Prior to the end of the spring semester, a decision was made to move the LGBTQIA Resource Center from the Upperman AfricanAmerican Cultural Center to the Port City Room, FUU 1037.

The decision to move the office into the new space was made by Provost Cathy Barlow and Dr. Jose Hernandez, associate provost of the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. Several small group meetings were held with students who were upset about previous attempts to move the center. 

“For scheduling reasons, the office will not move from Upperman until August, because there are many reservations for orientation programming over the summer,” said student Ian Oglesby. “For budgetary reasons, the office will use temporary walls for at least one year until construction proposals can be approved.”

In March, UNCW administration postponed moving the center after students protested. Barlow and Hernandez initiated student focus groups, hoping to reach a final decision concerning the center by the end of the spring semester.

“Since the first meeting, some students were frustrated that they did not hear back from the Provost and other faculty as quickly or as often as they wanted,” said Oglesby. “However, we know for a fact that administrators were doing all in their power to see the LGBTQIA Resource Office’s space issue resolved.”

Two small meetings and a second large meeting were planned to present the new location. However, conflicts with other university activities made these meetings impossible. 

In the first of several small-group meetings, several rooms were discussed. 

“Due to the need to confer with student affairs on the actual location, there was no guarantee that any of these rooms could be used,” said student Josh Kinchen. “Ultimately, in the most recent small group meeting, the decision was announced for the Port City Room to be the new office. This was explained to be the case due to only a 26% usage rate.” 

Students involved with LGBTQIA are excited about the new location. 

“The Port City Room is very large, with four windows, and is very visible to anyone who is in Hawk’s Nest,” said Kinchen. “Also, student affairs agreed to leave the installed projector and screen, which will be helpful in conducting SafeZone training, Diversity Orientation sessions, PRIDE meetings and any other function. There will be ample room for Amy Schlag’s office, a place for work study/interns to have a workspace and students to congregate.”

“Given the office’s need for privacy and visibility, it is going to be great to see the community develop and grow. I cannot wait!” said Oglesby.