Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to send us an email.
FAQ - The Center and Campus
The Gender and Sexuality Center was created to provide safe spaces for all member of the UT Austin community to explore and organize around issues of gender and sexuality. We envision a campus where all people feel welcomed and included in campus life.
How did the center begin?
The GSC finds its roots in the development of the Women's Resource Center (WRC) in 1997. The WRC was founded as an agency of Student Government (SG), with a student appointed as a director and an annual budget of $3000. GLBT/Ally Affairs Agency (GLBTAAA) was created in the fall of 2001, also with a student director and a small budget, with the intention of demonstrating need and demand for a center. Because both organizations saw overlap in their services, and each recognized the importance of establishing a permanent office with a full-time director, the WRC and GLBTAAA decided to pursue a joint center. They began working through SG to create a combined Gender and Sexuality Center.
The watershed event for the creation of the center occurred in summer 2003. New SG President, Brian Haley, had campaigned on a promise to create a Gender and Sexuality Center, and he followed through. When a room opened up on the first floor of the Student Services Building, Haley claimed it for the new center through good networking and creative negotiating. With a space finally secured, Haley established an advisory committee, chaired by Teresa Brett, Dean of Students, to discuss the center's mission, goals, and activities. A proposal for the center was submitted to Student Services Budget Committee in March 2004, and it was approved.
The Gender and Sexuality Center owes its creation to the hard work of many dedicated individuals. However, our work is not complete. In the future, the GSC hopes to expand its programs and find a home in a larger space that will provide for ease of organizing and socializing around issues of gender and sexuality.
Where is the center located, and when is it open?We encourage you to visit the center, which is located in the Student Activities Center 2.112, and we are open Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What is the advisory committee and how can I join?
The GSC Advisory Committee is comprised of UT students, faculty and staff who meet to discuss the GSC Center and shape its goals and mission. If you are interested in being a part of the Advisory Committee, please contact the GSC Director.
Does the center serve only UT students?
Though the GSC was set up to serve the UT community, we welcome all members of the Austin community.
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