Our Space: Gender and Sexuality Resource Center

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Our Space

Academic Year Hours

Winter Quarter 2024:

Monday-Friday: 9am-11pm

Saturday and Sunday: 11am-11pm

Spring Quarter 2024:

Monday-Friday: 9am-11pm

Saturday and Sunday: 11am-11pm

Visitors must have a wildcard to swipe into the GSRC at all times, all visitors are also asked to check-in at the GSRC front desk. Check-in data is only seen by GSRC professional staff and is used for our collective accountability approaches to managing the space, to seek student feedback about the space, and to help advocate for more resources out of the GSRC. All non-NU visitors must have an NU host while in the space and check guests in at the GSRC front desk. Non-NU visitors can ring the doorbell to be let in by a staff member when the center is open.

Office Closures

November Break: Closed November 23rd and 24th

Winter Break: Closed at 5pm December 8th 2023 until 9am Jan 3rd 2024

MLK Day: Closed Jan 14th at 11pm until January 16th at 9am

Spring Break: Closed 5pm on Friday March 15th 2024 unit 9am Tuesday March 26th 2024

Dillo Day: Closed on May 18th

Memorial Day: Closed on May 27th

Summer Break: Closed at 5pm on June 7th, 2024 until 9am on September 24th, 2024 (except for Wildcat Welcome events)

Please note that while the office is closed, GSRC staff are still working and available for virtual meetings. GSRC staff do not work on university holidays.

Reservation Procedure

GSRC accepts reservations during the academic year. Reservations will be accepted one week prior to the start of each academic quarter. Reservation made prior to that will not be processed until the week prior. All reservations are processed first-come first-served.

Please review our building policies and procedures. By submitting a request, you agree to follow policies and procedures when using GSRC spaces for formal and informal purposes.
Submitting a request does not serve as an official confirmation of a room request reservation.
All requests are subject to review. Please allow GSRC staff respond at least 1 week to respond to your request.
GSRC spaces are available to reserve throughout the Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, while classes are in session. GSRC will review Summer reservations requests on a case-by-case basis. Please email GSRC@northwestern.edu with your summer request.

Email GSRC@northwestern.edu with any questions you have.

Reservation Request Form

Alumni Request for Reservations

Alumni that are interested in reserving space in the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center must submit their request through Alumni Relations and Development.

Policies

General Gathering Guidelines

All gatherings must remain within building capacity limits within the physical structure. All guests should comply to cleaning guidelines listed below. All individuals gathering should be mindful of noise levels affecting neighbors and/or community members within the shared space and the living quarters above our space.

Hours of Operation

Please reference the Hours of Operation portion of the GSRC website for the most updated information.

Generally, all the GSRC is open to all members of the Northwestern community that have an active wildcard from 9am-11pm M-F and 11am-11pm Sat and Sunday. All visitors must swipe in to enter the GSRC. All visitors as also asked to check-in at the front desk of the GSRC to help with the community-based safety measures we have in place. Those that do not check-in at the GSRC front desk may be asked to leave to ensure collective accountability can be achieved. The emergency exit door in the GSRC should only be used in case of emergency. An alarm will sound when that door is used. Limited facilities and GSRC staff have access to that enter and exit through that door. Exiting that door does enter into a residential vestibule. Entering a residential area you are not permitted to be in my result in an investigation by residential services.

Amplified Noise

Evanston City Ordinance prevents us from operating amplified sound equipment west of Sheridan Road or without necessary permits. With no exceptions, AV requests will not be processed or guaranteed until an Outdoor Event Request Form, including loudspeaker permit application, have been approved by the Assistant Director of Event Planning in Norris University Center. Outdoor Event Requests can be made via the Norris website.

Reservations

Preference to all GSRC spaces goes to parties that have placed a reservation for the space. If you would like to place a reservation please visit the reservations tab.

If a space does not have a reservation, guests are welcome to use that space. Guest are encouraged to review our cleaning guidelines to ensure they contribute to our collective responsibility and care towards the spaces we share.

Furniture

All property of the GSRC must remain within the premises. Property includes furniture, office supplies and building equipment. General rule of thumb: if you or your group does not own the item in question, then it cannot be removed from the building.

Furniture such as tables and chairs may be used and rearranged within each respective building for meetings and events, but the furniture must be returned to its original location immediately following the meeting or event.

Organizers are responsible for restoring the space they reserved to its original condition upon the conclusion of their event. Failure to clean up will result in a re-evaluation of a person or group’s reservation privileges and could lead to a loss of privileges – including a quarter-long ban for egregious inferences.

