USC's LGBT Resource Center Smallest Among Top U.S. Universities

USC’s LGBT Resource Center director Kelby Harrison saw a big problem in a small space. This led her to lead a comparative study that showed how USC’s Resource Center compares to other top institutes. The results showed that across the top universities in the U.S., USC had the smallest LGBT resource center.

The average resource center was found to be 1,100 square feet. USC’s is 169 square feet. The second smallest LGBT resource center, at Rutger’s University, is more than four times the size of USC’s at 700 square feet.

According to California fire code regulations, a room of 169 square feet shouldn’t hold more than eight people at a time. With seven USC employees and two student workers, that can become difficult. Even more difficult is finding the space to provide services to the estimated 4,000 LGBT students at USC.

Last year, an opportunity arose to expand the space when the Center for Women and Men left the room across the hall to a new location. The hopes were high and planning was underway when the LGBT Resource Center got the news it was going to become an innovation lab instead. ATVN’s Veronica Quezada talked to a student worker at the LGBT center and an administrator about the issue.