The University Organizing Center (UOC) is a student space, which was established after a wave of powerful student organizing in the spring of 2004. This effort, which also lead to the creation of 200 Church and Turath House is part of a tradition of activism in which students who are historically silenced claim space. Currently located at 190 High Street, along with the Queer Resource Center and the Hermes office, the University Organizing Center is intended to function as an autonomous student space for anti-oppression work. At present, the University Organizing Center holds an anti-oppression library, several meeting rooms (ranging from big comfy couches to conference room-style tables and chairs), a zine library, and a variety of other resources, games and supplies. The UOC is one of the most amazing, yet underutilized spaces on campus, and as this year’s UOC intern, I’m constantly looking for ways to make the space more accessible, more useful and more relevant to your needs.

This Friday, October 29th at 4:15pm there will be an open community meeting at the University Organizing Center (190 High Street). Come to learn more about the UOC, its history and what it currently has to offer. Most importantly, come with any questions, thoughts or ideas you might have. The conversation is open to any topic, but I specifically want to hear what you as an individual, or as a group want and need from the University Organizing Center. We will also discuss longer term goals and how we can make the UOC a more democratically-run space. Bring your friends, your questions, your brainstorms and have a voice in making the UOC a strong and vibrant student space. All are welcome, regardless of previous involvement in the space. There will be snacks.

(If you can’t make it to the meeting feel free to email me at mmcguire@wesleyan.edu and check out www.uoc.blogs.wesleyan.edu for more information on the UOC!)