Campus Connection

UWL holds first Social Justice Week

UWL’s first ever Social Justice Week will feature national activists who’ve inspired change related to gender, race, sexuality and more. It will also tap the collective wisdom of UWL’s campus community related to social justice. “In this Together: Pursuing Social Justice in Changing Contexts” will run from April 4-8. The five days of events include daily brown bag lunches, research sessions, roundtables, panel presentations and several featured speakers. All events are free and open to the public. View the calendar at http://www.uwlax.edu/Social-Justice/Social-Justice-Week/ “We do a good job on campus of raising awareness about individual and institutional discrimination,” says Laurie Cooper Stoll, faculty member and director of UWL’s Institute for Social Justice. “Social Justice Week is also focused on helping people learn how we are all connected to these topics and what we can do to address them.” [caption id="attachment_45449" align="alignleft" width="213"] Annie Clark, co-founder of End Rape on Campus.[/caption] Annie Clark, co-founder of End Rape on Campus, will be the keynote speaker. Clark is a sexual assault survivor who was featured in the documentary about campus rape, “The Hunting Ground.” Clark helped launch a nationwide campaign to use Title IX complaints to force universities to address sexual assault and related problems more aggressively. In her keynote presentation from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, Clark will not only share her story, but also talk about what campuses can do to in terms of addressing rape and sexual assault. Other national voices include Award-Winning Artist Kit Yan who performs theatrical slam poetry pieces about his life as a transgender activist. He will perform and speak at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 4, in the Brian and Lori Hesprich Auditorium, Graff Main Hall. Corey Saylor, director of the Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia, will talk about the rise of Islamophobia in the U.S. at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 4, in 1400 Centennial Hall . Faculty and UWL undergraduate and graduate students will also give presentations. “It's a great way to highlight the collaboration and dedication to social justice that is alive and well here,” says Amanda Goodenough, UWL assistant director of Campus Climate. [caption id="attachment_45451" align="alignright" width="240"] Laurie Cooper Stoll, faculty member and director of UWL’s Institute for Social Justice.[/caption] Social Justice Week has been years in the making, says Stoll. However, it has come together at a time when social justice discussions are making national and local headlines. Movements such as Black Lives Matter and locally on UWL’s campus with the series of open forums in early March in response to a large number of hate and bias incidents on campus. “Social justice conversations and movements are always important and relevant, but perhaps the Social Justice Week is especially timely right now due to the increased visibility of the oppression and injustice facing so many marginalized communities on our campus, throughout our country and across the world,” notes Goodenough. Stoll hopes Social Justice Week will become an annual event. “To my knowledge, this is the first time we have carved out a week as a campus to devote to social justice,” says Stoll. “There is something for everyone. I hope people don’t let this opportunity pass them by.” UWL’s Institute for Social Justice is sponsoring the week. Some events within the week are also sponsored by individual departments and offices. Contact Laurie Cooper Stoll at lcstoll@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8664 for more information or to request special accommodations. For a full schedule of events visit: http://www.uwlax.edu/Social-Justice/Social-Justice-Week/ UWL’s Institute for Social Justice UWL’s Institute for Social Justice was formed in 2014. Director Laurie Cooper Stoll says the institute allows for the possibility of interdisciplinary collaboration on social justice issues, which leads to a more nuanced understanding. The institute has four primary functions:

• Support for social justice research on campus.
• Mentoring for students engaged in pursuing social justice research or careers.
• Aid with forming partnerships with social justice organizations in La Crosse.
• Support for social-justice related events on campus.