May is going to be full of exciting events as we celebrate DePaul's 1st Annual LBGTQA Month! 

 

May 6 - Inaugural Kick-Off Breakfast, Cortelyou Commons (8:30 - 10:30am) and Office of LGBTQA Student Services Open House, LP Student Center, 307 (2-5pm).

May 7 - Out at Lunch!, LP SC, 215 (12-1pm) and Film Screening:  "For the Bible Tells Me So" (2007), LP SC, 314B (5-8pm).

May 8 - Bi Any Other Name: Understanding the Bisexual Student by Robyn Ochs, Munroe Hall, 114 (10-11:30am) and Identity Conflict or Flexibility: Understanding Bisexuality by Robyn Ochs, Munroe Hall, 114 (2-3:30pm).

May 9 - Serving Bisexual Clients by Robyn Ochs, LP SC, Univeristy Counseling Services, 350 (9-10:30am).

May 14 - Out at Lunch!, LP SC, 215 (12-1pm) and Film Screening:  "Trembling Before G-D" (2001), LP SC, 314B (5-8pm).

May 19 - Safe Zone Training: Become an Ally, LP SC, 350 (5-7pm).

May 20 - Health Issues Facing Young Gay Men, LP SC, 313 (3-4:30pm) and Lesbian Health and Well-Being: An Holistic Perspective, LP SC, 313 (5-6:30pm).

May 21 - Out at Lunch!, LP SC, 215 (12-1pm) and Film Screening:  "Khush" (1991), LP SC, 314B (5-8pm).

May 23 - A Perfect Life: Performance by Takao Kawaguchi, LP SC, Atrium (Installation all day, final performance at 7pm).

May 27 - 2nd Annual Stonewall Awards Ceremony & Luncheon, Cortelyou Commons (11:30am-2:30pm).

 

*For additional information regarding these events, contact: LGBTQASERVICES@DEPAUL.EDU

 

May 8 - Activist, Robin Ochs (see LGBT Awareness Month).

May 13 - "Transforming Hate at DePaul" Free Lunch and Dialogue, SC 2nd Floor Performance Area (12-1:30pm)  "Navigating the Grey Area Between Free Speech and Hate Speech" by Professor Charles R. Lawrence (Georgetown Law), SAC 161 (3:30-5:30pm).  DePaul students, faculty, staff, and guests will speak out about experiencing and transforming hate.

May 15 - "A Rabbi's Journey to Islam" by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, DePaul University Art Museum (5-7pm).  Rabbi Gottlieb will share her experiences trying to create understanding between Jewish and Muslim communities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        As the result of a student-led activist movement during the 2006-2007 academic school year, DePaul now provides Sexual Violence Support Services via the Division of Student Affairs.  Coordinator, Alicia Oeser, has been hired to manage the important task of assisting students who have been victims of violence.

Concerned about violence and power structures at DePaul?

Consider volunteering with this newly formed group...

 

DePaul's Community Accountability Initiative consists of seven active members - both graduate and undergraduate students - who are committed to challenging violence, privilege, and oppression on DePaul's campus.  We believe that it is possible to change violence and oppression as they currently exist in all of our lives, and believe that we can do so through education and awareness.  We are working on a peer education anti-oppression initiative that addresses issues of racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, hate speech, privilege, harassment, sexual assault, and dating violence on our campus as well as how all of these oppressions interlock to affect people's lives.  We hope to begin implementing our curriculum and workshops around the campus during the fall quarter of next year.  If you are interested in more information or wish to get involved, please contact Erin Tinnon at etinnon@depaul.edu.

 

 

April saw many activities at DePaul designed to increase visibility during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. 

 

Take Back the Night, led by DePaul's activist group, FIA (Feminists In Action), consisted of many emotionally moving events, including the Clothesline Project, Rally, March across campus, Speak Out, and Candle Light Vigil, all on April 17, 2008.

            As the International Programs Coordinator for the English Language and International Programs (ELI) at the University of California Santa Cruz, DePaul alumni, Jenn Gerrard, is responsible for organizing and coordinating recreational activities that allow international students the opportunity to experience American culture.

