A Welcoming Environment

By Desiree Holz ’23, September 7, 2022

LGBT Center Fall Welcome celebration a hit with students.

Payton Romance ’26, Fiona Fedorochko ’26, and Pierre Field ’26 got the chance to connect at the event.

(Photo by Desiree Holz '23)

To kick off the fall 2022 semester, Ithaca College’s LGBT Center for Education, Outreach, and Services held its annual fall welcome celebration on August 22. The event gave new and returning students a chance to mingle as well as listen to speakers from various LGBTQ+ organizations on campus.

Luca Maurer, interim executive director for student equity and belonging, and director of the center, spoke to more than 50 students, faculty, and staff, highlighting the new services being offered by the center and celebrating the return of communal food at the annual gathering following the pandemic-related restrictions of last year.

“To have food and drink and be in community is a nice thing for all human beings, but it’s a part of our culture as LGBTQ people to have food and to share food,” he said. “We’re really grateful that we could be back.”

Maurer also introduced Grace Dosdall, the new Ithaca College Pride Fellow, and highlighted the first year of the college’s Open Pages Residential Learning Community.

The event also served as an opportunity for members of the Ithaca College LGBTQ community to meet Grace Dosdall, the new Ithaca College Pride Fellow.

(Photo by Desiree Holz '23)

Dosdall, who started in the position just one month ago, spoke to the level of acceptance Ithaca College fosters, and how pleased they are with spending the next two years in the community.

“Obviously every campus has queer students, but not every campus has this kind of event or these kinds of spaces for students” they said. “Coming here has been a welcome change.”

Maurer added that the impact Dosdall has had since starting their position is tangible.

“The fact that Grace is here has been a game changer,” he said. “Not only are there more staff than there’s ever been, but we have conversations that make our ideas better. A thought partner and co-conspirator to make good trouble with is really excellent.”

“I hope that students take away that Ithaca College is and has always been home to a large, diverse and thriving LGBTQ community and allies and that they’re never alone. There’s lots of people and support and resources for whatever they need.”

Luca Maurer, director of the LGBT Center for Education, Outreach, and Services, and interim executive director for student equity and belonging

Maurer also highlighted the importance of events like this for the new first-year class of 2026 on campus.

“I hope that students take away that Ithaca College is and has always been home to a large, diverse and thriving LGBTQ community and allies and that they’re never alone,” he said. “There’s lots of people and support and resources for whatever they need.”

Students from Spectrum and Prism, LGBTQ+ student organizations on campus, shared ways for students to get involved this year, and student representatives from IC’s Discord server touched upon the continuation of a channel for transgender students.

Attendees were also able to learn more about resources and events, such as Ithaca's LGBTQ History Walking Tour.

(Photo by Desiree Holz '23)

Fiona Fedorochko ’26 expressed their eagerness to join the highlighted organizations.

“My biggest takeaway from tonight is that there’s a lot of opportunities for queer people on campus to get involved, make friends, and join organizations. We don’t realize that there’s so much to do,” Fedorochko said.

“I came from a school that didn’t accept queer people,” they added. “I came out tonight I wanted to find a space and find community and find people that are also queer and make new friends

“To be here where being yourself is accepted and there’s a more open mindset to the LGBTQ+ community, it’s been very, very nice and I’m glad that I did ultimately decide to come here.”

Payton Romance ’26

Payton Romance ’26 discussed how such an accepting event makes them happy to attend an institution like Ithaca.

“It makes me feel very safe and appreciated,” they said. “To be here where being yourself is accepted and there’s a more open mindset to the LGBTQ+ community, it’s been very, very nice and I’m glad that I did ultimately decide to come here.”

With a full academic year ahead, Maurer is ready for the center to serve as a place of safety and acceptance for all students at the College, which was recently named among Campus Pride’s 2022 “Best of the Best” colleges and universities for LGBTQ+ students.

“We’ve already had some great ideas that are in the works, and I can’t wait for what’s to come,” Maurer said. “It’s very exciting.”