We Lost Janet Smith

We lost Janet Smith today, our UIC faculty union president.

She’d been fighting cancer for a long time; I don’t know the specifics, but I’m guessing it finally got her. Janet showed up, though, through chemo and illness and all the rest of it. She showed up for all of us, and spoke a hell of a lot of truth to power, and in the process, did a tremendous amount of good in the world. A fighter, in the best possible way.

Beyond all that, she was smart, and kind, and funny — that humor carried us through some very dark times. It was scary, being on the picket line. Having Janet beside us helped.

I’m going to miss her.

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