Education is always important, but sometimes, a little bit of fun and socializing is needed.
Education is always important, but sometimes, a little bit of fun and socializing is needed.
Ohio University’s LGBT Center is set to host a “Queer Bobcat Meet-n-Greet” on Wednesday in the Bobcat Lounge on the first floor of Baker University Center.
The event, starting at 6 p.m., is an opportunity for students to meet the staff of the LGBT Center, to meet each other and various administration and staff invited to the event.
“Just to carve out two hours where people can be who they are and feel safe and not have to worry about anything … they can just connect as they are,” said Delfin Bautista, director of the LGBT Center.
Allies of the center, including the Dean of Students office, Student Accessibility Services and the Ohio University Police Department and other departments around campus have been invited to attend the event.
“It’s also an opportunity, not only for LGBT folks to connect with LGBT folks but just to know who campus allies are,” Bautista said.
Sarah Jenkins, program coordinator for the LGBT and Women’s centers, said this is an opportunity for both new students to connect and learn and for students who have heard of the center before to mingle.
“(We’ll) hopefully have folks that are veterans of the LGBT Center and then also people who are new to LGBT Center who can kind of learn from each other and just create a comfortable space for them to hopefully feel welcome in the center throughout the year,” Jenkins said.
Although the center has been up and running for the year, this will kick off the official calendar for the center’s 16th year of operation.
Erin Fischer, a senior studying women and genders studies, said she is looking forward to the event. Fischer is also a student worker for the LGBT Center.
“We want everyone and anyone to come,” Fischer said. “We really appreciate anyone who wants to be involved in any sort of way — you don’t have to have a huge commitment … If nothing else, you know, it’s a great opportunity to get to know people on campus and network.”
Bautista said there will be an introduction of the LGBT Center staff, campus allies and time for questions in a large group setting but then time for individuals to connect afterwards.
Anyone is welcome to attend the event and light refreshments will be served. Bautista said this will be a way for the center to introduce itself, answer questions, as well mingle among Bobcats.
“Athens is a small place, but even within that, it can also be very isolating so knowing that one is not alone,” Bautista said. “Even if a person never comes back to anything that the center hosts at least they know that there is a network and a community here that supports them in whatever way they need.”
@reb_barnes
rb605712@ohio.edu
