 20 | 6-7:30pm, Zoom
¿Y Yo También? brings together a diverse range of Latina voices to address the under-representation of Latinx voices in the #MeToo movement and discussions of sexual violence. Features a chapter on Latina podcasting by UIC's Dr. Esther Díaz Martín.

Resilience: Volunteer Medical Advocate Training
October 26 - November 19 | Virtual
Are you interested in supporting survivors of sexual assault and violence on the frontlines? Our volunteers participate in a robust training program that fully prepares them for working with survivors in the ERs of our 12 partner hospitals.

UIC Radiant Fellowship: Abortion Care and Reproductive Justice for Advocates and Providers
Friday, November 20 | 9am - 3pm, Quad Cities area
The event will bring together people from Iowa, Illinois, and beyond to strengthen skills, exchange perspectives, and explore practical approaches to supporting patients and communities navigating the changing reproductive healthcare landscape.

UIC Native American Support Program: Fall Speaker Series
September 15 - December 1
Join us for our multidisciplinary speaker series, bringing together leading scholars, legal experts, artists, and community voices across campus, Chicago, and nationwide. 

UIC Counseling Center: Black Womxn's Support Space
Thursdays | 4:30-6pm, 2010 SSB
Have you ever had one of those weeks where you just need somewhere to talk, decompress, create, and be around people who get it? Join us for a drop-in support group for Black womxn where you can come as you are — no need to prepare anything, share anything you don’t want to, or have your life figured out.

UIC Gender and Sexuality Center: The Check In
Wednesdays | 1-2:30pm, 183 BSB
The Check In is an intentional LGBTQIA+ student space for conversation, support, and community--a welcoming and supportive environment for students to discuss meaningful topics with engaging, creative activities.

UIC Gender and Sexuality Center: Beyond the Binary
Mondays | 4:15-5:30pm, Virtual
Beyond the Binary is a weekly support group for UIC students who identify as Trans or Gender Non-Conforming to talk about the issues that are important to you.

CAASE: Surviving the Mic
3rd Thursday of each month | 3-5pm, Zoom
Join this online gathering space for survivors of sexual harm and those who support them. The gathering begins with a check-in and dialogue on current events, followed by a trauma-informed writing workshop.

CAASE: Let's Chat Over Lunch
4th Wednesday of each month | 12-1pm, Zoom
At each gathering, we’ll discuss current cultural events, media, and news headlines related to sexual harm and/or social injustice.

UIC Today Events Calendar
Check regularly for events hosted by departments around campus.

UIC Connection Calendar
Check regularly for student organization meetings and other student-centered events.

In light of threats to our communities, both here at UIC and throughout the Chicago area, it's important to know what our rights are when interacting with immigration and other federal law enforcement officers.

WHAT TO DO

UIC's official protocols for such interactions on campus.

If you need assistance or suspect ICE presence anywhere in IL, please call the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) Hotline: 1-855-435-7693.

[ID: Details about ICIRR's Family Support Network Hotline: 855-435-7693.]

CAMPUS RESOURCES

We are here for you and will continue to share resources and information with our campus community.

UIC Women’s Leadership and Resource Center
& Campus Advocacy Network

1700 Student Services Building (MC 363)
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 413-1025 ∙ wlrc@uic.edu ∙ wlrc.uic.edu

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