The Office of the Dean of Students is working to create more community on campus.
The K.C. Potter Center, named in honor of a retired dean, is the home to the recently expanded Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Life.
 “(The mission of the office) is to raise awareness about gender and sexuality (issues) and support students in discovering themselves and others,” said Nora Spencer, director of the office.
The office provides a number of resources for students, the most significant being a full-time staff to provide personal support for students of all orientations.
Sophomore Jody Kittle, secretary of Lambda, a GLBT organization, said it is nice to have the new office on campus and to know it is available to anyone who needs someone to talk to. Kittle became involved with the office in hopes of preventing depression and suicide among students. He also hopes the new office will also solidify and unite the community.
The office is also working to create a safe environment for these students. Spencer said homophobia is very prevalent in society. With the new center, she hopes students will feel safer and more comfortable.
 “It is important to make the people here feel safe and supported (so that) they are able to thrive,” Spencer said.
Aside from the full-time support staff, the LGBTQI office provides many resources for students of varying orientations. The house has conference rooms for meetings, a library for studying and a kitchen for cooking. There is also a TV room, which some students plan on using to watch the upcoming presidential debates.
Kittle said the office also provides many personal resources. They have pamphlets on STDs and safe sex. These are also available at the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center located next door. Kittle added there are also many opportunities to get contacts outside of Vanderbilt and within the community.
Spencer has been considered a resource among students.
“As director, she will be able to implement more (of our ideas) and help us coordinate (events),” said Kittle.
Spencer was a top choice as the director of the LGBTQI office during the selection process. Previously, she was the assistant director of multicultural and diversity affairs and director of LGBT affairs at the University of Florida.
“(Spencer) was a shining star. Everyone liked what she had to say. (Her) vision was inspiring, and (it was) encouraging to see where she wanted to take the office,” said senior Fabiani Duarte.
Duarte was one of the student members on the committee, led by Assistant Dean Pat Helland, that hired Spencer.
The office is still looking to hire more staff members. It is hoping to add a program coordinator to provide numerous educational opportunities for students and an advisory board appointed by Chancellor Nick Zeppos.
Spencer said the community has been very supportive of the new office. Vanderbilt has even expanded its non-discrimination policies to include gender and identity expression.
According to Kittle, the office is also a host home to many organizations, including Lambda. Many events will be arranged with the help of Spencer and the office.
Besides these events, Kittle also wants to make the office a hangout spot. He wants to plan movie nights or simple get-togethers for the students. One of the main reasons Kittle started coming to the office was to meet more gay people, and these events and the Office of LGBTQI Life will help students meet others who share their orientation.
“(It’s about) seeing we’re all college students. We’re just like anyone else here,” Kittle said.