Code of Conduct

GSRC prohibits expression that is not protected by law in this facility, such as that expression described by the following legal terms: defamation, incitement to unlawful conduct, imminent threats of actual violence or harm, obscenity, fighting words, copyright or trademark violation, criminal or civil harassment, sexual harassment, trespass, and false advertising.

The GSRC expects all students to adhere to the code of conduct listed in the

Student Handbook.

Violence-Free Work place

Violence or threatening conduct of any kind which may affect the safety of you and others at the GSRC, whether it is directed against a NU student, staff member, or faculty member, will not be tolerated. Everyone in the NU community should be treated with courtesy and respect at all times. NU community members are expected to refrain from argumentative discussion, “horseplay,” or other conduct that may be dangerous to others. Firearms, weapons and other dangerous hazardous devices or substances are prohibited from the GSRC.

If you feel that your safety is being threatened by anyone, or are aware of any violation of this policy, you should report the incident to GSRC staff, or if after-hours the Administrator on Call, immediately. You may be assured that your complaint will be kept as confidential as possible and that you will not be penalized in any way for reporting a threatening or violent situation. The GSRC works to resolve conflict through restorative measures when possible but will take disciplinary action when appropriate. If deemed necessary, the GSRC may pursue criminal prosecution and cooperate with law enforcement.

Cleaning Policies

Cleanliness at the GSRC must be maintained so we can accommodate a wide variety of activities and help preserve this community space for generations to come. This standard requires that those using the GSRC meet these criteria:

No garbage is left behind. Please throw out all waste in the nearest appropriate bin
Recycle whenever possible using the bins provided
If you are hosting an event in the GSRC and a trash bin is full, please empty out the bin in the nearest dumpster. If extra trash bags or liners are not in the bin ask the student staff member worker for access to more trash bags/liners
All food-related items are emptied and thrown away in the garbage dumpsters behind the building. DO NOT LEAVE FOOD IN INDOOR TRASH BINS.
If you are hosting an event that has food, you are expected to dump the trash to the nearest dumpster even if the waste bin isn’t full.
No remnants of food or drink are left on the floor or any surface in the space.
Ask a student staff member for a vacuum if needed.
All tables and working surfaces are wiped down with a damp cloth/towel or disinfectant wipe which can be found in the makerspace or at the GSRC front desk.
All dishes and food utensils should be washed after use
Returned borrowed dishes/utensils
Remove all personal/organizational/catering dishes or utensils after use or they will be thrown out. (The GSRC is not responsible for returning dishes and utensils to caterers and does not have the space to store these items until the caterer can pick them up. Please plan accordingly. The only exception is catering procured through NU Catering).
All furniture is returned to its original location and state (i.e. chairs tucked into tables and couches are in locations shown in space schematic. As the student staff member if unable to find the schematic)

Failure to clean up will result in a quarterly re-evaluation of the group’s reservation privileges and could lead to a loss of privileges.

Reservations

Legacy of our spaces

In order to honor the legacy of the student activities that demanded these spaces on campus, the GSRC prioritizes events and student groups that center queer and trans experiences. Please be mindful of the legacy of these spaces when submitting your request. The GSRC staff will respond to your request within 1 week. Please contact gsrc@northwestern.edu with any questions.

Eligibility

The GSRC invites Northwestern students, student organizations, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to use space in the GSRC, with recognition that LGBTQIA+ students will be centered in our acceptances. A Northwestern student is defined as an undergraduate, graduate, professional/ adult learner or anyone else enrolled in any courses at the University. Please use your Northwestern-affiliated email address in your reservation form submission.

Northwestern faculty includes any person who teaches or has an academic affiliation to the University. Please use your Northwestern-affiliated email address in your reservation form submission

Northwestern student organizations, are invited to submit space reservations. Student organizations must be recognized by the Student Organizations and Activities office. Please see their website for more information regarding registration status. To reserve space on behalf of a student organization, please use your Northwestern-affiliated email address in your submission. If you are a student looking to book a space for an a more organic queer event but are not apart of a student organization, consider co-sponsoring with the GSRC to be able to book the space!

Northwestern staff, including any person that currently is employed by Northwestern University, full or part time status, are invited to submit space reservations. Please use your Northwestern-affiliated email address in your reservation form submission.

Northwestern alumni are welcome to submit space reservations, on behalf of an organized alumni club. Please seek the responsible staff liaison in the NAA/ARD office to submit on your group's behalf.

