Dear friends, feminists, allies, and accomplices,
Welcome to the first volume of the Wild Tongue Annual Newsletter presented by the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at the University of Connecticut! We are publishing this newsletter in a moment that, for many of us, is filled with heartache, anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. A moment that feels unprecedented, and yet, a moment that existed before itself. A moment whose contemporary consequences and outcomes will most certainly change the course of the rest of our lives. In this moment, we are inspired by and invested in the movements for all Black lives, police accountability and abolition, community care and safety particularly for Black trans women, and the restructuring of our healthcare system to ensure everyone has equitable access to meet their needs.
This newsletter highlights the WGSS Program’s continued commitment to examining the intersections of our lives: within the newsletter, you’ll find the Statement from Centers, Institutes, and Programs on Racial Injustice and Ending White Supremacy, Grace Lemire’s (CLAS ‘21) informative digital zine, “COVID 19 and Black America,” and Matthew Gray Brush’s (CLAS ‘17) timely speech for the WGSS 2020 Commencement Ceremony. You’ll also find so many celebrations, updates, introductions, and farewells. In total, this year has been transformative for us–as a unit and as individuals. We are excited to share these happenings with you, our friends and supporters.
With the utmost sincerity, we would like to extend gratitude to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, and Interim Director, Dr. Sherry Zane for their generous support of Wild Tongue; to all of the graduating majors and minors who shared their experiences; to the alumni and faculty who contributed their stories; and to Alexis Taylor, the very first Wild Tongue Intern, whose dedication to the journal is incredibly valuable and meaningful.
Thank you for being here.
With care and in community,
M. Mick Powell, Editor-in-Chief
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Cover Photo by Hanqing Zhao from Pexels