FEMMY for Chicago-area Feminist Alliance!

When I came to FMF two years ago and found out I'd be organizing a group of states in this ethereal region called "the Midwest" on account of my Oklahoma roots, I had to laugh - though I did, indeed, spend 18 years in the Sooner State, the rest of the states on my list - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana - I could identify on a map, and that was about it.

As I have gotten to know and traveled through the Midwest, with its different political climates and cultural sentiments, I've had the privilege of meeting some of the most incredible feminists the region has to offer. This last Spring, I traveled to the Chicago area, and I was really inspired by the feminist groups I met with there.

Particularly wonderful to see was groups that are taking it upon themselves not only to do a fantastic job with activism on campus, but to reach beyond them into the greater Chicago-area community itself. They're also in the beginning stages of reaching out to each other to form a Chicago-wide alliance of feminist student groups to co-host events, share knowledge, and learn from each other. Super cool!

Here at FMF, we love seeing activists work together to keep from reinventing the wheel each time, so for my FEMMY, I'd like to briefly acknowledge some of the fantastic feminist activists in the Chicago area that are reaching out to each other and the community to work smarter, not harder!

Feminists United at the University of Illinois Chicago - This group, a soon-to-be affiliate (yay!) of FMF's campus program, is living proof that activist groups can redefine their presence on campus! When I met with Jenna Andriano, the leader of the group, in February, I was really impressed with their motivation and desire to ramp up their activism and solidify a relationship with FMF. Though I've only been in touch with this group for a few months, I've been impressed with them already!

The Feminist Collective at Northeastern Illinois University - What an amazing group of women! Though they face some challenges making a name for themselves on a mostly commuter-based campus, these folks have proved that activism can find a home anywhere. Bolstered by support from the Women's Studies department on campus, one of the coolest things about this affiliated group is that they don't limit themselves to on-campus activism. They also actively seek partnerships in the community and are really trying to get the aforementioned Chicago-wide feminist-student-group alliance up and running.

Feminists United at Roosevelt University - Another group that I met with during the Chicago trip, this group is so fantastic! FU won Student Organization of the year at RU in 2009 - how awesome is that? One of the co-leaders, Haley Leibovitz, deserves some special props for her devotion to community involvement. Much like the NEIU folks, this group is bound and determined to not just make a difference on their campus, but in the wider community as a whole, and I applaud them for being so devoted.

Thank you, Chicago feminists, for being so fierce! You definitely deserve this FEMMY!

This article was featured in our May 2010 monthly Choices eZine. Sign up for our alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest feminist news and to receive the monthly eZine.

Should Only Men Get Tenure?

Passing this along - if you're in Chicago, join up! If not, this is just a reminder to support women faculty in your respective institutions!

If you’re concerned about discrimination against women in academia and the subordination of academic fields in which women predominate, please show your support for diversity in higher education TODAY, Thursday November 5th, from 1-3pm at the DePaul University student center to protest the discriminatory denial of tenure to female Professors.

As featured in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-depaul-tenure_grossmannov01,0,648862.story), DePaul University disproportionately denied tenure to qualified female Professors last year. These tenure denials will reduce the number of female Professors on campus and diminish the strength of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, among others.

We need your help to show DePaul—and all institutions of higher education—that students do not support and will not tolerate their administrations denying tenure in a discriminatory manner. Please come and support diversity and non-discrimination in academia:

WHERE? Corner of Sheffield and Belden, NE Corner of LP Student Center by the statue.
WHEN? Thursday, November 5th, 1-3pm.
FACEBOOK? Tenure Bradshaw
QUESTIONS? Contact Chera Tribble, chera.patrice@gmail.com

University of Chicago outcry over "Men in Power" student organization

Check it out - one of our chartered campus groups, the Feminist Majority at the University of Chicago - is quoted in this Chicago Tribune article about a newly minted student organization on campus, "Men in Power."

Major props to the Feminist Majority and other students on campus for speaking up about this! I have really enjoyed working with these Chicago feminists over the course of the last year and am totally inspired by their passion and responsiveness to issues on their own campus and community.

Also, check out some background on the situation - first, the founder of Men in Power's article ("Men in power - True equality means groups that advocate for men as well as women.") in the school newspaper, The Chicago Maroon, and another Maroon article ("Men's advocacy group holds first meeting amid protest") about their first meeting and students on campus responding.

What do you all think? Is there a need for groups like "Men in Power"? Why, or why not? How would you respond to such a group starting on your campuses?

Feel free to comment below, we want to hear from you!