Even as we are reaching the midway point to the semester, it is important to acknowledge the cultural clubs and safe spaces for marginalized people on campus. I had the pleasure to ask some questions to Zoey (she/her), Kyra (they/them), and Lex (any pronouns) who are respectively the Vice President, VP of Info and Media, and the President of the Alliance.
To define the goals of this club, I asked the officers and they all agreed in some fashion that the goal is to “create a safe space for LGBT students and allies to socialize and gain a sense of community”. Lex expanded on this idea specifically by saying “[the Alliance] is a place for those who feel othered and can know they aren’t alone”. However, all officers alike expanded that they want this club to provide education on LGBT history which is extremely important when examining the diversity of the community and its foundations.
Moving forward, the officers are working together to create “zero tolerance for discrimination towards LGBT students” and provide support for those who are having issues with the name change form: a form that allows trans students to use their actual name rather than their birth/assigned name. The form is critical for these students as without it, students are forced to interact on Canvas, Outlook, and RVConnect with the name that they do not identify with. They also have plans to designate club time for bake sales, a movie night, arts and crafts, and even recently had a game day.
One event that Zoey wants to promote is “a benefit concert in conjunction with the Flemington DIY where all the money collected from door sales will go to a charity which has yet to be decided on.”
If you want to keep in touch with the club specifically and even join, the best way to reach any of the officers is through the Alliance Discord that can be joined through the RVCC Discord Hub or even coming to S353, the third floor of the Somerset Hall, on Tuesdays during College Hour.
