A local student is seeking support from the community to push for the installation of a LGBTQ Community Resource Center at College of the Canyons.
Andrew Rodriguez, 19, started an online petition to rally community members to prompt COC administrators to open a resource center for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning community on-campus.
“Over the past year I have worked with the COC Health Center and in the Student Development Office and noticed there is a lot of bullying happening in high school and college,” said Rodriguez, Canyon Country Representative for COC’s Associated Student Government . “I took the initiative and started the petition for support.”
The petition has already gained about 130 supporters on their online petition page.
COC has taken measures to help ease the stress of LGBTQ students, according to Eric Harnish, COC’s Vice President of Public Information.
“Student government passed a resolution for a ‘Safe Zone’ on campus last year and in October we had two students and three staff members undergo training conducted by the Gay Alliance,” said Harnish. “They have now taken multiple steps to help train other staff members.”
According to Harnish, staff from Admissions and Athletics are slated to go through training in May.
Training helps staff understand the LGBTQ experience so students can feel supported, after training trainee’s are given a Safe Zone sticker so students know who they can go to when they need to talk.
“The center would be a Safe Zone for individuals who have maybe not come out to family and want someone to talk to, even for heterosexual individuals who need someone to talk to,” said Rodriguez. “If the center is established we would work closely with the Health Center as well as COC administrators and faculty, the goal is to educate.”
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77 Comments
Yes!!!
How about a resource center for war veterans first.
Or nah
Or YEAH!
We have a vet center on campus…And a school program for veterans.
Do COC have a student resource center? Chrissy
Does
they already have one (for veterans)
Does COC have a student center already?
Is there a conservative Christian RC?
We shouldn’t treat gays any diffrent from other students so if COC has a student center already why would they open yet another specific to gays? I want to make this very clear I am for everyone making their own decisions and have friends and family whom are gay,but they do not want to be treated special as this student wants.
Benny,
The student center is the umbrella resource for all students -veterans,religiously affiliated, returning students,international students, disabled students, etc. An LGBT center would be just one more way to assist ALL students to enhance their knowledge and understanding of others.
OK. I’ll ask. I know what L G B T stands for, but now L G B T Q ??? If I guessed I’d be branded a homofob. Well, I guess I am one anyway
Q stands for queer or questioning its changed throughout the years.
But its LGTBQ plus. Lol How about ditching the f**king labels? That would be a great start. I don’t care what your affiliation is. Why does it need a label?
Do they have straight student specific resource center ? Why do people now a days feel they always need special treatment? How does being LGBTQ have anything to do with your school work?
I was going to make this very same comment. But watch out. You might get kicked off Facebook for saying it.
Haha true. I’m ready
Haha true. I’m ready
Stefano Fillipelli,
As the faculty advisor for the Gay Straight Alliance at COC, I can tell you that the LGBT community is adversely affected by the discrimination it experiences from a heteronormative society. Whether through malice or mere lack of awareness, many of our students are subject to a disproportional negative reaction to their very identity. I’ll make a wild guess to illustrate the point: if your community was to discriminate against men of Italian descent, it would affect your ability to perform well in your school or workplace.
By that logic, why should there be a veteran resource center? The answer is, different groups have specific needs not shared by other groups. Some nice people think it’s a good thing to try and meet special needs that aren’t easily met in the larger culture. Be grateful you don’t have any, apparently. Although, perhaps there could be outreach for the compassion-impaired?
LGBT have special need? Please that is ridiculous
Veterans do have special needs because most are using financing through the military. I think with that logic then there should be straight student resource center.
If by this you take away that I have no compassion then you are leaping to the conclusion that you want to have. I find this new hyphenated America to be insanely stupid and harmful.
Straight people are the majority. They have no problems. There is no need for straight people to have a resource center. The entire world is their resource center. LGBT people need a resource center because they are a minority group and in fact do not get the same privilege straight people have.
And how does being gay effect your studies?
Christian conservatives are minorities on college campuses, I think they need a resource center!
Setefano,
There are many clubs, organizations, and resources on campus. Christian conservatives are provided for, as are numerous other religious groups. I presume you don’t have an issue with other groups?
Being LGBT affects your education because of the harassment you may receive from teachers and other students. It’s beneath me to continue talking to you. Have a nice bigoted, ignorant life!
Russell Thomas you sound like the biggot
Russell and Christian conservative don’t?
Although this is specific to a university, it accurately covers the reasons why there needs to be and LGBT resource center. And it’s because of people like you the LGBT community needs one! Educate yourself ☺️.
Plus non of those are legit reasons to waste tax payer dollars. Fool
Haha! Congrats on being a part of the problem! I’m so sorry that you are SOOOOO oppressed with Christianity being one of the largest practiced religions in the USA!
I suppose you know the extent of harassment that occurs because you are LGBT yes? And I’m glad that you would never waste tax payer money on a Christian center because there is no need for one. There’s this cool thing called “church” that Christians have.
Church isn’t on the school and isn’t affiliate with the school so you have no point.
… There are innumerable colleges and universities that have religious affiliation…. I am dumbfounded you would even say that they aren’t….
