COVID-19 Statement
wrc news
U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion
The Women’s Resources Center (WRC) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is concerned about the impact the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization will have on women and menstruating persons. The WRC works to improve the campus climate for women who are also students by working to address social issues through an intersectional lens, and this ruling directly contradicts WRC’s mission. The WRC is saddened by the Court’s ruling to overturn a nearly 50-year precedent established by Roe v. Wade. The ruling may also have serious implications for other reproductive health options and other rights that impact women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black and Brown folx.
Access to safe, affordable reproductive health care is a fundamental right. Limiting access to family planning services such as abortion and contraception could undermine public health and create disproportionate health disparities for our most marginalized community members. In the Turnaway Study (https://www.ansirh.org/research/ongoing/turnaway-study), the largest study to examine women’s experiences with abortion and unwanted pregnancy in the United States, researchers at the University of California San Francisco found that persons who menstruate were more likely to experience serious complications from the end of pregnancy including eclampsia and death, more likely to stay in contact with abusive partners, and more likely to suffer anxiety and loss of self-esteem in the short-term after being denied abortion.
The WRC is committed to helping students make informed choices about their reproductive health options and rights by ensuring access to information, resources, and support. Abortion services remain legal and available in the State of Illinois as well as many other states.
The following on-campus and community resources are available to assist students, faculty, and staff as they process the far-reaching impacts of this decision.
This statement should not be taken as an official position of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Women's Resources Center
Phone: 217-333-3137
oiir.illinois.edu/womens-center
McKinley Health Center
Phone: 217-333-2700
mckinley.illinois.edu
Counseling Center
Phone: 217-333-3704
counselingcenter.illinois.edu
Community
Champaign Urbana Public Health District
Phone: (217) 352-7961
c-uphd.org
CU Trauma Resiliency Initiative
Phone: 217-673-7122
www.traumaresilienceinc.org
Planned Parenthood - Champaign Health Center
Phone: (217) 359-8022
plannedparenthood.org/health-center/illin
January 2021: Peterson Selected as WRC Associate Director, Prevention
Nora Peterson will be taking on a new role at the WRC as the Associate Director for Prevention. Prior to this role, Nora served as the Project Director for the WRC's DOJ Office of Violence Against Women campus grant and as the inaugural sexual violence prevention coordinator at Carleton College and as a campus advocate at Montana State University. Read Nora's full bio on our staff page.
October 2020: Staff Highlights
Congratulations to our Advocacy and Wellness Coordinators Madeline Farrell and Akua Forkuo-Sekyere who were selected for the 2020 cohort of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Emerging Women Leaders Program.
March 2020: Womxn's History Month
Assistant Director Clare Conway, along with Director Sarah Colomé joined past WRC staff member Rachel Storm along with Urbana Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin, Urbana City Council, and powerful womxn change makers for Urbana's Women's History Month proclamation.
March 2020: COVID-19 Statement
We know that you have questions, and we feel deeply for the students whose collegiate careers have been disrupted – particularly for our seniors. Please know that we are here, and our ability to support and celebrate you remains ongoing. As we collectively navigate COVID-19, I respectfully share the following updates related to the Women’s Resources Center:
CLOSURES
To support social distancing practices, the WRC will be closed to the public, as of Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Staff will continue to work remotely and each unit and staff member can be reached via phone or e-mail during regular business hours (Monday thru Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm). This means we are here for anything you need. If we don’t have the answers for you, we will work to find them. This includes housing, financial, or food-related concerns. Please know we are here to support you through this! We also encourage you to review the OIIR COVID-19 statement for related updates about our campus cultural and resource centers.
For updated information about Illinois’ response to the coronavirus, check covid19.illinois.edu.
ADVOCACY & SUPPORT SERVICES (CONFIDENTIAL ADVISING)
While a number of programs and events are in the process of being cancelled or rescheduled, what is most important is that students, staff, and faculty in need of confidential advising services related to sexual assault and harassment, stalking, sexual exploitation, and abuse within a relationship are still able to access services through the Women’s Resources Center, with the following modifications:
In-person services are temporarily suspended, however phone/virtual advocacy and support for new, past, or currently-served clients and their support person(s) remains available Monday-Friday from 9:00am – 5:00pm.
To schedule a free appointment:
Call (217) 333-3137 from a safe number; or
Email womenscenter@illinois.edu or your Confidential Advisor (for current/past clients) from a safe email account. Please note email is not a confidential communication method and should only be used for scheduling purposes.
For free after hours (and 24/7) confidential support, call the RACES Hotline (for sexual assault and stalking) at (217) 384-4444 or the Domestic Violence Hotline at (877) 384-4390. These resources and more can be accessed at wecare.illinois.edu.
PROGRAMS & EVENTS
Until further notice, all events and programs (including those hosted by RSOs) are cancelled. We are in the process of postponing some of our WRC events (like the Strive Awards) and will share that information as it is available. We are still committed to supporting womxn students, while catalyzing the development of their personal and professional selves. Please do not hesitate to let us know what you need at this time.
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We know that many of you are experiencing a range of mixed emotions. Please know that our staff remains committed to support our students, and any need that may arise as a result of this situation. The Women’s Resources Center family is strong and creative; together we can ensure that our communities have what they need at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Sarah Colomé, M.S.
Director, Women's Resources Center
University of Illinois, Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations
(pronouns: she/her/hers)