GLBTA Services Announces Grand Opening
The Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Allied Services announced its grand opening in the Taggart Student Center on Tuesday afternoon. The GLBTA Services Office provides support and a safe zone for students, faculty and staff who may be concerned or confused about their sexual orientation, Smith said. The organization promotes the understanding and acceptance of diversity through education, advocacy and support groups, Smith said.
Maure Smith, program coordinator of GLBTA Services, said she hopes the center will connect more students to educational resources and help them gain a better understanding of what they may be dealing with emotionally.
“We want to be accessible and inclusive for everyone on campus,” Smith said. “This includes LDS, Catholic and Christian students who struggle with these issues. This is a friendly place.”
Students will now be able to access a resource and lending library, also referred to as “The Q Center,” in room 316A in the TSC to research these particular issues, Smith said. The library has related films and documentaries, more than 300 books and three private computer terminals students can safely use to research online. Smith said some of the material has been deemed sensitive and will only be found in “The Q Center” on the USU campus. Smith said she hopes the library provides pertinent information to students on some questions they may have or feelings they have been experiencing. Another way to get involved with this service center is through Allies on Campus. This organization is a network of students, faculty and staff who are committed to reducing homophobia on campus by creating awareness, Smith said. Allies on Campus is made up of volunteers who may not be gay or lesbian but still want to show their support to the gay-lesbian community, Smith said. All Allies have attended a three-hour seminar on issues GLBT students may be dealing with and may face. An Ally, however, is not a professional counselor but a peer mentor and supporter, Smith said.
GLBTA Services also offers weekly brown bag support and discussion groups. These support groups allow students to build relationships with Allies and to discuss their issues, Smith said. These discussions take place every Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. in TSC 316A, according to papers available to those who attended the open house.
For more information on the GLBTA Services Office, contact maure.smith@usu.edu or visit TSC 316A.
-melissa.mcroberts@aggiemail.usu.edu.