Both Rainbow Alliance (Saint Louis University’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender support group) and Una (SLU’s feminist organization), are gearing up to start taking a proposal for their own space on campus from paper to reality. The proposal has evolved from what was originally proposed to be solely Rainbow Alliance’s GLBT resource center; instead, it will open first as a meeting space for Rainbow Alliance, and it will be split with Una.

“The proposed GLBT Center is to take root in what is currently the Chartwells office, next to the mail room on the east side of the Busch Student Center,” said Andrew Clifton, Student Government Association president.

According to Kent Porterfield, Ed.D., vice president of student development, “[It] is the space that would be most visible and accommodating for the two organizations that we currently have available.”

In terms of how the space will take shape, Clifton explained that the project would happen in two phases.

“Phase one will give office space to the Rainbow Alliance and Una,” Clifton said, adding that it is intended to serve as a foundation for building the remainder of the center.

“The two offices will be an expansion of the Cross Cultural Center,” he said.

The second phase will allow the space to step up the sort of services it will offer.

“Phase two will involve providing resources for students,” Clifton said. “We are going to get a graduate assistant [to help us] with [event] programming. A committee of faculty and students will work together to add gender and sexual identity into the diversity equation.” He also said that the details are still being ironed out.

Porterfield agreed with Clifton.

“One way we’re trying to respond is to create more space for both organizations and to give them space that may be used to give students support,” Porterfield said. “We’re taking a step now, and I don’t know what will happen down the road, but I think it’s an important step at present.”

The Office of Student Development will fund additional costs for office furnishings.

“I’ve asked that we reach out and be more supportive of [Rainbow Alliance] and Una,” said Porterfield, who said that both the Rainbow Alliance and Una’s budgets would not be able to cover installation of offices in the BSC.

“The center will not require any construction so the cost shouldn’t be significant,” Clifton said.

Porterfield estimated that the space would be available for use in a few months.

Junior Justin Gimotea, president of SLU’s Rainbow Alliance said that he thought the center has the potential to provide aid and support to those who may be questioning their sexuality or gender identity.

“I definitely think that this will be a place for people who are struggling with their identity.” Gimotea said. “It will be a place for those who have already taken the journey and are looking to talk to others and offer support for individuals at various stages . It says a lot about the University’s thoughts on learning together as a community.”

Katie Meyer, sophomore and president of Una, said she also hoped the space will provide invaluable resources for students who may be dealing with any sort of identity issues.

“The [space] will hold discussions on so many social issues for women. The center [will be] a place to go for resources like books, movies or even [for] someone to talk to,” she said.

“If you have a problem, you can go there as a woman or as a gay individual,” Meyer said. “You will have a place to go to address those concerns. It sounds really exiting.”

Andrew Skelton, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he agreed that the space will be a great leap toward recognizing diversity as well as building social tolerance at SLU.

“College is a time when people tend to come out of the closet, and that’s really hard, so it’s good to know that at least SLU will support them,” Skelton said. “We have the Cross Cultural Center and SLU recognizes other minorities, so why not [GLBT] individuals?”

Sophomore Patrick Eckelkamp said he was also in favor of the proposed space for Rainbow Alliance and Una, but he said that not everyone may be.

“I can see where people who oppose it are coming from,” Eckelkamp said. “Some people who are very strict might take offense at it.”

Gimotea, on the other hand, said that he believes that the space will promote SLU’s Jesuit mission of “men and women for others.”