The following is an excerpt of a story broadcast by WAND-TV 17 on Feb. 1, 2023.
"The Diversity Center at UIS held a Black History Month opening event and candlelight vigil.
The theme for Black History Month on campus at 2023 is "Looking back and moving forward." School leaders and organizers say events like this help students learn in all elements of their lives.
'So in that spirit of remembering our past and knowing what is going on in the future, that was a spirit of collective action,' said Justin J. Rose, the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at UIS. 'That was the spirit of community and tribe and just being together despite the plight."