UCO’s The Center and DEI

By Terryn Ward

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Women’s Research and BGLTQ+ Student Center is one of several Queer-focused spaces facing the threat of closure after Gov. Kevin Stitt’s executive order targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. 

UCO’s “The Center” provides a safe space for Queer students to relax, as well as free STI testing and HPV vaccines. The Center houses a community library that holds over 5,000 books pertaining to gender and sexuality. Students can visit their community closet to donate and find clothing that they feel comfortable in. Besides this, The Center hires students to research Queer issues and educate the community on sex education. With the loss of The Center, students would lose a safe space on campus and some students could even lose jobs.

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2023-31 in December, the order calls for “state agencies and institutes for higher education to initiate a review of DEI positions, departments, activities, procedures, and programs to eliminate and dismiss non-critical personnel.” The order calls for no state funding to be used for DEI positions, trainings, and more. 

According to the American Psychological Association, diversity, equity, and inclusion curriculum is to the benefit of everyone.

“Research shows that experience with these issues leads to positive changes in students’ attitudes and values (Gurin et al., 2002),” said the APA. “An inclusive classroom also provides global academic benefits, such as improved critical thinking (Bowman, 2010) and higher overall achievement levels for both majority and minority group members (Elicker et al., 2009). In addition, when students have positive diversity experiences, their interest in improving the lives of people in their communities increases (Bowman, 2011).” 

Furthermore, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s higher education department, having safe spaces for Queer students that is not based around substances (like bars) is key to preventing substance abuse within the community. According to the Campus Drug Proventinon organization, Queer students not only have a higher chance of using substances, but also are less likely to use services to prevent and intervene against substance use. 

Student employees at The Center are unsure of what UCO would look like without this programming and their jobs. Student Employee Zach Kernal is worried about what the executive order could do to UCO.

“I think a lot of my coworkers and I feel like we have to kind of step around using certain words like diversity and inclusion,” Kernal said. “I think with it kind of looming in the background at the moment,  all of us just kind of feel like we have to be a lot more careful with our words. And we have to be very clear that our resources are for everyone, and not just for Queer people. Which is how it’s always been, it just has to be a lot more explicit now.” 

Within the past week The University of Oklahoma announced the their Gender and Equality Center and are moving all LGBTQ+ programming it under the category of Student Life. As of today, UCO’s The Center is still operating.

“I think being a queer person in Oklahoma is never has never been the easiest thing,” Kernal said. “I think having spaces like The Center and spaces like of DEI, where inclusivity is something that is number one, I think that is really important. It just makes everyone feel way more welcome.”

Student Employee at The University of Central Oklahoma’s BGLTQ+ student center Zach Kernal talks about how The Center helps UCO’s community.
UCO Grad student Hannah Ash talks about LGBTQ issues in Oklahoma.