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news KANSAN.COM/NEWS MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016
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Vanessa Delgado is the Assistant Director Coordinator for the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity. The center is open during the summer.
LGBTO+ FROM PAGE 1
happened.
"I think the contribution of spaces like this is immeasurable because there's no real community space that exists for queer students that is not specifically set up for queer students," said Vanessa Delgado, assistant director at the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity. "The physical center is just that, a physical location that is meant to build a community for our LGBTQIA students."
The Center, which is located on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union, is open all summer as a safe place and community space for the LGBTQ+ community. Delgado says spaces like the Center become even more important during the summer.
"Maybe you live in Lawrence, maybe you live in Overland Park, or somewhere within driving distance," Delgado said. "If you
need to get out of some sort of negative living environment, you can come here. This is not something that is going to be closed just because school isn't in session."
The Center, which held a candlelight vigil on the Sunday night of the shooting to honor the victims, plans to continue to organize events this summer as they become necessary.
"We're very open to the idea of coming together again, kind of doing a check-in with the com-
TUITION FROM PAGE 1
$30.7 million reduction in overall higher education funding and a 5.1 percent reduction, or a loss of $10.7 million, in funding allocated to the University.
"We have advocated all year for stable funding +
for higher education. Unfortunately, this $30.7 million allotment represents another cut to higher education and disproportionately affects KU and K-State, despite the tremendous role they play in growing the Kansas economy," Tim
Caboni, vice chancellor for public affairs, said in a statement after the cuts were announced. "Given the magnitude of the $10.7 million reduction to KU, we will need a few days to carefully analyze its effects, which will be significant."
We are all finding our own ways to look at this as a group and move forward."
Elizabeth Wenger volunteer for Spectrum KU
munity to make sure people are okay and provide them with more hands-on support," Delgado said. "We know this is not something that students, faculty or staff will get over overnight or in a week. This is a process of healing and it will take some time. We're here if they need something."
Spectrum KU, a student group for those who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, is also using its group's unity to deal with the tragedy.
"We are all finding our own ways to look at this as a group and move forward," Elizabeth Wenger, a student volunteer for Spectrum KU, said. "I have many friends in the community I can talk to. I'm just trying to find a way to balance my fears with my ability to be brave in the face of such atrocities."
Delgado also stressed the importance of social media in times like these, when students can go online as a community to grieve. Giving students a platform to speak their minds and feelings is vital, Delgado said.
"It creates on online community," said Delgado.
"If students are somewhere where they can't be physically present for our candlelight vigil or be in this space, they can engage with this community online where they may not be able to do so with people in front of their face."
Wenger said the significance of the LGBTQ+ community coming together as one in such trying times is beyond measure.
"It's very important," said Wenger. "I see two benefits to coming together. The first is an internal benefit. We have support from people who can understand what we're going through. The second is external. We show the world that even in the face of such tragedy we are not broken. We stand together always."
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