News from the Wackerlin Center

As PRIDE month comes to a close, we take an intentional pause to reaffirm our solidarity with individuals at Aurora University who identify as LGBTQIA. We acknowledge the historic and present threats they face to their identities and lives, uphold that AU is a community that welcomes diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and commit to being advocates and allies.
Though Pride month is concluding, our solidarity with our LGBTQIA community members will not.

Toward this end, I am pleased to announce two new initiatives, AU Safe Zone Training and the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT). Please read descriptions of these initiatives below. Additional information will be shared with the campus community as we approach the beginning of the Fall semester. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel welcome to contact me.

In solidarity,

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

Safe Zone Training

A new training program will launch this Fall to provide our campus with 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. This new program, AU Safe Zone Training, joins many other colleges and universities across our nation, and will be co-led by Jen Mozina, Chris Smith, Zachary Bishop, and myself.

Beginning in Fall 2023, we hope to offer two modules of Safe Zone to the AU community. The first (Safe Zone 1.0) is a basic introduction to key issues, statistics, and vocabulary related to the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. The second (Safe Zone 2.0) takes a deeper dive into the complexity of the information presented in 1.0 and offers interactive activities that will allow trainees to think more critically about issues as well as their roles in advocacy and allyship. Upon completing 2.0, participants who pledge to be LGBTQ allies will be recognized as official AU Safe Zone members and presented with an AU Safe Zone sticker to post in their workspace. These stickers will communicate their commitment to be advocates.

Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT)

In addition to the formation of Safe Zone, I’m happy to announce the development of Aurora University’s Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT). Like Safe Zone, this team strives to promote a welcoming and inclusive campus climate. Their focus, however, is to lead efforts to educate students, staff, and faculty on bias and the potential harm that unexamined biased-behavior can cause to the Aurora University community.  AU’s BIRT will work collaboratively to encourage the community to be proactive about examining individual biases and respond to incidents of bias that harm any AU student. BIRT will serve the community by responding to incidents of bias and holding space for and mediating conversation that leads to understanding, restoration, and reconciliation.

Save the Date

On September 22, 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.