For the first time ever, Lethbridge College will provide marginalized students with a safe place to call their own on campus.
Thanks to new provincial funding, The University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge College will receive a combined $1.2 million each year for three years to support student mental health on campus.
Using this funding, the college plans to increase its focus on LGBTQ+ rights.
“We will focus on providing customized supports for all students, including our Indigenous, LGBTQ+ and international groups,” said Paula Burns, president and CEO, Lethbridge College.
Tara Ludman, President of Lethbridge College’s LGBTQ+ club, knows how important it is to have supports in place for the community.
“In a college or university setting, everyone comes from different upbringings. In Lethbridge especially, because it is such a religious town, a lot of people are brought up being told it’s wrong.”
Ludman also believes it isn’t drastic changes needed. She says looking ahead, it is the implementation of small initiatives that will best support the college community.
“What I think the most important thing for campus moving forward is having something that makes the LGBTQ community feel welcome here. Even if it just painting the wall the flag colour or putting one up somewhere so they know they won’t be judged,” said Ludman.
The college is currently working on a plan to provide individuals with a safe space on campus. This space will allow students to seek support without fear of being discriminated against based on their sexual preferences.
According to research conducted by the University of Calgary in 2016, 30 per cent of LGBTQ+ students, compared to 11 per cent of non LGBTQ+ students, reported skipping because they felt unsafe at school.
Zachary Wigand, Vice-President of the LGBTQ+ club works closely with community decision makers as the student representative on the Lethbridge College Board of Governors. He says there are many plans currently in the works to correct the current climate of discrimination.
“Some of the things moving forward are just policy review. Right now, I have a couple requests submitted for the government just to review the college policies to make sure all of them moving forward are LGBTQ inclusive,” said Wigand.
The importance of sustainability is key moving forward and Wigand knows funding isn’t guaranteed to be long-term.
“They want these initiatives to be sustainable. So right off the top they will invest what’s needed but ideally these things will be able to sustain themselves just in case the funding disappears.”
Wigand also says the focus is not on the amount of money being spent, but the amount of lives being affected.
“A lot of our initiatives aren’t big things that are going to cost 10’s of thousands of dollars every year. They are things that are cost effective or have no cost at all,” said Wigand.
Harmoni Jones, the Lethbridge College Health Promotions Coordinator, has worked closely with the Lethbridge College LGBTQ+ club and agrees that although funding is important, monetary support is not the biggest contributor to change.
“Some of the initiatives that we have put forward so far and are moving forward with are things that don’t need funding, just support. For example, our gender neutral washrooms. I think it was only $10 per sign and it’s made a huge difference.”
The mental health advocate also believes the largest contributor to progress is an internal strength.
“The awareness around mental health is so important, but resiliency is the most significant contributor to rectifying this situation,” said Jones.
The creation of the safe space is currently being examined by Lethbridge College facilities management to find an ideal location on campus.
Ludman says she has high hopes for not only the safe space and its effectiveness, but the future of campus as a whole.
“My hope is that we create this supportive campus that helps the community thrive and makes campus a better environment for not just LGBTQ students, but all students.”
