OU LGBTQ Community Lounge

Don’t forget about civility training tomorrow morning from nine to noon in Bartlett (just across from the lounge)! Join the Lounge Advisory Board as we learn about conflict resolution and more.

Upcoming events for the Lounge: TOMORROW from 9-11, members of the Lounge Advisory Board and GEC staff will be in the Lounge to answer questions about its future and listen to any experiences in the Lounge you wish to share -- breakfast snacks provided. THEN on Sunday from 9-11, there will be a conflict-resolution training in Bartlett (just down the hall). This training will focus on healthy ways to communicate with each other and hopefully create more inclusive spaces.

In 2016, the LGBTQ Community Lounge opened with a simple purpose: to create a space where all members of the OU LGBTQ community and their allies would feel comfortable enough to be themselves. As time progressed, unfortunately some members of the community have felt excluded by other members. The Gender and Equality Center, in response to these reports of exclusion, initiated a variety of tactics to address the culture in the Lounge, however, there is more work to be done. In the weeks to come, students will see a variety of changes and educational programs coming to the Lounge. These initiatives were designed by students, faculty, and staff who truly want to see the Lounge thrive. Below is a list of initiatives being developed and implemented:

1. The LGBTQ Lounge Advisory Board was created to help find creative solutions to problems as well as generate ideas for making the Lounge more enjoyable for everyone who walk through the door. The board is currently made up of 5 dedicated students who want to see the Lounge community grow and flourish. Since the lounge community is made up of a diverse range of individuals with a variety of experiences, the Board wants to make sure these experiences are represented as we move forward with developing initiatives. For that reason, we are reopening the application for the Board and encourage students across the campus to apply. The link to the application can be found on our website ou.edu/gec/get-involved.

2. Community Forums: these events will focus on building community and fostering dialogue. The first half of each forum will include time to socialize, mingle, and have fun. The second half will be an open forum. Staff members from the GEC and members of the Lounge Advisory Board will be present to listen, provide resources and feedback, and continue the conversation of improving the Lounge culture.

3. Education and Action Programs: these programs will focus on addressing specific concerns of the lounge community. Each session will highlight a specific community that utilizes the Lounge, educate individuals about that community, and provide the best ways to support its members. This will be an ongoing series covering a variety of topics such as intersectionality, conflict resolution, mental health, and more.

4. Lounge Resource Guide: we hope to gather helpful reference materials into an easy-to-use guide which will serve a variety of functions. The guide will contain articles covering a variety of identities, mental health, intersectionality, and more. The guide will also include resources around campus, common terminology, and other information to assist individuals in creating the best experience they can for themselves and others.

5. Office hours: members of the Lounge Advisory Board, as well as our LGBTQ Programs Coordinator, will be holding weekly office hours during peak times in the Lounge. They will serve as a welcoming committee to people who enter the lounge, a listening ear to those who have concerns or feedback, and generally help make the Lounge as inclusive as possible.

6. Physical space: through the recommendation and proposal of some hardworking students who frequent the Lounge, we have decided to move the furniture into a different format. The new layout will be more accessible as well as creating a space that promotes conversation throughout the room.

7. Feedback: lastly, we need your help. We have asked for feedback in a variety of forms; however, this feedback has typically come from a handful of students. We wish to know how each person has (or hasn’t) experienced the Lounge. Additionally, this survey aims at gathering information on how the GEC and the University can better serve our LGBTQ community. Through a multimedia approach, we hope to reach a larger number of respondents. We are working with CampusLabs to help us form a Baseline survey that should be ready and published in the coming days.

We would like to thank the students, faculty, and staff that support the Gender + Equality Center and the LGBTQ Community Lounge. We appreciate each individual that has helped develop these initiatives and those who are currently helping to make them happen. With the help of our entire OU community, we can continue to improve and grow together.