Referring to coc
And any public university. Not surprised you are dumbfounded though
Regardless, church still serves as a resource center for Christians, and most denominations or whatever are located close to campuses. There are even bible study groups on campus. There isn’t a need for something like that when the majority of America is Christian.
Kid you’ve completely missed it.
Kid you’ve completely missed it.
There are plenty of lgbt groups as well. No need for tax payer funding resource center.
There are plenty of lgbt groups as well. No need for tax payer funding resource center.
Link to the petition please.
I just signed… https://www.change.org/p/college-of-the-canyons-consider-the-creation-of-an-lgbtq-community-resource-center-at-college-of-the-canyons
Thank you, David Barlavi.
You can’t have equality and special treatment at the same time.
So anybody who needs a little help, and gets it, is not equal? Does that include veterans? Or is it just gay people who are unequal?
I believe that anybody who seeks to be treated preferentially or given specific assistance because of race, sex, religion or sexual orientation should not declare inequality while seeking to enrich themselves in doing the same. Veterans have chosen to make a sacrifice for this nation and as such they have earned opportunities to be afforded to them including benefits that civilians would not qualify for such as VA Loans and the GI Bill. I have no issue with any race, sex, religion or a persons sexual identity. No, I’m not homophobic. I just don’t support the idea that every issue or group needs to have a label identity that in turn allows them to attack or vilify others that disagree. Is that understandable?
No one is attacking or vilifying others by asking for a resource center… Check your privilege. Veterans had the CHOICE to go to fight for the nation while LGBT people have ZERO control over their sexual and gender identity and the homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism that comes from society.
You can’t have equality and special treatment at the same time.
Joshua Runyan,
Your comment would make sense IF the LGBT community didn’t need “special” treatment just to reach equal status in a heterosexist society.
Most of the comments on this thread simply reaffirm just why a center like this is needed.
Most of the comments on this thread simply reaffirm just why a center like this is needed.
Where can we sign the petition? I do not see the link to do so.
https://www.change.org/p/college-of-the-canyons-consider-the-creation-of-an-lgbtq-community-resource-center-at-college-of-the-canyons
Thank you!
This is wonderful. So proud of you, Andrew, for launching the campaign!
… And then we can have a Heterosexual Resource Center, My Parents Don’t Appreciate Me Resource Center, Overweight Person’s Resource Center, Underweight Person’s Resource Center and finally an I Can’t Decide Which Resource Center to Join Resource Center!
I’ve got an idea, why not simply eliminate the education portion of college and simply build resource centers?
Here’s a better idea! Quit your damn whining, stop working so hard to be a victim, get your education and simply move on with your life!
Wow! We’ve become a society of whiny wimps!
… And then we can have a Heterosexual Resource Center, My Parents Don’t Appreciate Me Resource Center, Overweight Person’s Resource Center, Underweight Person’s Resource Center and finally an I Can’t Decide Which Resource Center to Join Resource Center!
I’ve got an idea, why not simply eliminate the education portion of college and simply build resource centers?
Here’s a better idea! Quit your damn whining, stop working so hard to be a victim, get your education and simply move on with your life!
Wow! We’ve become a society of whiny wimps!
Randy Thompson
It’s often difficult to see a struggle from a privileged point of view. Imagine discrimination against you: you might whine too.
It’s very sad to me reading some of these comments. It’s pathetic how ignorant SCV still is and how people don’t get it. I hope they succeed in implementing this group. This has everything to do with feeling like you have a place to go. College can be hard and not just with the school aspect, but with relationships as well. So think before you speak Stefano Filippelli, Joshua Runyan.
Sean Michaels thanks for your whining and self pity. College is hard for everybody. Life is to. Please continue to seek special treatment and hand holding from strangers.
You don’t get it. It shouldn’t surprise me. I mean look at you. Clearly uneducated. A waste of time to bother arguing with you. You don’t understand cause you aren’t gay. Being gay is one of the hardest things to come to terms with because it is not accepted by society. Asking to create a resource center for college students that are gay to come to for comfort is a great way for gay students to work together. It’s not strangers smart one. It’s creating a comfort zone because they understand and connect with one another on this level. I’m actually disappointed that we have a mutual friend because people like you make this place an ugly world.
Hey, I’m totally on your side of this argument but “I mean look at you. Clearly uneducated” makes you (and sadly by extension, other people who share your views on whatever topic) look like a total dickhead.
Cool story.
Point proven. Thank you
Who is our mutual friend?
We should have this center for the same reason we should have, or do have, a veteran’s center. Some people have special needs not met by the culture at large. Compassion tells us to give them help.
That’s one problem with this country. No true equality. We can only tip the scale one way or the other.
That’s one problem with this country. No true equality. We can only tip the scale one way or the other.
Sigh
Yes!
The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.
Aristotle
“It ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings.”
Abraham Lincoln
My question is, why wouldn’t we want to help to develop a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ students and their allies? The space serves as an educational resource for ALL students, not just those who identify as LGBTQ. The space promotes tolerance, acceptance, and unity between LGBTQ students, their allies, and the wider community.