On Tuesday, February 18, WLRC co-sponsored two programs that offered ways of approaching this question about meeting the moment. One was a screening and discussion of the documentary One Million Experiments. The other was a Gallery 400 event featuring a talk by Eve Ewing on her recent book Original Sins, followed by a conversation with UIC alum Nakisha Hobbs. In both instances, the audiences were reminded that we need to remain steadfast in our commitment to learning each other’s histories and struggles, and to finding creative ways to engage in collective work that enables the safety and improves the wellbeing of the communities to which we belong.

This moment is a deeply challenging one. The latest assault on higher education took the form of the Dear Colleague Letter issued by the U.S. Department of Education on February 14. The letter’s contents, which reflect guidance rather than law, claims that harm is being done by institutional efforts to ensure equitable access to universities for all. This letter is the implementation of the executive order which argues, based on the Supreme Court decision in the case of Students for Fair Admissions Inc. vs. Harvard, that all programs, policies and practices labeled “diversity, equity and inclusion” are discriminatory and illegal. The SFFA decision was focused on admissions. The letter moves well beyond admissions to target “hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life” (DCL).

The letter also comes immediately after the announcement that the National Institutes of Health would reduce the amount of funding given to universities for research. The cuts to research support accompany (and may even be informed by) the broad and deep antipathies towards minoritized groups—especially women, people of color, transgender people—who are being characterized as unfairly and undeservedly reaping benefits that they did not earn. It is fair to say that everyone who is being targeted by the new administration is feeling unsafe right now.

Public universities like the University of Illinois Chicago are especially vulnerable to the threats of withholding federal funds. Like the many organizations that have filed lawsuits, universities can and should fight back collectively. By doing so, they can proudly stand by the commitments they put in their mission statements and on which they have built their reputations. Universities also have an opportunity to affirm that all faculty, staff, and students, regardless of social identities, have a right to work, study, and learn in a campus environment that is free from hostility and questions about their worth or whether they belong.

While we wait to hear how our campus will respond to the Dear Colleague letter, I hope that we are educating and engaging our students about what the proposed changes can mean for them in the present and near future. I also hope that we are connecting with and drawing support from our respective communities, talking with each other rather than sitting in silence and isolation. We need each other right now.

In these challenging times, take good care of yourself and each other.

Is your department or student organization hosting an event for Women's History Month in March?

If so, please send details to wlrc@uic.edu.

We'll compile and promote them at go.uic.edu/whm!

[ID: The outline of an open book with the words "Women's History Month", all in purple, with the UIC circle logo at the top.]

Share your thoughts in our weekly poll!

This week, we’re celebrating Black History Month by recognizing its significance and honoring those who inspire us. It’s a time to uplift Black voices and appreciate the impact of Black history and culture.

How are you celebrating Black History Month this February? Is there a Black leader, activist, or figure you’d like to highlight and uplift?

Check back next week for your responses and a new question!

Last week, we asked, "What do you love most about yourself?  What makes you feel powerful and resilient in tough times?" Here are some of your responses:

Thank you for sharing your wonderful responses!

[ID: "Question of the Week" in yellow block letters inside a yellow-orange frame on a purple-blue gradient background.]

Monday, February 24 | 12:30-2pm
Daley Library 1-470
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Join us to unpack the subtle ways microaggressions impact our everyday interactions and how to recognize, address, and dismantle them. Come ready to explore effective strategies for creating more inclusive environments.

[ID: A grayscale background with silhouettes, geometric patterns, and black gears. A neon pink gear with a floral design is centered. Bold white and pink text highlights the event title. A QR code for RSVPs is on the right.]

Wednesday, February 26 | 12-1pm
WLRC, 1700 SSB
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

It is hard to navigate relationships at home, work, school, and online after encountering violence. Join us to share stories, troubleshoot challenges, and explore what healthy relationships and boundaries mean to you as a survivor.

[ID: "HEALS: Healing for Engagement, Action, & Leadership by Survivors" in white text over a purple background, with flames rising from the bottom center.]

Tuesday, March 4
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for two special events with Curtis Chin, author of Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant!

Memoir Writing Workshop
12:30-1:45pm | 215 Taft & Zoom

Book Reading & Signing
3-4:30pm | Daley Library 1-470 & Zoom

[ID: Curtis Chin, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and glasses, smiling. Below him is the cover of his book, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant. Around them is text describing the book reading and writing workshop events.]

Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 9am - 1pm
SSB Conference Rooms
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for a symposium exploring the unique needs and challenges of parenting students. Together we will uplift student stories, present current research on parenting students, identify best practices for supporting pregnant and parenting students, and articulate ways to collaborate to put our ideas into action at UIC and campuses statewide.

