Centers for Diversity at risk
Fae Rabin
Issue date: 2/8/10 Section: Features
Media Credit: Fae RabinBudget cuts threatening to limit safe spaces for students.
UIC prides itself on its diversity. But students from the Centers for Diversity are concerned that diversity is going to become a budget cut casualty.
A group of students from UIC's Centers for Diversity are planning a protest on Wednesday, February 10th, from 11:30-1PM at University Hall, to show their solidarity with their centers' mission.
UIC houses five Centers for Diversity - the African-American Cultural Center, the Asian American Resource and Cultural Center, the Women's Leadership and Resource Center, the Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Latino Cultural Center, and the Gender and Sexuality Center. Each center has been, for as long as they've existed, autonomous and collaborating units that provide services such as education and support to the students. These centers are responsible for putting on a host of events including the Chicago Latino Film Festival, the Vagina Monologues, and various other heritage programs.
The vision of the CFDs is that: "UIC, Chicago, and the world will be equitable communities that value racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual diversity and where all individuals achieve their highest potential without systemic discrimination."
Recently, under the stress of UIC's current financial situation, these Centers for Diversity face severe budget cuts that could compromise their autonomous existence. As this presented itself as a possibility, the Centers for Diversity held a series of community meetings at the Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Latino Cultural Center. Workers at the Centers, students, faculty members, and administrative staff were in attendance to pose questions, share thoughts, and express concern to the public forum.
The first question on the table was: "Which of the CFD's services/resources/programs have you been using, and in what ways have they been meeting [or not been meeting] your needs and/or expectations?"
First to offer input was Jane, a UIC sophomore: "I use the Rainbow Room as a place, well, I'm a lesbian, and sometime I'd don't feel safe on campus. It's just a matter of fact. I use the Rainbow Room as a place to hide sometimes to be safe. I really depend on the Rainbow Room and the Gender and Sexuality Center in general - for school and for emotional support".
The Gender and Sexuality Center has been around for over a decade and works to promote the well-being of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Both the Rainbow Room and the Gender and Sexuality Center are located in BSB.
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A group of students from UIC's Centers for Diversity are planning a protest on Wednesday, February 10th, from 11:30-1PM at University Hall, to show their solidarity with their centers' mission.
UIC houses five Centers for Diversity - the African-American Cultural Center, the Asian American Resource and Cultural Center, the Women's Leadership and Resource Center, the Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Latino Cultural Center, and the Gender and Sexuality Center. Each center has been, for as long as they've existed, autonomous and collaborating units that provide services such as education and support to the students. These centers are responsible for putting on a host of events including the Chicago Latino Film Festival, the Vagina Monologues, and various other heritage programs.
The vision of the CFDs is that: "UIC, Chicago, and the world will be equitable communities that value racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual diversity and where all individuals achieve their highest potential without systemic discrimination."
Recently, under the stress of UIC's current financial situation, these Centers for Diversity face severe budget cuts that could compromise their autonomous existence. As this presented itself as a possibility, the Centers for Diversity held a series of community meetings at the Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Latino Cultural Center. Workers at the Centers, students, faculty members, and administrative staff were in attendance to pose questions, share thoughts, and express concern to the public forum.
The first question on the table was: "Which of the CFD's services/resources/programs have you been using, and in what ways have they been meeting [or not been meeting] your needs and/or expectations?"
First to offer input was Jane, a UIC sophomore: "I use the Rainbow Room as a place, well, I'm a lesbian, and sometime I'd don't feel safe on campus. It's just a matter of fact. I use the Rainbow Room as a place to hide sometimes to be safe. I really depend on the Rainbow Room and the Gender and Sexuality Center in general - for school and for emotional support".
The Gender and Sexuality Center has been around for over a decade and works to promote the well-being of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Both the Rainbow Room and the Gender and Sexuality Center are located in BSB.
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