The University of Illinois Springfield has four remaining Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) Speaker Series events during the Spring Semester. The series presents events that promote and adhere to the value of engaged citizenship, cultural awareness, and respect for diversity.
"Gloria E. Anzaldúa’s Public Drawing” at 6 p.m. on March 6 in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of the library. Margaret Galvan, an assistant professor of visual rhetoric, will deliver a lecture and lead a discussion exploring Anzaldúa as a visual queer theorist. Her presentation will highlight how drawing was a crucial aspect of her theorizing throughout her career, particularly in illustrating concepts during public discussions about her scholarship. The discussion will delve into how Anzaldúa's drawings of mestiza consciousness embodied intersectionality before it was formally recognized and fostered inclusivity within her community. Galvan will also deliver her talk and participate in a question-and-answer session virtually with the audience.
"Kinship Stores” at 6 p.m. March 27 in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of the library. Artist and professor Guen Montgomery, whose work has been exhibited nationally, will deliver a lecture on her art practice, drawing inspiration from her rural Appalachian heritage and identity as a femme gay person. The event, coinciding with Women's History Month, will include discussions on the performative complexities of gender, queerness, societal expectations and the diverse identities associated with terms like queer, lesbian and femme. Montgomery will share images from her artwork during the presentation. Immediately following this lecture, the UIS Visual Arts Gallery will host an exhibition reception for Guen Montgomery's solo exhibition, "Junk Drawer," from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the UIS Visual Arts Gallery (HSB 201).
"Fast Fashion: Understanding Consumer Behavior to Create a More Sustainable & Ethical Clothing Industry” at 6 p.m. April 10 in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of the library. Shipra Gupta, a professor and the 2023 UIS University Scholar, will deliver a lecture and lead a discussion on her research elucidating why certain consumers are attracted to fast fashion and how the industry promotes overconsumption. The presentation aims to prompt audience reflection on personal behaviors and encourage the adoption of more responsible consumption choices.
"Family Legacies of Historical Racial Terror in Tulsa and Springfield” at 6 p.m. April 24 in Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of the library. The event comprises three segments. First, a 30-minute documentary will be screened, focusing on family narratives concerning transgenerational trauma and resilience linked to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Following this, a panel comprising members of families affected by the 1908 Springfield Race Riot will provide localized perspectives on themes raised in the film. Finally, the event will culminate in a moderated audience discussion centered on proposing actionable steps for fostering more positive race relations in Springfield.
For further details on the events, please visit uis.edu/speaker-series.