Living/Learning Center Programs

The University of Vermont

http://www.uvm.edu/llcenter/

 

Out of the Box: Beyond the Gender Binary

 

Overview

 

This program will permit transgender students and their allies to live together in a safe supportive environment.  No gender or sex designation will be required, and students will be places in doubles based only on preference, not sex/gender designation.  Over the course of the year, students will seek first to better understand transgender and transsexuality, and learn how they may better serve as allies to these communities.  Students will then use their new knowledge on the UVM campus, helping to spread understanding and respect toward the transgender community, and also into the greater Burlington area, volunteering at various organizations and helping them to make their policies and practices more trans-friendly.

 

Learning Objectives

 

Each member will gain an understanding of the transgender community and its history, and how to serve as an ally to this community (1st Semester).

 

            Action Steps

 

·        Members will do research on transgender history in the Bailey Howe library, and online (ONGOING).

·        Members will talk with transgender persons to learn about their experiences (ONGOING).

·        Program members will organize a lecture series.  Faculty and persons from the Burlington area will be brought in to discuss transgender related topics.

·        Members will participate in a Transgender Students and Their Allies panel (NOVEMBER).

·        Members will view movies and documentaries focusing on transgender issues.  These screenings will be open to everyone, and discussions will be held afterward (MONTHLY).

 

The program as a whole will spread their knowledge around the campus and the community, helping to increase understanding and respect for the transgender community (2nd Semester).

 

            Action Steps

 

·        Members will meet together and plan course of action for the semester (JANUARY).

·        Members will create a series of bulletin boards for use by RAs explaining basic concepts of transgenderism, and describing how to be a trans ally (ONGOING).

·        Members will implement suggestions made at the start of semester planning meeting (ONGOING).

·        Members will organize public screenings of the best transgender movies and documentaries viewed last semester (MONTHLY).

·        Members will organize panels and discussions to be done at local high school GSA meetings (MARCH and APRIL).

 

Members will learn how to organize and run a two-day conference focusing on increasing transgender knowledge (All Year).

           

Action Steps

 

·        Members will attend weekly TIC (Translating Identity Conference) Committee meetings (ONGOING).

·        Members will complete tasks necessary (as determined at weekly meetings) to help the conference occur (ONGOING).

·        Members will setup, participate during, and help clean-up after the conference (FEBRUARY or MARCH).

·        Members will attend at least one other transgender focused conference (potentially Transcending Boundaries or TransForming Feminism) (NOVEMBER or APRIL).

 

Community Service

 

Members will choose from a variety of queer/transgender organizations in the Burlington community (including OutrightVT, R.U.1.2.?, SafeSpace) and will commit to volunteering at least 15 hours per semester.