Elon University’s LGBTQ population has announced its presence on campus during Pride Week and other self-organized activities, but now it has a designated space. The LGBTQ resource room, located in Powell House, provides the identity group with a tangible symbol of its incorporation into the university.

“Having a resource room certainly is to affirm the LGBTQ population is as much part of the campus,” said Smith Jackson, vice president and dean of Student Life.

The resource room, which opens this semester, provides the Elon community with information and expertise regarding LGBTQ life. But those involved in the facility’s development value the physical space as much as the services offered inside. The resource room provides a space for the LGBTQ population to reside at Elon and contribute to campus life.

“We know that visibility is crucial to our work toward achieving equality and social justice and showing our pride,” said Kirstin Ringelberg, LGBTQ office coordinator.

But for senior Lauren Clapp, the resource room also represents a comfortable environment, providing a space that Ringelberg describes as “queer-friendly.”

“It’s really important that it’s a physical space on campus where students can go meet with each other and have a place to be themselves,” Clapp said.

She identified the people as the most important asset to the LGBTQ resource room. The people present in the building show that those struggling to embrace their sexual identity know they are not alone.

“You can never underestimate the power of a visible presence,”  Ringelberg said.

Nevertheless, the value of the LGBTQ resource room transcends the queer population. A poster celebrating straight allies sits in the front window, welcoming their involvement. The room offers materials to help allies understand how to support LGBTQ students, according to Elon alumna Jess McDonald, class of 2012, previously a LGBTQ office student assistant.

“(Being an ally) means taking the time to learn about that person’s experience and how you can advocate on their behalf even if they are not in the room,” she said.

The resource room contains educational materials, such as books, magazines and DVDs, that address various facets of LGBTQ life. McDonald, who completed a Lumen project concerning the history of the LGBTQ community at UNC Chapel Hill and Duke, donated much of the literature and resources.

Staff members are also available for students curious about different ideas of sexual identity or interested in defining their own sexuality.

“We’ll also have a gathering space for anyone who might be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, an ally or even just curious about what these identities might involve,” Ringelberg said.

But, in addition to individual students’ use of the facility, the resource room indicates the values of the institution. The room communicates the university’s acceptance of diverse cultures and identities, Ringelberg said.

“In order to have the best learning environment, we want to have an inclusive community in which all feel valued and accepted,” Jackson said.

The LGBTQ resource room not only shows Elon tolerates diversity, but rather celebrates differences, he said.

While the establishment of the LGBTQ resource room signifies the university’s acceptance of diverse populations, Ringelberg said she also wants to ensure all businesses and organizations affiliated with the university align with Elon’s anti-discrimination policies.

In light of the controversy concerning Chick-fil-A and the business’ COO’s anti-gay comments, Ringelberg challenges the Elon community to form decisions on the basis of equality and social justice.

“If an organization with which we do business is knowingly giving money toward groups that promote hatred and violence toward anyone, I’d like for us to reconsider doing business with them,” she said.

Jackson said he welcomes the opportunity for dialogue and discussion.

“In a way that is what a college campus is about: civil discourse and listening to different voices and perspectives,” Jackson said.

McDonald said she hopes establishing the space will encourage people to react to negative activity on campus.

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New Student Welcome event

When: 5:45 p.m on August 30 Where: Powell House What: refreshments and meet-and-greet for first-year students

Open House

When: 3 -5 p.m. August 31 Where: Powell House What: refreshments and introduction to the new space [/box]

Check The Pendulum online later this week for a full gallery of photos of the new resource room.