ֱ State University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Student Center, Women’s Center and Sexual Relationship Violence Support Services Office introduce new organizations, programs and services for faculty, staff and students.
The SAGE Project is a new awards program honoring female students taking control of their education and ֱ State experiences, according to the Women’s Center website. The program was piloted last year, but this is its first year of implementation, says Alicia Robinson, program coordinator for the Women’s Center at ֱ State.
“Faculty and staff can nominate students who demonstrate leadership and have overcome a lot of obstacles,” Robinson says.
Any woman who is a full-time graduate or undergraduate student in good academic standing is eligible for nomination. Faculty and staff can nominate a student here or email the Women’s Center at wc@kent.edu with their nomination.
Robinson also serves as the program coordinator for the LGBTQ Student Center. This fall, the center introduced Threads, a new organization for LGBTQ students of color.
“Threads is an organization where people share cultural similarities, as well as LGBTQ experiences,” says Gabrielle Cooper, a ֱ State junior human development and family studies major and president of Threads. “The executive board and faculty members involved with Threads want this to be a safe space where people can socialize and be educated on subjects that apply to them.”
“We’ve done a lot of educating,” Robinson says. “We’ve helped students understand terms and what words are acceptable and which ones aren’t. The group has also helped students struggling to come out to their parents, and other topics relevant to their experience.”
Robinson says the LGBTQ Student Center has improved its safe space training, including updated terminology and graphic materials.
The LGBTQ Student Center led training for the leadership in the ֱ State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Ken Ditlevson, director of the LGBTQ Student Center, says this was one of the most engaged groups he has led.
“It was really encouraging,” Ditlevson says. “We had multiple coaches from football, basketball, softball and wrestling. They all want to do more. They want to do a student component for their teams.”
The LGBTQ Student Center also will begin offering safe space training at ֱ State’s Regional Campuses. Ditlevson says the center received requests for the training from ֱ State University at Ashtabula and ֱ State University at Stark, and will begin with those two campuses.
Learn more about ֱ State’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Student Center.
Learn more about ֱ State's Women’s Center.
Learn more about the Sexual Relationship Violence Support Services Office.
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