RSSNew director to improve campus climate
By Lisa Luzzi
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: News
Basso said Gardner's educational background, a master's degree in ethnic and multicultural studies, and his prior experience working as interim director at the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender center at St. Cloud University in Minnesota were all qualities which contributed to the committee's decision.
Gardner said he was intrigued with the new director position due to the university's strong reputation. He said he will use his previous experience at St. Cloud to help improve the campus climate.
Gardner has planned upcoming programs open to everyone on campus.
Gardner is organizing the national LGBTQA's history month for October - National Coming Out Day is historically celebrated Oct. 11. He is also going to run programs for queer and heterosexual ally students, exhibits, speakers and a lunch discussion series.
Under Gardner's direction, the LGBTQA program has also launched a weekly e-mail newsletter to be sent out to all those who wish to join.
Through the e-mail newsletter, Gardner will inform the campus about upcoming programs and events the LGBTQA program is hosting.
Gardner said he will use the weekly newsletter to inform students about the history of the LGBTQA. He also hopes to use the letter to increase support within the campus community.
"We need a change and more awareness of the LGBTQA," Gardner said. "We still have trouble with writings on boards. We need more education on how it impacts people and the unsafe spaces that it creates."
Visibility is another key issue that concerns Gardner.
Gardner redesigned the LGBTQA center to be a more accessible and relaxing environment for students. The LGBTQA center is located on the second floor in the University Center. The office used to belong to the university's tutoring center.
Gardner put in two laptops for students to do personal research and designed a comfortable seating area. He also is working on augmenting the media resource area in the Rainbow Room with books, brochures, DVDs, magazines and more to encompass a wide range of diversity and deal with gender variant communities.
Gardner said he was intrigued with the new director position due to the university's strong reputation. He said he will use his previous experience at St. Cloud to help improve the campus climate.
Gardner has planned upcoming programs open to everyone on campus.
Gardner is organizing the national LGBTQA's history month for October - National Coming Out Day is historically celebrated Oct. 11. He is also going to run programs for queer and heterosexual ally students, exhibits, speakers and a lunch discussion series.
Under Gardner's direction, the LGBTQA program has also launched a weekly e-mail newsletter to be sent out to all those who wish to join.
Through the e-mail newsletter, Gardner will inform the campus about upcoming programs and events the LGBTQA program is hosting.
Gardner said he will use the weekly newsletter to inform students about the history of the LGBTQA. He also hopes to use the letter to increase support within the campus community.
"We need a change and more awareness of the LGBTQA," Gardner said. "We still have trouble with writings on boards. We need more education on how it impacts people and the unsafe spaces that it creates."
Visibility is another key issue that concerns Gardner.
Gardner redesigned the LGBTQA center to be a more accessible and relaxing environment for students. The LGBTQA center is located on the second floor in the University Center. The office used to belong to the university's tutoring center.
Gardner put in two laptops for students to do personal research and designed a comfortable seating area. He also is working on augmenting the media resource area in the Rainbow Room with books, brochures, DVDs, magazines and more to encompass a wide range of diversity and deal with gender variant communities.
