In addition to regular General Body Meetings, where we advocate for better gender dynamics on and off campus, GeWMGS has also hosted a number of events focusing on diversity, inclusion, and equity at WashU. See some highlights below.
Too see a list of our upcoming events, click here.
Spring 2021
Supporting Trans Students with Jaimie Hileman; Trans Education Service, LLC
April 21
“This presentation focuses on basic terminology, challenges Trans students face in school and in social venues, and offers multiple strategies for inclusion and best practices. The facilitation is also meant to serve as a resource for educators, administration, policy makers, and anyone seeking opportunities to best enable Trans students to succeed.” (Description taken from TES website)
Attendees received free GeMWGS postcards, pronoun pins, and trans-supportive buttons from Trans Student Educational Resources.
Co-Conspiring for an Anti-Racist Academia: Reading & Discussion Group
April 14
In the second part of our “Co-Conspiring for an Anti-Racist Academia” series, we discussed Myisha T. Hill’s Check Your Privilege: Live into the Work (2020).
This reading & discussion group served as an informal conversation for graduate and professional students and was facilitated by Eliza Williamson, a postdoctoral scholar in Latin American Studies and an affiliate of WashU’s Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Equity (CRE2).
We also gave copies of Myisha’s book and goodie bags to participants. This series was sponsored by GeMWGS, the Liberman Graduate Center, and the Center for Teaching and Learning at WashU.
Days of Action for Trans Advocacy
April 9 and 16
As of April 2021, a total of 15 bills targeting our LGBTQ community are moving, and fast. Missouri continues to lead the country in the number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced, most of which target trans youth. The Association of Gender Minority and Women Graduate Students held two “Days of Action for Trans Advocacy.” We called representatives, wrote postcards to our representatives and WashU administrators, and fought alongside our community to combat transphobia in healthcare, education, and recreation!
GeMWGS also provided postcards, call templates and instructions, and gave free books and buttons to those who attended and advocated for trans lives.
Co-Conspiring for an Anti-Racist Academia: A Workshop with Myisha T. (Check Your Privilege)
March 10
We invited all WashU graduate and professional students interested in co-conspiring for an anti-racist environment in higher education.
Learning Outcomes: Those who attended this workshop gained skills and knowledge in the following areas:
1. Accountability: Who is responsible for anti-racist work? Why is it important?
2. Empowerment: Who can carry out anti-racist work in academia? What are the most effective strategies?
3. Intersectionality: How can we counter-act the multiple, intersecting systems of oppression that intertwine with and exist alongside systemic racism?
4. Versatility: How do our different roles (i.e. students, educators, colleagues, peers) affect the kind of strategies we might deploy in anti-racist work?
5. Action: What is at least one (1) actionable step we can take following this workshop to combat racism in academia & higher education?
We also gave copies of Myisha’s book to participants. This series was sponsored by GeMWGS, the Liberman Graduate Center, and the Center for Teaching and Learning at WashU.
Register to see the workshop recording and PPT presentation here. Out of respect for Myisha T and her work, please do not share this link outside of the WashU community.
Spring 2020
Safezones Training
March 7
GeWMGS hosted a Safe Zones session for all current and interested members to learn techniques for promoting an inclusive campus environment for LGBTQIA+ students.
SafeZones is a peer facilitation group that educates and fosters discussion around LGBTQIA* issues in order to promote the development of a more open and inclusive university community.
Fall 2019
GeMWGS Conversations: Navigating the Academy
November 8
This mentorship panel on women and gender minorities in academia provided practical advice for navigating likely challenges in an academic career. Panelists reflected on the history and ongoing struggles for gender equity, including how to advocate for gender justice issues in academic spaces. Panelists included facillitator Jami Ake (Arts & Sciences Assistant Dean; Interdisciplinary Project in the Humanities) and speakers Patty Heyda (Sam Fox School), Christina Ramos (History), and Trevor Sangrey (Arts & Sciences Assistant Dean; WGSS).
Spring 2019
Safezones Training
February 12
GeWMGS hosted a Safe Zones session for all current and interested members to learn techniques for promoting an inclusive campus environment for LGBTQIA+ students.
SafeZones is a peer facilitation group that educates and fosters discussion around LGBTQIA* issues in order to promote the development of a more open and inclusive university community.
Crafting an Inclusive and Decolonizing Syllabus: A Graduate Student Workshop
April 16
GeMWGS’ syllabus workshop committee will research and present on how to construct inclusive and thoughtful syllabi across disciplines. They gave graduate instructors a chance to discuss their course objectives, assignments, and evaluation while keeping in mind the ultimate goals of diversity and inclusion.
Those who attended this workshop were able to:
- Develop strategies to promote academic integrity and ethics in research and pedagogy in their classroom and throughout their department
- Learn to structure a syllabus that responds to cultural issues
- Discuss strategies to foster civility and manage conflict/crisis moments in and out of the classroom
- Draw from their own experiences in the classroom
Support the Disability Advocacy Committee: Picnic and Letter-Writing Campaign
May 13
GeMWGS members gathered on Art Hill (Forest Park) for a social and team-building event to encourage the incoming Chancellor Martin to reconvene the Policy and Practice Committee Dedicated to Issues Affecting Students with Disabilities, officially dissolved in April of this year without having convened.
Fall 2018
Pedagogy, Professionalization, and Diversity: A Graduate Student Workshop
November 27
How do you prepare to address issues of gender, race, class, and politics in a classroom that is already politicized (racialized, gendered, classed)? How does teaching go beyond the classroom? This workshop focused on how to engage issues of gender, race, ability, citizenship, class and sexuality ethically as educators. Our discussion accounted for the different challenges we face in teaching diversity issues within classroom communities that vary in their diversity, as well as the dynamics of managing these issues as gender minorities or women with intersectional identities.
Those who attended this session were able to:
- Develop strategies to promote academic integrity and ethics in research and pedagogy in your classroom and throughout your department
- Learn to structure a syllabus that responds to cultural issues
- Discuss strategies to foster civility and manage conflict/crisis moments in and out of the classroom
Participating in this event counted toward the Graduate Leadership Credential.