Community members that are not affiliated with Northwestern University in any of the ways listed above may be approved for a space reservation on a case-by-case basis and may be asked for a Northwestern-identified person to sponsor the reservation request and be present throughout the time of the scheduled programming. Please contact gsrc@northwestern.edu for additional questions and concerns.

Groups are responsible for restoring the space they reserved to its original condition upon the conclusion of their event. Failure to clean up will result in a re-evaluation of the group’s reservation privileges and could lead to a loss of privileges – including a quarter-long ban for egregious inferences.

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel a reservation, please do so no later than 2 business days before the time of reservation. While this is not a requirement, it will help us to give the space to other interested parties. In the event of an emergency, the GSRC reserves the right to cancel a booked reservation.

No Show Policy

If a party is more than 15 minutes late on the date of an approved reservation, the GSRC reserves the right to offer that time slot and space to another interested party. A "no-show" is an instance where party does not show at time of reservation, and has not made an attempt to communicate that they will be late or not coming. If a party "no-shows" for an approved reservation more than three times within one academic quarter, that individual or group will lose privileges to make any other reservations for the remainder of the quarter.

Damages

All persons and event organizers are responsible for costs of damage, repair and clean up arising from their use of the GSRC. Examples of such costs related to event reservations include the cost of providing tents, platforms, special fixtures and equipment, or the assignment of maintenance or security personnel.

Restricted Spaces

Access to the front desks, offices. locked cabinetry, and computers assigned to GSRC staff members are limited to GSRC staff only. Please do not use supplies or chairs from any desk without permission. Computers are password protected. Entering staff offices without staff member consent is considered trespassing.

Set-Up and Tear-Down of Events

Groups are expected to bring their materials with them during the setup of their event and remove their items at the conclusion of the event. GSRC does not have the capacity to store event related items prior to and after an event. Student Organizations interested in storage should refer to the options that MSA offers.

Please indicate in your reservation request the amount of time you will need for set-up and tear down, including the removal of event related materials. Items left over after the conclusion of an event will be discarded. Please plan accordingly.

Groups are responsible for restoring the space they reserved to its original condition upon the conclusion of their event. Failure to clean up or remove event materials will result in a re-evaluation of the group’s reservation privileges and could lead to a loss of privileges – including a quarter-long ban for egregious inferences.

Food and Beverage

The following policies are created to maintain a clean and functional environment for everyone.

Storage

Food may be stored in the refrigerator 48 hours prior to your scheduled and approved event. The food must be clearly labeled with your organization name and event date. Food that is not labeled may be discarded or eaten. After the event, any food that is stored in the refrigerator is free for all to take. The GSRC reserves the right to dispose any food in the refrigerator to maintain cleanness in the kitchen.

A small amount of disposable plates, napkins, and utensils are kept in the the makerspace. Please be sure to bring your own supplies of disposable paper products for your events. If you have extra disposable plates or cutlery feel free to add it to the appropriate cabinet for community use. The GSRC is working to be a green office. Please work to use paper or biodegradable disposable items when hosting an event in our space. Styrofoam is highly discouraged.

Clean-Up

Any utensils or dishes associated with a catered event must be removed at the conclusion of the event or they will be thrown out. The GSRC is not responsible for returning dishes and utensils to caterers and does not have the space to store these items until the caterer can pick them up. Please plan accordingly. The only exception is catering provided by NU Catering.

All food-related items not placed in the refrigerator or in the non-perishable snacks shelf must be thrown away in the garbage dumpsters behind the building. DO NOT LEAVE FOOD IN INDOOR TRASH BINS.

If you are hosting an event that has food, you are expected to dump the trash to the nearest dumpster even if the waste bin isn’t full. No remnants of food or drink are left on the floor or surfaces. All tables and working surfaces are wiped down with a damp cloth/towel or disinfectant wipe

All dishes and food utensils should be washed after use and return borrowed dishes/utensils.

Grilling

Grilling is prohibited from all areas inside and directly outside the GSRC. If you would like to use a grill, please reserve the front lawn of the Foster-Walker Complex through Norris Events Planning.

Open Flame

Open flames are strictly prohibited in the GSRC. Candles, Bunsen burners or grill plates are not allowed. Cooking is prohibited inside the GSRC, aside from using the microwave to heat food. Any other cooking activities must be approved by a member of GSRC staff before they occur.

Alcohol and Drug use

Alcohol Use

This policy reflects one aspect of broader coverage of issues related to alcohol that can be found in the Student Handbook. General usage of alcoholic beverages in the GSRC is prohibited.

