In Wake of Common Application Decision,
What Will UIC Do?
Wednesday 10/24/18 Press Conference at UIC:
In August, the Common Application—in response to national pressure from colleges and universities as well as U.S. Senators—made the question about past criminal convictions OPTIONAL.
Universities can now drop this inquiry from their admissions application. What will The University of Illinois – Chicago (UIC) do?
A coalition called YES APPLY! have been trying to remove these INVASIVE and HUMILIATING questions for the past year. They are convening on Wednesday, October 24 in front of University Hall with the backing of state legislators to urge UIC Chancellor Amiridis to choose access, equity and inclusion, in line with the mission of the university.
They are also forcing the question about the role of the public university. They believe UIC should serve the public, and 47% of Illinoisans have criminal records. Current admissions policies also compound the impact of racial discrimination in the justice system.
Research indicates that just the presence of questions about past convictions has a chilling effect, discouraging students with records from applying or completing applications. The YES APPLY! alliance, following U.S. Department of Education guidance, and the recent bill in the U.S. Senate, is urging UIC to take responsibility for mitigating, rather than exacerbating, the damage done by the criminal justice system. A key recommendation is removing these questions.
WHAT: “All Students Welcome to Apply” press conference
WHEN: Wednesday, October 24, 2018, 10:15 AM
WHERE: Outside on the west side of University Hall, University Hall, 601 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607, University of Illinois at Chicago
(University Hall is the 28 story building located on Harrison, just west of Morgan. There is a place to unload directly in front of University Hall. There is a nearby parking structure at 1100 W. Harrison Street. )
WHY: Students urge UIC Chancellor Amiridis to remove conviction questions from the undergraduate admissions application at our university.
WHO:
Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Illinois State Representative, House District 10
Will Guzzardi, Illinois State Representative, House District 39
Other legislators
Chico Tillmon, Executive Director, Youth Safety & Violence Prevention, YMCA of Metro Chicago
Claudia Debruyn, President, Roosevelt Institute, UIC Chapter
Erin O’Callaghan, Outreach Chair, UIC Graduate Employees Organization (Local 6297, IFT/AFT, AFL-CIO)
Jashaun Bowens, President, UIC Undergraduate Student Government
Marvin Slaughter, President, UIC Student Advocacy Coalition
Torey Cohen-Boseman, Graduate Student Coordinator, YES APPLY ILLINOIS
MaryClare Birmingham, suburban mom who supports YES APPLY ILLINOIS
VISUALS:
Giant WELCOME mat in front of University Hall
Letter to chancellor
Signs:
- “ALL students WELCOME to apply”
- “Serve the 47%”
- “Who’s not here?”
- “Dear Constituents, You DO belong at UIC. Please apply!”
- “At UIC, diversity is not an end in itself, but a vehicle for advancing access, equity, and inclusion” –UIC Diversity Statement
- Common App gave us the CHOICE to do the right thing!
- CHOOSE ACCESS
- CHOOSE EQUITY
- CHOOSE INCLUSION
- CHOOSE DIVERSITY
- Public education FOR the public
- We HEART our superstar students with convictions!
