DEI Centers mark major milestones with vibrant celebrations

On Oct. 2 and 3, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will celebrate two significant milestones that reaffirm its commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and fostering a welcoming environment. This year, the Q Center celebrates its 10th anniversary as a hub for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, recognizing a decade of service, advocacy, and connection. Additionally, the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) will mark its 25th anniversary, highlighting twenty-five years of dedicated support, education, and community-building for the diverse communities across the Binghamton campus. 

Carmen R. Jones, assistant vice president for the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, views these milestone celebrations as evidence of the centers’ significant contributions to fostering creative, safe, and welcoming environments that enhance a sense of belonging.

"I have been looking forward to celebrating the legacies of the MRC and Q Center, and it has been wonderful to see our staff and students so enthusiastic about hosting our guests," Jones said. "I feel fortunate to oversee the centers, which are among the best places to visit on campus. The students' energy is always uplifting, and their presence in these spaces is truly revitalizing. For many of our students, faculty, and staff, these spaces are where they can be their authentic selves. I am grateful to our staff for their dedication in making these anniversary celebrations special."

Q Center celebrates a decade of advocacy and safe spaces

Q Center 10th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, Oct. 2
5 to 7 p.m.
Old Champlain Atrium

On Oct. 2, the Q Center will celebrate its first 10 years with a reception in the Old Champlain Atrium, featuring opportunities to connect with members from campus LGBTQ+ student and staff organizations and to hear from current and past Q Center staff about the center's history and progress. The keynote address will be delivered by Bonnie J. Morris, MA '85, PhD '88, author, historian, and lecturer at the University of California, Berkley.

Additional remarks will be given by Nick Martin, Q Center associate director; Carmen Jones, assistant vice president for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; University Provost Donald Hall; Dara Silberstein, program director, Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; and Kelly Clark, Q Center founding director.

Martin notes the continued growth of the Center over his tenure.

“Working with some very dedicated student leaders over the past five years, we've launched several high-impact initiatives that inspire LGBTQ+ students to attend the University, visit the Q Center, and build community on campus,” he said. “At a time when being queer or trans can be dangerous, I am thankful we have a campus culture that supports queer and trans students, and I remain grateful for the Center’s strong foundation that Dr. Clark established 10 years ago.”

Q Center: A brief history

LGBTQ+ advocacy at Binghamton University began after the 1969 Stonewall Riots. The Harpur Gay Liberation Front, founded in 1970 and renamed the Rainbow Pride Union in 1971, was the primary LGBTQ+ student organization for decades. In the early 2000s, students and faculty advocated for dedicated safe spaces and greater representation. In response, the LGBTQ Center was established in the 2015–2016 academic year, with Kelly Clark appointed as its founding director. Renamed the Q Center by students, it officially opened in fall 2016.

In the past decade, the Q Center has expanded its outreach through initiatives such as Active Ally/Advocacy Workshops, the Gender Bender Clothing Closet, the Lavender Living Community, Rainbow Fest, the Queer Youth Conference, OUTober events, Lavender Celebration, and the Empowered Women, Empowered Leaders Conference. 

The center now employs more than 20 undergraduate and graduate student staff members who support operations and promote educational advocacy on campus and in the Binghamton community.

For more information about the Q Center, contact lgbtq@binghamton.edu

25 years of diversity and multiculturalism

MRC 25th Anniversary
Saturday, Oct. 3
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bartle Library South

On Oct. 3, the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) will host a 25th anniversary event to showcase the center’s critical role in fostering a welcoming campus environment and supporting students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Starting at 11 a.m. on the Bartle Library plaza, attendees can enjoy a lively lineup of cultural performances, alumni reflections, and an exclusive screening of the 25th Anniversary documentary. The event will also feature food, music, and activities, providing an opportunity for the campus community to connect and celebrate diversity together.

A special keynote will be delivered by Linda Morales, the MRC’s founder and inaugural director.

"Reaching 25 years is an opportunity to honor the people who built the MRC, but it is also about recognizing the students who continue to give this space its purpose,” said Marc-Leonce Volcy, MRC assistant director. “The MRC is more than a physical space. It is a place where students can celebrate who they are and feel that they belong. As we celebrate this milestone, I am excited about honoring that legacy while continuing to think about what the MRC can become for the next generation of students."

MRC: A brief history

Before becoming the founding director of the MRC, Linda Morales was assistant director in Campus Activities, where she focused on student multicultural programs. As students and others raised diversity-related ideas and concerns, she recognized the need for the University to enhance support for students of color and other multicultural communities. Morales advocated for moving multicultural initiatives out of Campus Activities, emphasizing the need for a dedicated mission, space, and programming agenda.

The MRC was initially housed within the Office of Student Affairs. In 2013–2014, it moved to the newly established Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, created by then-President Harvey Stenger through the Road Map to Premier initiative.

Over time, the MRC has become a center for cultural programming, leadership development, community building, and campus partnerships. Its mission is to foster a campus where students, staff, and faculty feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to succeed, while promoting intercultural understanding and meaningful connections.

For more information about the MRC, contact mrc@binghamton.edu