The Transition

By Hannah Clause





Many people have been wondering what the Gender and Sexuality Equity Center is, how it came about, and where the AS Women's Center went! Well hold tight, because there is no need to worry! Here is a break down of our transition.

The Associated Students Women's Center was created in 1971 by a small group of dedicated women who realized the importance of developing and organizing a space where women could explore their mutual concerns and raise awareness in the community about progressive women's issues. With financial help from a memorial fund and support from the community, the AS Women's Center was born, flourishing and operating under that title for 40 years.

The Associated Students Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC) was implemented this fall semester, 2011, as an expansion of the Women's Center in an effort to further promote human rights and the equal representation of marginalized students on Chico State's campus

Nikki cleaning out the old office!

This year we have transitioned from the AS Women's Center to the Gender and Sexuality Equity Center because of the rising importance of establishing a brand new program, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer program! We will absolutely still continue to offer the Women's Program, which will operate side-by-side with the LGBTQ program. Together, these two programs make up the Gender and Sexuality Equity Center! With this addition, we are able to further our efforts in creating a campus that is understanding and accepting of all sexual and gender identities.

This change has been a long time coming... Let's face it, the AS Women's Center has been putting on all kinds of LGBTQ events and raising awareness for the gay community for several years now. It's about time we established a safe space for those who identify with and support the LGBTQ community and expanded our office to the AS Gender and Sexuality Equity Center, and we couldn't be more PROUD (pun-intended). As we like to say, 'We're finally out of the closet!' because along with our new transition we have a new space (BMU 005). So come check out the new, wonderful office.

Women's Center staff Spring 2010

A special thanks is in order for all of the hard and tedious work it took for this transition to happen. Thank you to the Women's Center staff of '09, '10, and '11, the Women's Center advisory board, and especially Jillian Ruddel, Kate Knutsen, Kimberly Edmonds, Katie Seifert, and Amanda Atkinson.

If you are still confused about what exactly this transition means, here our the mission statements of the center as a whole, and for each program.

The Associated Students Gender and Sexuality Equity Center (GSEC) is a student run activist organization, which strives to empower all students through two its two programs: the Women's Program and the LGBTQ Program. The GSEC challenges societal norms that have been use to oppress and marginalize by providing opportunities for leadership, personal development, and referral services. We offer a safe and inclusive space where the campus and community can effectively support the academic mission of the university.

The Women's program utilizes feminist ideologies to offer educational opportunities and programs that are centered in women's experiences to create and sustain a university environment that promotes the personal, educational, educational and professional growth of women.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Program is dedicated to promoting a safe environment for people of all sexual and gender identities through educational opportunities and programs.