The Guilford Pride met on Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. as they always do. But this meeting was different; it was the semi-annual Pride Meet and Greet.The Meet and Greet provides an opportunity for students to socialize with Out and Allied faculty and staff. GLBTQA (Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer, and Allied) Resource Coordinator Ken Hull said, “It’s a chance for students to talk to out and allied faculty and staff about what it’s like to be out in a work setting, and talk about experiences in their lives.”

First-year Derek Gambill said, “It’s really good to see Out and Allied faculty at the meeting.”

The idea of inviting out and allied faculty and staff is to give students a different perspective and guidance on everyday issues. Kym Teslik is a leader in Pride and said that “adults play a different role as leaders and friends.”

Senior and 4-year member of Pride AnnaMalia Ticknor said, “it helps to recognize people who might be a resource should you need one.”

Pride is the student representative group of alternate sexualities. It sets up events throughout the year and acts as a representative for Guilford GLBTQA students. Ticknor said, “It [Pride] creates a safe space for people who might not otherwise have one and opens people’s eyes to things they wouldn’t otherwise know about.”

It’s this safe space that first-year Katie Preiss likes, she first learned of Pride because it was her Avanti.

This year was the first year that Guilford offered a Pride Avanti. Nine first-year students made up the group which covered topics such as, “gay culture, queer theory, transgender issues and religion and homosexuality,” said Hull. He continued, “We also had representatives from area GLBT organizations come and present to the students.”

Guilford Pride meetings are open to all sexual orientations and allies as well. Each meeting has a different topic for discussion. Topics could be social or political in nature; a topic covered earlier this year was safe sex. Free food is also served at each meeting.

Gambill likes covering a different theme each week and said, “Having a different theme each week is different from other clubs I’m in.”

Ticknor commented on the atmosphere of meetings when she said, “we have a lot of fun in meetings; it’s a good social outlet.”

Pride is a part of Guilford’s alternate sexuality community. GLBTQA provides resources on related issues to students. GLBTQA also sponsors Quarc, the Queer and Allied Resource Center. The center moved this year from Dana 114 to the second floor of Founders Hall, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 12 p.m to 5 p.m. The Quarc has over 500 books and videos available to students that cover many GLBTQA issues