[ID: Two parents wearing commencement robes and mortar boards, playing with their small children, all smiling. Text in the center reads, "from Surviving to Thriving: Cultivating Possibilities for Parenting Students in Illinois."]

Due date: Saturday, March 1
Audience: Undergraduate Students

Apply for this paid summer internship that engages with environmental, climate, and social justice issues! Garden Internship (care for garden beds, research and collect stories/recipes, engage monarch conservation) and Photography & Media Internship available!

[ID: A student watering a garden bed with a can. Around them are details about the internship, which can be found at the link above.]

Survivors, we are here for you! Please reach out to the Campus Advocacy Network any time you need support, information, resources, answers, and/or advocacy related to safety, healing, or gender-based violence (sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, stalking, harassment, family abuse).

We can connect in person at WLRC or via Zoom, phone, text, or email. Our services are free, confidential, and open to all members of the UIC community.

We can help you build a safety plan, connect with resources (like mental health support or legal assistance), process your experiences, and stay informed about your rights and options. We can assist you as you navigate processes like requesting academic accommodations, communicating with Financial Aid and the Registrar's Office, filing a report with the Office of Access and Equity, and/or petitioning for an Order of Protection, depending on your needs.

We are here not only for survivors and those facing gender-based violence, but also for those in roles where there may be a need to support survivors on campus, such as instructors, mentors, advisors, student leaders, friends, or colleagues.

To connect with an advocate:
- Call: (312) 413-8206
- Text: (312) 488-9784
- Email: can-appointment@uic.edu
- Submit an Ask an Advocate form

[ID: Four members of Mujeres en Medicina, smiling, hold a section of clothesline from WLRC's Clothesline Project, where t-shirts tell the stories of surviving violence or offer messages of support, such as "Women owe you nothing," "You are loved," and "I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become!"]

Everyone at UIC has a role to play in preventing violence and supporting survivors in our community. 

If you are an ally supporting a survivor in your life (whether that is a friend, family member, student, or employee), contact us to discuss questions around advocating for survivors, campus and community resources, mandated reporting, and more.

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: A coffee cup, paper, paper clips, buttons, and pencils scattered around text about the Don't Cancel Your Class program, all on a teal background.]

If you are teaching, please share information about CAN during class and in your 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: The text of the CAN Syllabus Statement in dark blue on a white background, with a teal green border.]

Latino Cultural Center: Weekly Listening Party
Thursday, February 20 | 2-3pm, Lecture Center B2
Come together to build community, share and experience music together, and explore different genres of music.

Arab American Cultural Center: Teach Me How to Dabke
Thursday, February 20 | 5-7pm, SCE 613
Join for a workshop led by Palestinian dance instructors Mohamed Darwasha and Muhammad Sankari to learn Dabke, a powerful expression of Palestinian culture, identity, and resilience. Suitable for all skill levels.

Black Cultural Center: What's Going On
Friday, February 21 | 10-11am, Zoom
For February, our theme is Work, Work, Work, Work, Work! We’ll explore the impact of work, school, and daily grind on mental well-being, discussing strategies to balance productivity with self-care. 

Asian American Resource and Cultural Center: Tea Time: Discussing AAPI Terminology
Friday, February 21 | 1-2pm, 723 W. Maxwell St. (AARCC)
Join hosts Kekulalani and Krystin as they discuss the implications of AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) terminology.

Gender & Sexuality Center: Queer & Trans Drop-In Support Space
Tuesday, February 25 | 12-1pm, 183 BSB
Join a warm and inclusive space designed for Queer and Trans UIC students to share, connect, and receive support from UIC Counseling Center therapists.

Arab American Cultural Center: Syria: Ana Min Hunak/Ana Min Huna
Wednesday, February 26 | 12-1pm, Taft Hall 101
Join this month’s Stories of Cultural Heritage showcase highlighting Syria, going beyond headlines to explore its rich and diverse culture. Hear from Syrian UIC students as they share what it means to be from both here and there.

Disability Cultural Center: Crip Coffee Break: Make Your Own Fidgets
Wednesday, February 26 | 3-4pm, 235 BSB & Zoom
We'll hang out together and let the conversation be guided by what’s going on in our lives or what’s on our minds. 

Arab American Cultural Center: After The "Ceasefire" What Next for Palestine Solidarity?
Wednesday, February 26 | 3:30-5pm, Institute for the Humanities at UIC
Join Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine for an urgent teach-in on Gaza after the "ceasefire." Panelists will discuss the latest developments, the Palestinian struggle for freedom, and what these issues mean for activism in the U.S. and on college campuses.

