Managing the End of the Semester Amid Violence in Iran, toward LGBTQIA+ Community

With finals upon us next week, we at the Counseling Center are mindful of the stress and demands many of our students are holding. This is challenging enough in its own right, but we also understand how two of our student groups, LGBTQIA+ students and Iranian students, may be carrying additional emotional burdens given the recent and ongoing violence against their communities.

Along with you, we grieve the hate-fueled murders of Kelly Loving, Daniel Aston, Derrick Rump, Ashley Paugh, and Raymond Green Vance at Club Q in Colorado Springs this month. We continue to grieve the death of Mahsa Amini and those who have since lost their lives in the violent state response to the uprising in Iran. We watch in horror as threats continue to be made against the genuine lived experiences and expressions of gender and sexuality, and we work to oppose identity-based violence by creating safe and inclusive spaces for people with marginalized identities at UIC.

To our LGBTQIA+ and Iranian communities, We want you to know that we see you and understand that you may be experiencing a range of feelings and reactions to this gender, sexuality, and identity-based violence. It may be sadness, heaviness, and grief that are emerging, or perhaps anger, or fear and worry for the safety and well-being of yourself or your loved ones. Alternatively, feeling anything at all might seem like too much, and shock, numbness, and denial may be at the forefront. These are all normal and valid reactions to such traumatic events, and any of them would understandably make an impact during this finals season. We encourage you to consider what you most need right now to make it through – maybe it’s the comfort of talking with loved ones or others who share your experience. Maybe it’s creating some emotional distance from these events and focusing on things in your immediate control. What do you need to step toward, or step away from in order to care for the parts of yourself that are hurting?

If you are feeling impacted by these events, please do not hesitate to use your UIC resources for help. If you would like to meet individually with a counselor, you can schedule an Initial Teleconsultation or Single-Session appointment. These services are provided privately and offer spaces to address your concerns and receive treatment recommendations. Feel free to ask about joining one of our therapy groups for the spring semester, such as the LGBTQ+ Group, Trans, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Group, Trauma Group for Women, Student of Color Experience Group, and First-Generation Student Groups. If you prefer more immediate support, sign up online for a Drop-In Space or our Peer Support groups. We also provide case management and community referrals to connect you to relevant resources both within the UIC campus and within the broader community. Please contact the Counseling Center at 312-996-3490 if you have any questions about our services.

Other UIC Statements
UIC’s Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ People and Gender & Sexuality Center Statement
Women’s Leadership and Resource Center Statement

UIC Resources
Academic Support Resources
Asian American Resource and Cultural Center
Bias Reporting Tool
Campus Advocacy Network
Dean of Students Office
Gender and Sexuality Center
Office for Access and Equity LGBTQ+ Inclusion
The Wellness Center
UIC Cultural Centers
Women’s Leadership and Resource Center

Additional Resources
24-hour Crisis Line for Individuals Impacted by Gun Violence
Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting
Coping with End of Semester Stress
Coping with LGBT Discrimination
How to Cope with War Anxiety in Iran
Meditation Videos
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after a Recent Shooting
Pause, Reset, Nourish
Resources for Children, Families, Educators, and Community Members After Mass Shootings
Self-Care