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Student Wellness Center; Multipurpose Room (840 E. 59th Street)
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Our Restorative Yoga classes may be just what your mind and body need! Join us for an accessible, approachable Restorative Yoga class that will help ease tension and melt away your worries. During class, we use props like blocks, bolsters, and blankets to help you relax into several Restorative Yoga postures, held for several minutes at a time.
We use mindful breathing đ§ââď¸and meditation techniques such as Yoga Nidra that are sure to leave you calmer and more rested than when you walked in the door.
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Content Warming: This issue contains sensitive material, including discussions of sexual misconduct. Please take care while engaging with this content.
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Finding Resources and Support on Campus |
Consent: Clear, Mutual, and Ongoing |
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a month dedicated to recognizing the resilience of survivors and ending sexual violence. This week's issue will focus on resources on campus as well as consent, the mutual agreement to engage in sexual activity, meaning everyone involved must be able to give it freely and willingly. Remember:
1. Consent can not be given if someone is underage, under the influence, asleep, or being pressured or coerced.Â
2. Non-consent can be expressed in many ways, both verbally and nonverballyÂ
2. The absence of a ânoâ does not mean âyes.â
3. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
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- Sexual Assault Dean on Call (SADOC)
- The Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call is the University administrator specifically trained in trauma-informed 40+ Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention. This administrator is available 24/7.Â
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Reach out to the SADOC through the UChicago Help App or by calling 773.702.8181.Â
- UChicago Cares | Center for Awareness, Resolution, Education, and Support
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UChicago Cares offers prevention and education around discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct, including bystander intervention, fostering a culture of respect, and promoting online safety.
- Students can reach out at uchicagocares@uchicago.edu
- Student Wellness
- Student Wellness offers both on-campus and external resources for students, including conversations around sexual health, consent, and connections to off-campus sexual health clinics and reporting options.
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They offer a 24/7 Nurse Line at 773.834.9355, where an experienced nurse can answer health care questions and help guide students through potential options.
- National Sexual Assault HotlineÂ
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Youâre not alone. If you're seeking support, you can contact 1-800-656-HOPE
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A Conversation with Emily |
Meet Someone from our Mental Health Services Team! |
Emily Knotek serves as a Staff Psychologist, Confidential Advisor, and Liaison to the Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Support. She joined Student Wellness in 2019. Emily is deeply passionate about trauma-informed work and values the opportunity to connect with students from all walks of life. She loves meeting new students, who each come with a unique perspective.Â
In her role as a Confidential Advisor, Emily aims to raise awareness of mental health resources available both on campus and throughout Chicago. She emphasizes an important lesson from her career: we often donât prioritize our mental health as we should. As Liaison to the Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Support, she provides short-term therapy options for students who have been impacted. She values her close collaboration with the office, which helps ensure students have access to support systems that feel both familiar and accessible.Â
Emily notes that a key part of her work involves helping students rebuild trust, both in others and in themselves, while ensuring they are informed of their options. She emphasizes that students remain at the center of decision-making, with her role being to support and empower them as the primary decision-makers.
When asked about fostering a healthier campus and broader culture around consent and bodily autonomy, Emily underscores the importance of open and honest conversations. She believes that each story shared contributes to a cultural shift toward ending sexual misconduct, one that encourages boundary-setting and open, honest conversations about the work still to be done. Outside of her professional work, Emily enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and dancing. Learn more about Emily and her work at Student Wellness Below!
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| Staff Psychologist, Co-Coordinator of the Trauma Team, Liaison to Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Support
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Education: BA in Psychology, Spanish minor from The University of Dayton; MA and Psy.D. from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology; Clinical Internship at University of South Florida, Postdoctoral Fellowship at Washington University in Saint Louis. |
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Bodily Autonomy and the Right to Choose
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This quiz leans deeply into how we, as a society, can foster a community that values bodily autonomy and sexual self-determination for everyone. âSexual Citizenshipâ refers to peopleâs rights to say yes to the sex they want and no to the sex they donât, along with the understanding that everyone shares that same right. There are ongoing discussions about whether a term is even necessary, since the right to engage, or not engage, in sexual activity is inherently an individual choice.
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The quiz itself challenges us to become more self-aware of our motivations and desires, while also encouraging us to set our own and respect others' boundaries.
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| Rethinking Consent Education: Starting the Conversation Earlier
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Content Warning: This video discusses sensitive topics, including sexual violence.
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This TED Talk explores how many college campuses compress conversations about consent into a single, information-heavy orientation session, often overwhelming students and limiting meaningful engagement. Jennifer McCary, an Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator, reflects on her experience witnessing the consequences of gaps in consent education. She notes that as many as 35% of students remain disengaged during these discussions.
She advocates for starting these conversations earlier by building partnerships between colleges and high schools, allowing students to develop a stronger, more nuanced understanding of consent before arriving on campus. Emphasizing open, face-to-face dialogue, she highlights the importance of recognizing that consent can be given and withdrawn at any time.
While college-based sexual education is not a complete solution, it plays a vital role in fostering a culture grounded in communication, respect, and
accountability.
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