PRiSM changes name to Q+, becomes organization

On our campus where the Johnnie/ Bennie identities are strongly rooted in cisgender heteronormativity, students who don’t fall into these categories can often feel isolated, uncomfortable and unwelcome. A new campus organization, QPLUS (Q+), is working towards creating a better environment for LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff.

Q+ was formerly known as PRiSM, a club that stood for People Representing in Sexual Minority, but has changed to the Queer Proud Lavender Union for Students. This rebranding was strategic and deliberate: “[PRiSM] does not encapsulate the gender minority and other identities that are not sexual. The name is exclusive and outdated (PRiSM was established in early 2000s, we live in a much different society now). ‘Queer Proud’ is encapsulating of all genders, all sexualities and all identities. The word ‘queer’ is a fluid and dynamically broad term for the LGBTQ+ community,” Jack Pieper, LGBTQ+ Program Coordinator, said.

The use of lavender in the title is significant, as the color is symbolic within the LGBTQ+ community and relates to the “Lavender Scare,” which occurred in the mid-20th century when the government fired employees who were suspected of identifying as homosexual.

Along with the name change, Q+ is different this year as it is now an organization. With a more organized format and a steady plan for the future, Q+ is in a position to “create effective programming, develop online resources and an organization webpage, reach out to various departments and offices for safe space trainings, and more,” Pieper said. “We get to build advocacy and representation the LGBTQ+ community on-campus.”

Although Q+ is making strides towards making our campus more LGBTQ+ friendly, there are still many challenges to overcome.

“To me, one of our biggest challenges is that we’re often perceived as ‘not belonging’ on the campus, even though we do. Our campus culture can create restricting roles of what it means to be a ‘man’ or a ‘woman,’ and because Q+ challenges that, we’re often met with restriction,” Flannery White, Intersectionality Representative, said.

The organization’s most important goal for the future is to develop concrete spaces and resources for LGBTQ+ students on campus. A resource center is currently in the works and a web page will hopefully be included on the CSB/SJU website.

“Our first goal is to establish a resource center for future generations at CSB/SJU. There are many Catholic colleges/universities in the U.S. that have resources centers already established, so what’s stopping us here? The second goal would be to have an inclusive and accessible resource page for students, faculty, staff, administration and other personnel to easily access for various purposes: LGBTQ+ resources, allyship resources, LGBTQ+ health, etc. We are currently building that and adding to the webpage every day,” Pieper said.

Q+ is working towards making positive changes on our campus environment through inclusivity, acceptance and understanding. The organization has many plans for the future and imagines an environment where the LGBTQ+ community is respected and loved.

“I hope that everyone will be able to gain a deeper understanding of themselves––how has your gender shaped your life? To be able to reflect on and answer these questions is critical for everyone. We are a space where LGBTQ+ students, staff and faculty can be themselves and feel like they have a community who understands and respects them,” White said.

“On an institutional level, I hope QPLUS will be able to create cultural and institutional changes that make campus better for the LGBTQ+ community,” White said.