On Sept. 3, 2024, RIT introduced the PRogressive Intersectional Space to Meet (PRISM), a new community gathering space on campus. The space has replaced the old Reading Room located on the second floor of the Campus Center. PRISM was envisioned by the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center as a space to promote belonging and inclusion, specifically for gender and sexual minorities at RIT. Since its opening, partners such as OUTSpoken, RIT’s Spectrum Support Program, Disability Services and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion have utilized the space for community events. Such events include get-togethers, movie nights, a book group for queer women and nonbinary students and training sessions that allow students to better understand themselves and their peers.
The most prominent space in PRISM is the lounge area, with reserved community hours from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., where students can come to relax and study with peers. This lounge is also where community events are held. Otherwise — provided the space is not reserved — anyone is welcome at any time. The facility also houses a library, providing a collection of books sourced from Wallace Library, including many focused on queer identity. All books in the collection are free and accessible to any student. Additionally, PRISM offers a low-sensory room, a quiet space for students to escape from RIT’s bustling environment. Designed with neurodiversity in mind, the room features customizable lighting and soundproof walls. No reservation is necessary to use this room, either. When asked about the effect of PRISM, Kristen Clineberg, the assistant director of Intersectional Programs and Outreach, spoke of the space’s ability to build community ties.
“I think most people are very excited [that] they have this space available to them, as a space that they feel is theirs. It’s a sense of belonging … [There is] a little bit of a learning curve of what our space is meant for, but overall, positive things are what we’re hearing in our office,” she stated. New to PRISM this semester are monthly community gatherings. Elizabeth Schwartz, assistant director for Women and Gender Programs and Outreach, spoke about the purpose of these meetings.
“Right now we’re doing monthly community gatherings that provide the community a time to come together, support one another, enjoy some food and some activities, and it’s also a space where we can do trainings on topics like intersectionality, gender bias and allyship to the queer community,” Schwartz stated. Looking ahead, the staff is optimistic about PRISM’s future and the opportunities it will bring to underrepresented students. They hope that this space will remain a safe haven for gender and sexual minorities across RIT, where students can learn and grow together.
