The Gay Straight Alliance is starting back up at Illinois Valley Community College. Only this time, they are now called the “Gender and Sexuality Alliance.” The GSA had their first meeting on Monday, March 28. The leader of the club is political science and history professor Amanda Cook Fesperman.

The reason why the club changed its name was because the students felt that the new name reflected the title of the groups they had been a part of in high school. Cook Fesperman said, “The group hope to provide a safe space for members of the sexual and gender minority community and to have fun together while at IVCC.”

The group has also endorsed a plan by the IVCC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, in partnership with Safe Journeys, to provide ally training for IVCC faculty and staff. An ally would be a person who is recognized as a supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and a safe person to be out to on campus.

Faculty and staff allies will be identifiable by an ally sticker on their office doors. The group plans to have three more meetings this semester, all on Wednesdays at noon. All LGTBQIA+ students and allies are invited to attend. Cook Fesperman says, “Look for flyers on campus with specific dates and locations.”