AUSTIN, Texas—The grand opening of the Gender and Sexuality Center at The University of Texas at Austin will be held at 5 p.m. on Jan. 28, marking the culmination of years of planning and organizing by students and staff to meet the needs of the campus’ diverse student population.
The celebration in the Student Services Building, Room 1.302, at 100 West Dean Keeton Street is open to the public and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“This is a center for the entire campus community—a resource for all,” said center director Ana Ixchel Rosal. “This opening will launch an exciting and positive year of programming by the center.”
Dean of Students Teresa Brett, whose office is hosting the event, said the center is an excellent addition to the university’s services to students.
“I’m proud of the university for taking this important step in creating a more inclusive environment for all students,” said Brett, who has worked closely with student groups and staff for two years to obtain funding and a location for the center.
“I can hardly believe it’s finally here,” said Stacey Middleton, advisory committee member, senior and former director of the Women’s Resource Center. “We worked so hard and want so much for this center. This event is more than symbolic, it marks a new chapter in the university’s life.”
Rosal said the mission of the Gender and Sexuality Center is to provide safe spaces for all members of the university’s community to explore and organize around issues of gender and sexuality.
The center maintains a central location for building communities and offering resources and referral and strives to promote a greater responsiveness to the needs of women, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning communities through education, outreach and advocacy, said Rosal. A crucial component of this advocacy is to acquire sufficient space and resources to adequately serve these communities in the future. Rosal said the center will work as a liaison with the student government agencies, the Women’s Resource Center and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allies Affairs Agency, as well as other organizations.
For more information contact: Ana Ixchel Rosal, Gender and Sexuality Center, 512-232-4680,or Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.
