Rice University students open space to University of Houston LGBTQ population after anti-DEI law

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Rice University is stepping up to provide resources to LGTBQ+ students in Houston

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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/rice-lgbtq-uh-anti-dei-law-18338437.php

Rice University’s LGBTQ student organization will open its campus space to University of Houston students affected by the closure of their school’s LGBTQ Resource Center.

The University of Houston's Center for Diversity and Inclusion and LGBTQ Resource Center will be disbanded after Thursday in favor of a new Center for Student Advocacy and Community as a space to serve all students. Public universities in Texas are in the process of dismantling their diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, offices because Senate Bill 17 bans DEI offices and diversity-related trainings and programs in higher education.

Rice’s status as a private institution protects it from the new state law.

“These offices and resource centers are extremely important for queer college students, as they provide a safe space to build community and stand in solidarity with other LGBTQ+ students,” Rice PRIDE students said on an Instagram post. “With Rice University being a private institution and thus not as affected by this legislation, we have the unique opportunity to share our university-sponsored resources with others during these troubling times.”

Rice PRIDE, the university’s LGBTQ student organization, is extending “honorary membership” to students from the University of Houston and other public universities that will no longer have designated offices to serve the LGBTQ population. After applying for membership, those students can now attend Rice PRIDE events or take any resources from Rice’s Queer Resource Center, a meeting space staffed by student volunteers in the Rice Memorial Center.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

1. excellent news