News from the Wackerlin Center

Welcome back to campus, AU community!

As you settle into the newest rhythms of another academic year, the Wackerlin Center staff wishes you well!

We also are excited to see you soon in our recently renovated building! It's a great space to settle yourself and take a deep breath on the way to or from class. Stop by and visit when you can.

We anticipate September being an active month. Among the many events and programs, September 15 is the first day of Latino/a Heritage Month. We invite the entire AU community to celebrate with us! Read below for more details.

As the semester unfolds, know that the Wackerlin exists as a center to study, slow down and reflect, volunteer to serve, engage in allyship and advocacy, and receive support from our staff. We advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and are proud to be a space, resource, and support for all students.

To see our full schedule of events, click here.

In solidarity,

Justin West
Executive Director, Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action
Chief Diversity Officer

Latino/a Heritage Month

Latino/a Student Initiatives is excited to partner with the AU community in celebrating Latino/a culture and heritage beginning on September 15 and ending October 15. Please save the dates for the events happening throughout the month.

Latino/a Student Initiatives Fogata:

A Celebration on the First Day of National Hispanic Heritage Month

Friday, September 15  |  5–9 p.m.
Wackerlin Center

Noon Talk: Identity is my Superpower Exhibit

Tuesday, September 19  |  12 p.m.
Schingoethe Center

Latinas in Law

Tuesday, September 26  |  5:30–7:30 p.m.
Tapper Recital Hall, Welcome Center

Identity is my Superpower is an exhibition at the Schingoethe Center that was curated by Mariza Rocha Gonzalez, Director of Latino/a Student Initiatives at Aurora University. This exhibit encapsulates cornerstones of life in small towns of Santa Maria del Oro, a municipality located within the northern state of Durango, Mexico. The state is known for its geographic diversity, from the great canyons and thick forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental to the arid desert and rocky terrain of the Bolson de Mapimi.  

Mariza curated the exhibit, Identity is my Superpower, by leaning into her life markers and identifying the roots of her personal strengths. She invites all who experience this exhibition to reflect on the richness of their culture and identify the superpowers they inherited from those that came before them. You may join Mariza for the Noon Talk, brought to you by the Schingoethe Center, at the Welcome Center on September 19 at 12 p.m.

Black Student Initiatives

The Office of Black Student Initiatives invites you to the BSI Cook Out. Join us on the Quad on Saturday, September 9, from 12–3 p.m. for a day of food, music, and fun. Meet the Black Student Union (BSU) Exec board and learn about the BSI Empowerment Groups. First-Year students will receive a giveaway for attending.

The Cultural Exchange

Spirituality and Faith

Interfaith Service
Thursdays, September 14 and 28  |  6 p.m.
Lowry Chapel

Come together with students from across campus for an evening of worship, music and prayer. Lowry Chapel is located on the third floor of Eckhart Hall, across the hall from the Crouse Center. Worship Nights will feature speakers from the campus community, including University Chaplain Mark Woolfington and the Executive Director of the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, Rev. Justin West.  All students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend Worship Nights!

Catholic Mass
Mondays, September 11 and 25  |  7:15–8 a.m.
Lowry Chapel

Mass will be held every other Monday beginning on September 11, and led by Fr. Robert Gonella from Newman Ministries in DeKalb, Illinois.  All students, faculty and staff are welcome, and the service will conclude by 8 a.m. to allow you to make it to class.

Fr. Gonella is a graduate of Aurora University, where he played soccer before graduating and entering the seminary, and he looks forward to returning to campus this fall.

Morning of Service: Register Today

Morning of Service
Saturday, September 23  |  8 a.m.–noon
McWethy Room, Hill Center for Student Success

On September 23, we will bring back Morning of Service — an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to be in solidarity with our neighbors by completing service projects throughout our surrounding communities.

This year, we are proud to partner with the following agencies: Mutual Ground, Simply Destinee, Wayside Cross Ministries, Forest Preserve District of Kane County, The Salvation Army, Aurora Downtown, Friends of the Fox River, and the Fox Valley Park District.

Please join us in this university-wide community service: register here.

Participate in AU Safe Zone Training

AU’s Safe Zone Training Program is designed to provide resources to explore topics of gender and sexuality, increase awareness of the experiences of LGBTQ+ identities, and promote inclusive practices that foster a campus climate in which all are welcomed, included, and empowered to thrive. We offer two types of training:

Safe Zone 1.0 — a basic introduction to key issues, statistics, and vocabulary related to the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community.

Safe Zone 2.0 — a deeper dive into the complexity of the information presented in 1.0, offering interactive activities that will allow trainees to think more critically about issues as well as their roles in advocacy and/or allyship. Upon completing 2.0, participants will be recognized as official AU allies and presented with an AU Safe Zone sticker to post in their space.

Click here to register for Safe Zone 1.0, Safe Zone 2.0, or both.

Celebrate Your Culture at Cultural Fest

On September 14, AU will hold a university-wide, and its first ever, Cultural Fest. AU Cultural Fest is a campus event designed to recognize and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of AU's students, staff, and faculty. Cultural Fest will feature food, arts and crafts, games, music, and dancing that reflect our unique cultures.

We need your participation to make this event come to life. If you would be willing to represent your culture through a performance or talent, please fill out this form.

If you have questions, please contact Justin West at juwest@aurora.edu.