            As a 2003 graduate of DePaul's Women's and Gender Studies program, Gerrard's background includes a strong knowledge of "global gender issues," which is essential to her success with the ELI.  In her current position, "gender issues come up constantly.  Students come from all different cultures and countries and explain how gender works in that culture." 

            At the moment, Gerrard is preparing for the second year of the Young Iraqi Leaders Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.  Through this program, students come to the U.S. for six weeks to "learn about science, technology, and American culture."  Additionally, Gerrard will be managing the "huge influx of international students" that comes to UCSC each summer.  During this hectic time, Gerard "manages everything from intake to acclimating students" via helping them adjust to the cultural differences. 

            Gerrard's work with the ELI has relied greatly on her experiences in the WGS program.  "Looking at feminism in a global context is something that I have carried with me, as it sparked my interest in world cultures.  It also effects how one sees organization leadership, the way decisions are made, and the way I approach being a leader when working with people."

            Additionally, "the ability to rely on critical thinking skills and to really dissect an idea" are essential skills that she took from the program.  "Class participation is so stressed that students really gain skills and learn to value and respond to others' ideas."  These skills have been essential to Gerrard's success in working with people and exploring new cultures.

            Although she acquired many skills essential to her career, Gerrard did not jump straight from WGS to her position at UCSC.  Rather, she worked many different jobs, gaining valuable experience along the way.  For instance, her freshman year, Gerrard worked at a political campaign consulting office, followed by her work as a Resident Advisor and then Community Advisor in DePaul's student housing.  She did this from her second year at DePaul until graduation.  She also worked in the Student Center for one year and as a nanny during her entire DePaul career.

            In addition to her busy work schedule, Gerrard was highly active amongst the student organizations.  She was co-president of PRIDE DePaul, an LGBTQ group, a member of the Women's Issues Network, as well as SURVIVE, which dealt with sexual assault issues, including Take Back the Night.

            Beyond her experiences on campus, Gerrard had the opportunity to go to Amman, Jordan for a conference sponsored by the Institute of Gender Justice in Iraq and the National Democratic Institute, which "brought female women's rights activists from Iraq and other countries together to look at legislation and efforts in other countries, in order to see what could be used in Iraq while writing a new constitution."  Despite suicide bombings in Iraq during that time, "the conference continued even in the face of all that adversity.  It was a great opportunity for women activists in Iraq who had not met any people doing similar work in other countries."

            Additionally, she was able to travel to El Salvador for three weeks through the Latin American and Religious Studies programs.  She studied theology and civil war with Professor Lourdes Torres.

            After graduating from DePaul, Gerrard continued her activism.  She was hired by Public Allies, followed by a position with the Jane Adams Research Association, where she worked with adults "struggling with basic literacy issues."  During this time, she helped organize a one-on-one tutoring program.  From September of 2004 until June of 2006, Gerrard worked in the Loop at the International Human Rights Law Institute.  During her time there, DePaul helped rebuild three Iraqi law libraries.

            Gerrard expressed her true appreciation for the opportunities that the WGS program provided to her, especially those of "developing a personal sense of values and beliefs, while dedicating oneself to social change."  She expanded, "you cannot be a WGS major and be apathetic.  The program pushes you to develop your ideas and find what you truly care about, rather than being told what you care about."  This was especially important when it came time to write her thesis.  Gerrard explored the politics of asylum in her thesis by focusing on women's testimony literature out of Al Salvador. 

            In the future, she hopes to return to graduate school to pursue a PhD in Political Science.  She is interested to see how immigrant communities in the U.S. view political issues and ideas of change after living here.

            As for her undergraduate experiences, Gerrard recommended that current students "develop relationships with professors because you realize in the working world that you do not have those types of mentoring opportunities too often.  This experience is unique to the WGS department because it is small and the faculty really care about the students."

The Women's and Gender Studies Program invites majors, minors, affiliated faculty and staff, and friends to our end-of-year luncheon.  The luncheon will take place on June 4th, 12 noon - 2 pm, in the Lincoln Park Student Center 314 A&B.  Food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony will featured.  RSVP to Karyn Haney at khaney@depaul.edu We hope to see you there!