Last week, the US Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned the federal protections of reproductive rights, including the right to abortion, established in previous landmark rulings Roe v Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v Casey (1992). The ruling nullified a half-century of precedence in American life, that the right to decide whether and when to become a parent is among the most fundamental rights a woman can have.

The Dobbs ruling has now left the existence of this right up to individual states to affirm or deny. While the state of Illinois will continue to allow women the right to choose, many of our neighboring states will not. Without this right, we can expect women’s participation in higher education and all institutions of public life to suffer. Women make up the majority of college students nationwide, and at Roosevelt University. We acknowledge that reproductive freedom is vital, including in some cases for access to higher education.

This decision will also disproportionately affect women-of-color and other already marginalized groups, many of whom we serve in our University. Since its founding, Roosevelt University has been committed to providing equitable access to education and fostering an inclusive learning community without restrictions based on gender, race, and religion.

Roosevelt University stands in support of all women, their freedoms and their right to choose.

Yesterday, 19 children and two adults were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas — what should have been a safe, welcoming place for students to learn.

It’s an unfathomable tragedy, but not an isolated one. Less than two weeks ago, 10 people were killed in a Buffalo supermarket by a white supremacist. I’m heartbroken for the families enduring this painful, unjust loss.

The American culture of violence has deep and tangled roots in racism, hatred, inequity and fear. My thoughts are with the teachers and parents in the Roosevelt community. No one should be afraid to go to work or send their children to school.

After mass shootings, we often urge our lawmakers to act, but there are also many social justice organizations working to reduce gun violence nationwide. I hope we will all find ways to support each other and get involved.

For support:
Students can schedule a TimelyCare counseling appointment at timely.md/schools/index.php?school=roosevelt&opt=

Faculty and staff can take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program at cignabehavioral.com/cgi.

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Roosevelt University and its Board of Trustees, it is my honor to recognize the centennial birthday of Mayor Harold Lee Washington, a distinguished Roosevelt alum.

Mayor Washington graduated with Roosevelt’s first four-year class in 1949. From his earliest days as a college student, he embodied our founders’ mission of social justice, inclusion and access. In his 1984 Commencement address, Washington told graduating students:
“My election as a class and student body officer helped to confirm my faith in representative democracy as a great crucible in which social progress is formed. I certainly never thought that one day I would be elected Mayor of Chicago by a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-religious majority of the voters, or that my reform platform would include so many of the founding principles of Roosevelt.”
Mayor Washington’s legacy of hope and coalition-building remains resonant today. His administration emboldened countless Chicagoans working to make our city more equitable for all.

To commemorate this occasion, Roosevelt University will establish the Harold L. Washington Hall of Honor. The campus installation will recognize the lifetime achievements of Mayor Washington and other distinguished alumni. I am confident that Mayor Washington’s leadership will continue to inspire the next generation of socially conscious students.

Thank you to the Harold Washington Legacy Committee for partnering with Roosevelt to establish the Harold Washington Legacy Scholarship. The University is proud to collaborate with the Committee on this important initiative.

Finally, please join author Peter Nolan on Thursday, April 21 at 4:00 p.m. in the Murray-Green Library for a book discussion on Campaign!: The 1983 Election that Rocked Chicago. This event is one of many throughout Chicago honoring Washington’s centennial birthday.

With warm regards,

Ali R. Malekzadeh, Ph.D.
President of Roosevelt University