HR0311

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives wish to congratulate Larine Cowan, Assistant 
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Chancellor and Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and 
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Access at the University of Illinois, on her retirement; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Larine Cowan began her career in civil rights and 
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human rights as the Director of the Community Relations 
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Department for the City of Champaign, where she partnered with 
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a lieutenant with the Champaign Police Department and two 
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psychology professors at the University of Illinois to conduct 
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research resulting in the publication of an article entitled 
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"Police-Community Relations: A Process, Not a Product," and 
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changes in police and citizen interactions in the City of 
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Champaign; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She is active in the local community, serving on 
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several boards that provide services to pre-K through 
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elementary school children, families struggling with addiction 
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and substance abuse, women's issues, human and civil rights, 
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equity, access and economic parity; she  is dedicated to State 
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and national organizations that promote social justice and 
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empowerment and she has received numerous awards and 
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recognition for her work in these areas; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, She has been devoted to a career in affirmative 
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action and diversity; she served as Assistant Vice Chancellor 
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for Administration and Director of Affirmative Action for Staff 
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for the University of Illinois where she led the campus in 
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establishing policies and procedures to advance the campus 
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affirmative action efforts for staff employees; as Assistant 
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Chancellor and Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and 
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Access (OEOA), she introduced the first major campus-wide 
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diversity programs that were attended by deans, directors, and 
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department heads, and was instrumental in the development of 
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the first video produced on sexual harassment prevention and 
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the presentation of a series of campus programs on sexual 
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harassment prevention; and

 
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    WHEREAS, She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology 
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from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a Masters degree 
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in Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 
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and a PhD in Educational Policy Studies from the University of 
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Illinois; she conducts and examines research on policies and 
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programs used to increase ethnic and racial diversity among 
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faculty at research universities; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Currently, she oversees the University's 
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Affirmative Action policies and procedures, including 
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compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; the 
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investigation of internal and external complaints of alleged 
 


 






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discrimination filed with Federal and State Civil Rights 
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Agencies; the development and implementation of educational 
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programs on diversity, inclusion, sexual harassment 
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prevention, disability issues, and related topics for faculty 
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and staff to improve campus climate and to facilitate campus 
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and community outreach and engagement; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Larine Cowan on her retirement and wish her all 
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the best in her future endeavors; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Larine Cowan as a symbol of our respect.