About the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change (CCUSC): Founded as a direct result of campus activism, the 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.

[ID: The above statement about who the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change are, on a purple background.]

In light of potential 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 law enforcement officers.

UIC's administration has shared official protocols for such interactions on campus. In short:

UIC's Rigo Padilla Pérez Undocumented Student Resource Center provides a comprehensive set of resources you can use on campus and in the community, including printable cards in multiple languages. They can also provide Know Your Rights trainings by request.

For more detailed info, check out this presentation from Sanctuary for All UIC, a collective of students, faculty, and staff imagining a sanctuary for all at UIC.

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

[ID: A two-page flyer with Know Your Rights info from ICIRR, which is available on its website.]

Center for Student Involvement: UIC Black History Month
February 6 - 28 | Various Times & Locations
The UIC Black History Month 2025 Committee invites the campus to celebrate with events honoring the theme "On My Black Job – Labor, Love, and Liberation.

Office of the Dean of Students: U&I Care Meals
Click above to access emergency meal assistance through the U&I Care Meals Program! Limited meals are available each term for UIC students facing urgent food insecurity.

Commuter and Off-Campus Life: Upcoming Events
Click above for exciting events, resources, and opportunities designed for UIC commuter and off-campus students!

Career Services: Upcoming Events
Click above for career prep workshops, career fairs, and more!

Daley Library: Upcoming Events
Click above for fun and engaging events for UIC students!

Counseling Center: Upcoming Events
Click above for popular workshops, peer-support groups, drop-in groups, and other events!

Little Sparks Program: Services and Opportunities for Student-Parents
The Little Sparks Program supports student-parents as they complete their education by providing childcare funding and wrap-around support. They offer things like child care; tuition assistance; diapers, wipes, and formula; student-parent network & events; and community resources.

Resilience: Upcoming Events
Resilience is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group trauma therapy, and medical and legal advocacy in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Resilience provides public education and institutional advocacy in order to improve the treatment of sexual assault survivors and to effect positive change in policies and public attitudes toward sexual assault.

- Feb 24: Winter Journaling and Meditation Support Group
- Feb 24: Men's Art Support Group
- Feb 24: Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault Support Group
- Feb 25: Survivors of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Support Group
- Feb 25: Survivor's Book Club: Free Support Group
- Feb 26: Women-Identified Survivors Support Group

CAASE: Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together
Thursday, February 20 | 3-5pm, Virtual
Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together is an online gathering space for survivors of sexual harm and those who support them, either personally or professionally or both.

KAN-WIN: Community Engagement Internship: Apply by February 23, 2025!
KAN-WIN’s summer internship offers hands-on experience in advocacy and organizing against gender-based violence in Asian American communities through training, outreach, and educational projects.

The Barb Yong Equal Pay Scholarship: Apply by March 1, 2025!
The Barb Yong Equal Pay Scholarship supports Chicago college students committed to social justice, with encouragement for part-time and undocumented students to apply.

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: Monthly 1-Hour Domestic Violence Training for Salon Professionals
Monday, March 3 | 1-2pm, Virtual
Illinois mandates domestic violence training for salon professionals to help identify abuse. The YWCA offers this training, empowering salon workers to recognize signs of violence and connect clients and coworkers to resources.

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: 5th-8th Grade Caregiver Sex Education Workshop
Thursday, March 6 | 7-8:30pm, Virtual
This workshop helps parents and caregivers learn about healthy sexuality, sexual health, and child development to engage with their students on these topics.

Chicago Women's Health Center: Some Considerations: The Legal Landscape for Queer & Trans Folks
Monday, March 10 | 5:30-6:45, Virtual
The current state of trans- and queer-related law in Illinois will be discussed, along with how to stay informed as the legal landscape evolves.

Chicago Women's Health Center: Menopause Workshop
Saturday, March 15 | 9:30am-12pm, Virtual
We'll explore historical research to challenge misinformation and discuss treatment options, focusing on self-care and community care from a feminist perspective on menopause.

2025 Voyager Scholarship for Public Service: Apply by April 1, 2025!
Applications are open for the 2025 Obama-Chesky Scholarship, offering rising juniors up to $50,000 in aid, a funded summer travel experience, networking, and a 10-year travel stipend for those committed to public service and global engagement.

YWCA Evanston/North Shore: 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training
April 14 - April 25 | 9am-2pm, 1215 Church St., Evanston
A 40-hour domestic violence training site, approved by ICDVP, covers all required topics through a trauma-informed lens for those working with affected individuals.

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

Subscribe:
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Please subscribe to ensure you receive future updates!

Missed a newsletter?
Visit our archive to read recent weekly digests.