Resolution 2023-S12-2003
Standing with UIC’s LGBTQ+ Community
Chief Sponsor(s): President Matthew Almendras, Chairwoman Manasvi Thumu, Vice President
Michael Fernandes,
WHEREAS, The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) serves as an engine of advocacy on
campus to push forward solution-based campaigns that appeal to the larger undergraduate
student body; and
WHEREAS, One of the greater needs on campus for students is the provision of equitable and
inclusive vendor options; and
WHEREAS, The USG has hosted several conversation with UIC administrators on this issue and
have raised concerns for the administration to consider welcoming vendors that reflect the
dietary needs of students and the values of our community; and
WHEREAS, There is an ongoing Request for Proposal (RFP) committee engaged in
renegotiating the current dining hall and existing vendor contract that could usher in new vendors
for the foreseeable future; then
LET IT BE RESOLVED, that USG send the attached letter below to the UIC administration
outlining its support for the consideration of diversity and inclusion to address food concerns
when determining the vendors that are ultimately considered to cater to the student body at large.
result Heading link
Introduced on April 17, 2023.
Amended on April 24, 2023 to remove sentences.
Result: Passed on April 24, 2023.
Relevant Minutes Heading link
N/A
Letter Heading link
Date 4/24/2023
To: UIC Administration & Student Dining Services
From: The Undergraduate Student Body
We, the Undergraduate Student Government, stand with the LGBTQ+ community in the face of the national
legislative effort taken to strip the community of their rights to access healthcare and be free to express who they
are. UIC ranks 6th overall in the country for diversity, according to the Wall Street Journal. Campus Pride, a non-
profit organization that strives to create a safer college environment for the LGBTQ+ community, has rated UIC
with five stars.
However, UIC cannot live up to the standard that these rankings present if the community present on campus feels
unsafe and threatened due to the institutional support of Chick-Fil-A. At the Diversity and Inclusion Town Hall
hosted by USG in March of 2023, students came in with question after question to understand the presence of
Chick-Fil-A on campus. The main individual who had responded to their questions regarding Chick-fil-A was
Charles Farrell, Director of Dining Services. Director Farrell stated that there was not much concern initially
when Chick-Fil-A was introduced to UIC as a vendor in 2016. However, after the restaurant was established there
was increasing student concern from the LGBTQ+ community leading Director Farrell to reach out to Flamm
about concerns that were brought to him recently around 2021. Flamm brought back a survey to Director Farrell
showing a significant population of students who do not support Chick-Fil-A’s presence on campus. Furthermore,
students showed up to a petition to stand in and physically show their disapproval of Chick-Fil-A on March 31st ,2023.
The main acknowledgement made to support Chick-Fil-A’s presence on campus is the revenue it generates. Due
to Chick-Fil-A remaining open longer than all other vendors, it allows the vendor to make more money.
Furthermore, in the Diversity and Inclusion Town Hall, it was stated that the revenue generated is essential
towards maintaining the university and aiding students.
The contract with Chick-Fil-A ends June 1st, 2023. The RFP committee will be submitting a proposal of other
options, and currently the university is taking bids from chains. The Undergraduate Student Government strongly
urges the University of Illinois at Chicago’s administration to consider other options for their food vendor without
the egregious history and documentation noting significant donations towards the erasure and suppression of the LGBTQ+ community to ensure that all communities on campus feel safe and supported as they walk into their
student center.
Signed,
The Undergraduate Student Government