Two complimentary activities taking place this week are aimed at strengthening and improving WSU’s Gender Identity, Expression, and Sexual Orientation Resource Center (GIESORC).

“GIESORC is a place where anyone can go to meet people, talk, make friends and, most importantly, it’s a safe environment to do all that,” said Ryan Neisess, the secretary of Gender Sexual Alliance, a WSU student group.

Beginning at 11 a.m. today, GIESORC will host an open house in its location in the CUB. WSU faculty and staff have been invited so they too can learn about the resources and opportunities the center offers to all WSU students.

The second event, Dialogue with the Director, will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the same room. Those who attend will be invited to take part in an open-floor discussion with GIESORC Director Heidi Stanton Schnebly.

“It’s an opportunity for folks to come and talk to me,” Stanton Schnebly said.

Dialogue with the Director will provide an opportunity for students to voice comments and concerns and propose ways GIESORC can better support the LGBT community, Stanton Schnebly said.

“I hope people walk away with a sense of empowerment,” she said. “That they know their opinions are valued.”

Campus Pride, a nonprofit national LGBTQ rights group, ranked WSU among the top 25 LGBTQ friendly schools in 2013.

Schnebly said while she is happy with tremendous strides that have been made both on campus and throughout Washington state, there is always room for improvement.

GIESORC resources are available to students year-round. These include free condoms and other tools for safe sex, informational pamphlets on “coming out” to one’s parents, and resources for students who find themselves in abusive relationships.

The center also hosts a program called “It Starts Now” in which students are encouraged to share personal stories with an open-minded audience, said Sam Carder, a GIESORC student ambassador.

“I think a lot of people are looking for this opportunity but aren’t aware this exists,” Carder said.

GIESORC is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information can be found at thecenter.wsu.edu.

Reporting by Dustin Vandehoef