Performance by Emprex Dela Rosa at the Pride Center Opening. Photo by Justin Cox.
The first day of the spring semester also marked the grand opening of UAA’s Pride Center, the first ever college pride center in the state.
Every available seat in the Student Union cafeteria was packed with students, staff, and community members. Top level administrators, such as Sean Parnell, were also present to celebrate the opening.
Those who planned the event hoped that over forty people would attend. The actual number was closer to 130, said Jessi Saiki, the engagement and belonging coordinator at Multicultural Student Services.
Denali Zantop, the rainbow initiatives manager in charge of LGBTQ programming, said that this was the biggest turnout she’d ever seen for a Multicultural Student Services event.
“By the time I got here there wasn’t any food, and I got there on time!”
Multicultural Student Services Director Sara Caldwell-Kan took the podium to begin the evening, and almost every sentence was punctuated by applause from the audience.
“Today is an incredible day for our community,” said Saiki in a seperate speech, “and while we celebrate this moment in history, we will continue to advocate for collective liberation for people of all marginalized identities.”
Other speakers emphasized the many people and long efforts that helped create UAA’s new community space.
Former Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson was also a guest speaker. Quinn-Davidson was the first woman and first openly gay person to serve as mayor of Anchorage and currently serves on the Anchorage assembly.
“Today we’re one step closer to having that community, that consistent place that uplifts and supports us and tells us we belong. We are good and whole just as we are,” said Quinn-Davidson in a speech.
The grand opening also had two drag performances by the Emprex Dela Rosa. Coming full circle, Emprex Dela Rosa is a UAA alumni and worked at UAA with Saiki when they were students.
The Family, UAA’s LGBTQIA+ club, performed the official ribbon cutting for the Pride Center. The Family provided input on the space early on and continued to provide support throughout the process.
Mark Zimmerman, the secretary of The Family, says that he thinks a dedicated space for advocacy where groups on campus can gather is important at UAA.
“While a physical space isn't like the be-all end-all of everything, it is a really important component to [advocacy], especially on the college campus,” said Zimmerman.
The first thing students who enter the new Pride Center will notice is how cozy it is. There’s a large “WELCOME TO THE UAA PRIDE CENTER” painted on the canter’s massive windows. Identity flags cover the back wall, and there are lamps, squishmallows, and snacks around brightly colored furniture. Art of all kinds can be found in just about every corner of the space.
For everyone involved, one thing is clear: there is excitement for the space and for the future. Even after it’s opened, there are already more plans for growth in the future.
The Pride Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and can be found in The Hub on the lower level of the Student Union.
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