In regards to recent events, we want to reaffirm that the Lounge is a space that is inclusive of all identities and of people from all backgrounds. Conversations surrounding inclusivity last year led to the formation of the the Lounge Advisory Board. This board aims at ensuring the space lives up to its mission. They will be meeting next week for a day-long development retreat, and the focal point of the conversation will be ways to improve the lounge culture. We invite you to share your opinion, experiences (good or bad), and thoughts for improvement with us at [email protected]. We thank you in advance for your interest in helping the lounge grow. At the end of the day, this space should be welcoming and affirming to all, and we will do whatever we can to make that true.

FYI - the Lounge will close Thursday and Friday so the floors can be waxed and buffed. Getting spiffy for Fall 2018!

Check out all the Lounge updates!

Woot-Woot new whiteboard in the Lounge 💃🕺🏾

Meet Oliver (he/him/his)! He is a senior Women's and Gender Studies major and hopes to have an American Sign Language minor if the program is finished before he graduates next spring. He is an Orientation guide for Camp Crimson this summer, as well as the LGBTQ & Health Programs Intern for the Gender + Equality Center. "My vision is that the Lounge is a space the LGBTQ community can be proud of. Somewhere where people can come and feel at home while they are on campus. I think people seriously underestimate how necessary it is to have a space where you don't have to watch your back or worry about how you're existing, you can just exist."

Meet Zach Kump (he/him/his)! He's a Letters - Constitutional Studies major and a member of the Undergraduate Mock Trial team. He is also the proud father of two amazing dogs. "I hope to be able to help foster a sense of openness in the lounge community and ensure that everyone has a space to exist openly."

Meet Traci Baker (she/her)! She is a LGBTQ rights and community activist from Arcadia, OK. She has previously served as the president of OU's Q***r Student Association, has made two unsuccessful runs for Norman City Council, and is the first transgender individual to be elected to a statewide executive board of a political party in Oklahoma history. She is a political science and letters senior and is minoring in geography. "I hope to help restore the lounge to be a place where people can make community."

Meet Adam Oberlinter (he/him)! He's an Arabic and International Security major in the class of 2020, also minoring in Middle Eastern Studies. Fun facts, he's from Allen, Michigan, a triplet, and a member of the Model Arab League here on campus! "I'm looking forward to helping students feel empowered to change their own community spaces for the better!"

Meet Mairiany Lopez (she/her/hers). She's a freshmen Human Relations major and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Look for her working at Couch Cafeteria and be sure to say hello! "I want to make sure that all folks on this campus, no matter how you identify, your presence is appreciated and welcome in the lounge.”

This week we'll be introducing your Lounge Advisory Committee members.

Meet Elizabeth Nondorf. Beth(she/hers/her) is a math and computer science major from St. Louis. Fun facts, she's in the Lettuce Club, is an avid saxophone player, and is a video game enthusiast. "I want to help the Lounge become a more inclusive space and a better place for people to study, hang out, and socialize."

Don't forget to come by the Lounge today for the re-opening! Snacks, music, and an overview of the recommendations will be shared. Stop by anytime, but if you want to talk to the advisory committee members, we'll be there at 9:00, Noon, and 3:00.

See attached recommendations to learn more about the work of the student advisory committee. These recommendations include immediate changes, short and long-term goals. We welcome feedback on these recommendations to [email protected], or https://gec4ou.wufoo.com/forms/lgbtq-community-lounge-feedback/

Apply to be a representative on the LGBTQ Community Lounge Advisory Committee. This committee will plan intentional programs in the Lounge, provide leadership, welcome newcomers, identity issues of concern, and resolve conflict.

https://orgsync.com/118976/forms/320367

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Time for a quick update on the progress of the LGBTQ Community Lounge Advisory Committee. The 12-member student group, along with the advisement of Kathy Fahl from the GEC and Dr. Megan Sibbett from Women’s and Gender Studies has had three meetings to-date focusing specifically on defining some of the issues in the lounge and generating ideas for lasting solutions. We have received over 30 on-line feedback submissions from the community and integrated that information into the planning process. Over the next couple of weeks, we will outline specific strategies to create a space that is open and more inclusive. Our goal is to re-open the lounge before the end of the semester.

OU LGBTQ Community Lounge Opening 2015