Leadership & Involvement
A page within Pride Center
Located on the second floor of the Student Union in the COVE
Events
UW System Women's Gender Studies Consortium & UW System Office of the Gender and Women's Studies Librarian Spring Conference
Embodying Feminism:
Calling In, Calling Out, Calling to Action
Embody: to give a concrete form to what is abstract; to express in an institution, work of art, action; to form into a body or company for military or other purposes; to organize
A critical component of feminist theory, engagement, and activism, embodiment has long been at the center of feminist inquiry. The body can be a site of liberation and control, a source of knowledge production and reimagination, and has been imbued with symbolic meanings throughout history and across cultures. This year, we dive into the concrete, physical ways we interact with the world and each other, how our lives are impacted by how we feel and move through spaces, and strategies to embody feminist ideals. What external and internal forces shape embodied experiences? What does it mean to embody feminism when we place accessibility at the center of our work? What does it mean to embody feminism when differing forms of accessibility and inclusivity conflict? The theme of embodying feminism acknowledges that feminism is an ongoing lived and intellectual movement, always in the process of achieving some objectives while simultaneously missing the mark on others. It is a space of contestation and a site for envisioning not just relations of power but also futures of possibility.
The Pride Center hosts events that happen each month!
- Queer Coffee for Staff/Faculty
- Queer Nights at the REC
The Pride Center also hosts the following events each year!
- Eagle Fest
- Involvement Fest
- D&I Welcome Social
- Pride Center Welcome Back Event
- National Coming Out Day
- Transgender Day of Remembrance
- World AIDS Day
- International Day of Transgender Visibility
- Annual Drag Show
- Rainbow Graduation
The Pride Center Peer Educators are a group of students who welcome students into our space and help run ally workshops, LGBTQ+ panels, and yearly programming (like eagle fest, national coming out day, transgender day of remembrance, drag show, queer cinema, and many more). Peer educators work 10-15 hours each week and report to the director of the Pride Center and the Pride Center Graduate Assistant. Pride Center Peer Educators also work on an individual presentation project each semester - students have presented on pronoun basics, neopronouns, inclusive sex ed., knowing your rights, transgender inclusion, and many others!
If you are interested in becoming a Pride Center Peer Educator, contact the Will Vanroosenbeek at wvanroosenbeek@uwlax.edu !
Our student organizations are led by a team of student leaders that help plan and lead club meetings and events. Without this team of students, Rainbow Unity and Transform would not be as successful as they currently are! Each organization is led by two co-chairs. The two organizations share a senator, DOC representative, and social media manager. The following list includes a description of their position:
- The co-chairs of each organization are our main leadership. These students are expected to lead each meeting, represent their organization well, and create committees or delegate tasks to ensure that meetings and events run smoothly.
- Our student senator is expected to attend student senate meetings and report back to Rainbow Unity and Transform. This student works to bring resolutions to student senate regarding LGBTQ+ students, Rainbow Unity, and Transform issues and concerns.
- Our DOC (diversity organization coalition) representative is expected to attend DOC meetings and report back to Rainbow Unity and Transform. This student builds coalitions between Rainbow Unity and Transform and the other DOC organizations.
- The social media manager updates student members and potential members about our meetings and events via MyOrgs, Instagram, Discord, and Facebook.
If you are interested in joining Rainbow Unity or Transform or taking a leadership position in one of the organizations, join our MyOrgs (Rainbow Unity | Transform) or contact Will Vanroosenbeek at wvanroosenbeek@uwlax.edu !