The Women’s Center and Pride Center held their open house on Thursday. Students and other faculty members could walk through the center, located in The Suite, to meet the faculty and see what services are offered.
The open house was filled with good food, fun games, and fellowship. Pamphlets, information sheets, and buttons that advertised what the Women’s Center and Pride Center are about were available.
The Women’s Center is a space that “encourages the development of academic, leadership and gender identity competencies among members of the Slippery Rock University community.”
Not only is the center a safe and welcoming space, but it also provides a variety of library resources that are available to students and faculty.
Erin O’Connor, first-year graduate assistant for the Women’s Center and Pride Center says, “When it comes to the Women’s Center, a lot of what we’re doing is classroom education. We go into FYRST Seminars talking predominantly about consent, we do campus-wide programming, and we provide services for anyone who is a victim of sexual assault of any form.”
The Pride Center acts as an open environment that affirms and supports the different identities of the LGBTQIA community. The Center is a welcoming and nonjudgmental environment that “is happy to help students with any concern related to the LGBTQ+ community, such as housing, harassment, discrimination and name changes for your e-mail and student ID card.”
“With the Pride Center, we go into classrooms to talk about LGBT basics, so the general information about what they should know for the LGBT community,” O’Connor says.
Although the Women’s Center and Pride Center have different objectives, both centers offer educational programs and events, a resource library, conversation and a safe space to talk.
If you want more information on the Women’s Center and Pride Center, follow them on Instagram @sruwomenscenter and @srupridecenter.
