As a gay student searching for a school that fit, sophomore Kimberly Nesta found herself drawn to Ithaca College more than other schools because of its positive attitude toward LGBT issues.

“I felt like Ithaca had more opportunities to expand myself because of the large amount of cultural resources,” she said.

The magnitude of student experiences and perceptions similar to Nesta’s on campus influenced “The Advocates College Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Students” to name Ithaca College one of the 100 Best Campuses for LGBT students. Campus PrideNet, an organization for LGBT and ally students, and the National Consortium of Directors of LGBT Resources in Higher Education conducted research for three years to publish the guide.

According to Lisa Maurer, coordinator of LGBT Education Outreach Services, the two organizations conducted more than 5,500 student and faculty interviews at nearly 700 campuses across the nation. The editors compiled points of criterion, ranging from the presence of LGBT centers and non-discrimination policies to coursework and programs, which combined for a total score of 20 points. The college received 18 points, with only 11 institutions receiving a score of 19 or higher.

“It’s another prestigious accomplishment added to the list of things that the college already does very well,” Maurer said.

The guide highlights the success of the LGBT center, which was first approved by the board of trustees in February 2001 and opened in the basement of the Hammond Health Center in November of the same year. Two on-campus organizations, prism and Created Equal, were also noted as resources that serve the different needs of LGBT students. Prism is a social alliance of gay and straight students that deals with sexuality and gender identity and expression, while Created Equal addresses issues affecting students on campus and across the nation.

The guide also mentions the rainbow flag, which flies from the free speech flagpole every April to celebrate LGBT awareness month. The flag has been stolen four times during the five-year tradition, but the guide mentions the outpouring of community response and Public Safety’s identification of students responsible.

“We have very supportive faculty, allied advocates and organizations who are willing to help students on professional and personal levels,” Maurer said.

As the founding director of the center, Maurer said the biggest change in LGBT life on campus since her arrival has been the improvement of the center itself. She said that in her office, students can find peers and colleagues with similar perspectives, as well as a coordinated place to meet and collaborate on new ideas.

Maurer said other resources that have developed on campus include coursework in LGBT issues, special programming and guest speakers. Maurer said the “Out of the Closet and Onto the Screen” film series in particular helps meet the needs of both LGBT and straight students.

SGA President Zack Ford said that LGBT resources didn’t guide his choice to attend Ithaca, but did make it easier to come out on campus.

“I was definitely in denial that I could possibly be gay,” he said. “But having come to a campus where everyone was so supportive, it finally let me be comfortable with myself.”

Ford said he believes the ranking itself says a lot for the school, but that there is still room for improvement.

“IC has always been known as quite the friendly place, with the creation of the LGBT center in 2001, multiple student groups and an atmosphere built on mutual respect for students,” he said. “The fact that such a rating could exist shows there is so much more to be done for LGBT populations.”