SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
ADVISING AND REFERRALS: Students may drop-in to the Cantú Queer Center to get support from Center staff for any academic, social, or psychological issues. The Center is a 'safe space' for queer and allied students and a first stop for referrals to other campus services.
ALUMNI: The Center sponsors an annual Lavender Reception during April's Reunion Weekend. We welcome alumni to drop by the Center whenever they're in town. We love to hear what alumni are doing, post graduation. We encourage GLBT alumni to join the online GLBT Alumni Affinity Group.
CAMPUS COLLABORATIONS: The Lionel Cantú GLBTI Center works in close collaboration with a range of groups including the Ethnic Resource Centers; Women's Center; Center for Tolerance, Justice and Community; Chicano/Latino Research Center; Judicial Affairs Office; EOP; SOAR; student government; the Graduate Student Association; Rape Prevention Education; Hillel; HIV Prevention; all ten Colleges; the Alumni Association, and many others. These active working relationships create a web of support for GLBTI students campus wide.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS: Center staff does outreach to the off-campus GLBT community and works particularly closely with GLBT community organizations such as Triangle Speakers, the Diversity Center, the Queer Youth Leadership Awards, and Family Services Rainbow Program.
CONFERENCES: The Center helps UCSC students attend state and nationwide GLBT college conferences.
FACILITY USE: The Center is available to campus and community groups for meetings and other gatherings. The space has a comfortable lounge area, a restroom, and campus certified kitchen.
FAMILIES: The Center is a child and family friendly space! We welcome student parents and children. Both of the Center staff members are queer parents; we've got expertise to share with queer UCSC families.
GALA GALLERY: The Center welcomes student and community artists to exhibit their work in the Center's gallery. The center's student curator will work with artists to hang their show, and will help with publicity. The center sponsors a reception for all exhibits.
GRADUATION CEREMONY: The Rainbow Ceremony is UCSC's graduation celebration honoring GLBTI students and their families. Graduates are from area high schools, from Cabrillo College and UCSC. The ceremony is informal and festive, and features faculty, staff, student, and alumni speakers, performers, and a light meal.
INFORMATION HUB: Qconnect is the center's weekly e-newsletter. Students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members may self-subscribe here. The Center posts activities on its Facebook account Cantu Queer Center. Staff and faculty may contact Center staff for resource and reference materials on GLBT topics.
INTERNSHIPS: UCSC students may receive academic credit for community or campus based projects. Center staff provide supervision and support for student interns.
LIBRARY: The Center's library has more than 2,500 GLBTI books and over 250 videos/DVD's in its collection. Library holdings are now searchable from the Center's web site.
PROGRAMS: In addition to numerous small-scale student initiated programs , the center sponsors the following annual events/celebrations: OPERS Fall Festival, Questioning/Queer and New to the U Program, National GLBT History Month, National Coming Out Day, National Day of Silence, Lavender Reception (GLBT Alumni reunion), Queer Awareness Campaign), Gender Awareness Day, Quarterly Town Halls, Queer Youth Leadership Awards, Annual Rainbow Ceremony (GLBT graduation celebration), and June Pride March and Rally.
QUEER AND QUESTIONING PEOPLE OF COLOR WORKGROUP: The Center collaborates with other campus units to promote visibility and support for queer students of color. The working group has periodic meetings and sponsors large and small events.
SAFE SPACE PROGRAM: The Center promotes and distributes "Safe Space" placards to students, staff, and faculty to promote a visibly affirming campus atmosphere for queer students. Placards also list center contact information and feature "coming out" tips.
STAFF AND FACULTY SERVICES: Incoming queer staff and faculty may request the support of the Center in understanding their employee benefits, in assessing the safety of being 'out' and in networking. The Center periodically sponsors staff/faculty social gatherings during the academic year. Center staff also provide faculty with GLBT related resources and referrals upon request.
STUDY CENTER: The Cantú Queer Center has computers for student use as well as a WiFi connection. So, bring your laptop, make yourself a cup of tea, and settle in to one of our comfy couches or work stations and start studying.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS: The Center is a meeting place for several queer student organizations. Center staff help students launch clubs, recruit members, plan programs, publicize events, and develop leadership skills.
TRAININGS AND LECTURES: Center staff are available to give guest lectures and trainings on GLBT topics to classrooms, residential halls, other campus units, and as well as community groups.
VETERANS: The Center gives full welcome and support to queer veterans. We coordinate with campus and community groups (such as Rainbow Veterans at the Diversity Center) to make sure vets know that "Don't Ask. Don't Tell" is NOT a UCSC value!
VOLUNTEERING: Volunteers are most welcome to become involved in the Cantú Queer Center's activities. For more information about volunteer opportunities.
WEBSITE: The Center's web site continues to be a critical source of information and referrals. It has extensive links to GLBTI websites.