Alcoholic beverages may be served at approved events (by the GSRC). Any campus events where alcohol may be present on- or off-campus must abide by university event planning procedures.

Student organizations who wish to have alcohol at events must abide by the Policy Regarding Alcohol at Events for Undergraduate Students .

Non-student organizations groups who wishes to serve alcohol at their events must also abide by the Policy Regarding Alcohol at Events for Undergraduate Students. This is to ensure that the GSRC remain safe spaces for all students.

Drug Policy

Northwestern University complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, which requires a drug-free campus community. Therefore, Northwestern University prohibits the possession, use, manufacture, cultivation, dissemination, and storage of illicit drugs by students, faculty, staff, and visitors on all of Northwestern University’s campuses and properties and at University-sponsored events. Reference the University Drug and Alcohol Policy and Cannabis Policy FAQ for further information.

Smoking

University policy states smoking is prohibited inside all university facilities and within fifty (50) feet of the facility entrance, open window, or ventilation system. This includes vaping.

Procedures

Reservations

The GSRC accepts reservations during the academic year. Reservations will open at the start of the Fall Quarter and will be processed on a first-come first-serve basis throughout the academic year.

Please review our building policies and procedures. By submitting a request, you agree to follow policies and procedures when using GSRC spaces for formal and informal purposes.
Submitting a request does not serve as an official confirmation of a room request reservation.
All requests are subject to review. Please allow GSRC staff respond at least 1 week to respond to your request.
GSRC spaces are available to reserve throughout the Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, while classes are in session. GSRC will review Summer reservations requests on a case-by-case basis but is generally closed to the public and serves students virtually during these planning months. Please email GSRC@northwestern.edu with your summer request.

Email GSRC@northwestern.edu with any questions you have.

Please review our building policies and procedures. By submitting a request, you agree to follow policies and procedures when using GSRC spaces for formal and informal purposes.
Submitting a request does not serve as an official confirmation of a room request reservation.
All requests are subject to review. Please allow GSRC staff respond at least 1 week to respond to your request.
GSRC spaces are available to reserve throughout the Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, while classes are in session. GSRC will review Summer reservations requests on a case-by-case basis. Please email GSRC@northwestern.edu with your summer request.

Email GSRC@northwestern.edu with any questions you have.

Reservation Request Form

Alumni Request for Reservations

Alumni that are interested in reserving space in the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center must submit their request through Alumni Relations and Development.

Emergency Procedures

For and in-depth look at how Northwestern University handles emergency please refer to the Emergency Response Framework. This document details how the University manages hazards from the smallest incident to the largest catastrophe. The document outlines procedures for a coordinated and effective campus-wide response.

Learn more about the ERF:

University priorities in emergencies

Emergency notification system

Emergency operation centers

Crisis management teams

GSRC Procedures

Harmful and threatening situations can happen anywhere. Follow these procedures to help keep you and others safe while in the GSRC. Please note that your safety is of the utmost importance. If you would like guidance apply university stay protocol in the GSRC contact GSRC staff. University Emergency protocol:

Active Violence

Bomb Threats & Suspicious Packages

Fires

Natural Disasters

Medical Emergencies

For quick reference, Northwestern University has created an All Hazards Emergency Procedures flyer with the information outlined in this section. It can be found displayed in all MSA spaces.

After an Emergency

Do not re-enter an MSA after an emergency.

Facilities Management will assess the space for re-entry. University Police or Facilities Management personnel will evaluate damaged buildings and check and/or turn off water, gas, and electrical mains.

Campus Resources

Northwestern Emergency Webpage

University Police non-emergency: From any campus phone: x 456; Evanston: 847-491-3456; Chicago: 312-503-3456

Facilities Management repairs: Evanston: 847-491-5201; Chicago: 312-503-8000

Information Technology repairs: 611 from any campus phone

Main University telephone numbers: Evanston: 847-491-3741; Chicago: 312-503-8649

Furniture Schematics

The GSRC has 4 reservable spaces: the Boardroom, the Student Exhibition Lounge, the TV Lounge and the Makerspace. The Tech lab, Library, Reception space, storage space, and staff offices are not reservable. Student feedback during the curation process asked that one reservable space remains open at all times. The GSRC works honor this student request when accepting reservations. Not depicted in any of these layouts are individual chairs in the Boardroom, Student Exhibition Lounge and Makerspace. All modification to layout beyond the image above are the responsibility of the reservation holder, not GSRC staff. All visitors are expected to return the layout of each space to the furniture schematic above. Disrespecting the community space may result in reservation or access restrictions.