Resource Center for Sexuality & Gender
The Resource Center for Sexuality & Gender (RCSG), overseen by the Office for Equity and Inclusion, provides educational programming, activities and meetings for students, faculty and staff. The center provides a safe space where gender and sexuality may be discussed in an open and accepting environment. It seeks to foster understanding of the diverse meanings and expressions of sexuality and gender and the intersection of sexuality, gender, class and race, as well as other social identities.
Everyone is invited to the RCSG! Smith students, faculty, and staff with a valid OneCard can access the Center from 7 a.m. to midnight. Guests attending a meeting, event or program in the RCSG will find the door unlocked for them. Students, organizations, departments and offices may reserve the center to host programs focused on topics of gender and sexuality.
Oversight
The RCSG is co-coordinated by Raven Fowlkes-Witten and Toby Davis of the Office for Equity and Inclusion, as well as a student program coordinator.
Established in 2005, the advisory board of the RCSG is a group of faculty, staff and students representing the RCSG Orgs working together to help bring the mission of the RCSG to fruition.
Meetings
The advisory board meets at least twice a semester and discusses ways to help the students and student organizations associated with the space with programs, projects and policies as they relate to the center.
Get Involved
If you're interested in being a part of the RCSG advisory board, please contact them at rcsg@smith.edu.
Resources
On-Campus Support
Office for Equity and Inclusion
Toby Davis '03 and Raven Fowlkes-Witten serve co-coordinators of the RCSG, as well as Office for Equity and Inclusion advisors for trans and nonbinary students. They are available to discuss issues of gender and sexuality and help students access resources on campus and beyond.
Schacht Center for Health and Wellness
The Schacht Center provides a wide variety of medical and mental health care for students who are LGBTQIA+ or questioning.
Wellness resources: select "gender identity."
Medical care: select "gender affirming care" under "our services"
Counseling Services: includes identity-affirming care, trans-affirming documentation, and support groups.
Center for Religious and Spiritual Life
The CRSL provides support around gender/sexuality and religion/spirituality.
Office of Multicultural Affairs
OMA provides support around gender/sexuality and race/ethnicity
Office of Disability Services
ODS provides support around gender/sexuality and disability, including accommodations for those pursuing gender-affimring surgeries.
Off-Campus Support
The UMASS Stonewall Center
Provides support, advocacy and programming for LGBT and allied students, staff and faculty at UMass Amherst and for the larger Pioneer Valley.
The Trevor Project
Offers online resources, chat-based support and a 24 hour LGBTQ hour hotline at 866-488-7386 for phone support if you are 24 years old and under.
Trans Lifeline
Is a trans-staffed hotline at 877-565-8860.
Translate Gender
A local organization founded by Smith School for Social Work alums that provides resources, counseling, and support groups for trans and nonbinary people and their families.
The RCSG has a variety of books, DVDs and magazines available for use. All books and DVDs are listed in the center’s binder but can also be found in an Excel spreadsheet on the desktop of the computers in the resource center. Please ask for assistance if you are looking for something specific, as we are able to search by title, author or topic.
The lending library is a resource for everyone. Please note that materials taken from the center that are not returned will not be replaced, so we appreciate your consideration in promptly returning materials after your use.
Wish List
In the back of the binder there is a "wish list" section. If there are materials you wish we had, please add them. As we look to add resources to the library we will use this list as a starting point.
Borrowing Materials
We prefer that materials be used in the center; however, members of the Smith community may check materials out using the following procedure:
- All materials leaving the center must be recorded in the white binder found on the lending library shelf.
- Please document all information required on the sheet—name, phone and email, 99 number, title of the book or DVD you are borrowing and the date you are checking it out.
- All materials should be brought back to the center as soon as you are finished with them. Program assistants for the center will check the library periodically and email those who have yet to bring back materials.
All Gender Restrooms
There are more than 200 all gender restrooms at Smith; about half of these facilities are accessible as well. Gender-neutral restrooms are available in student residences and academic and administrative buildings. As of January 2022 all single stall restrooms on campus have been designated as all gender, in addition to a number of multi-stall restrooms.
Changing Your Name
For information on changing your name on Smith communications and identification, please visit the Equity & Inclusion website.
Sharing Pronoun Information
All members of the Smith Community can add their pronouns to their Workday accounts, visible to other members of the Smith community.
Career Support
Annually in the Spring the RCSG, Lazarus Center for Career Development, and Alumnae Relations cohost an online panel of trans and nonbinary Smith alums focused on career planning and navigating the workplace as a trans and/or nonbinary person.
Training
The Office for Equity and Inclusion offers both synchronous and asynchronous trainings to the Smith community on trans Inclusion.
Funding for Medical Needs
Students can apply to the Emergency medical fund for copays, deductibles, and other non-insurance covered trans-related health care, including binders. The Schacht Center also offers support for students navigating insurance coverage of trans-related care.
Binder Library
The Wellness Office in the Schacht Center has a binder library where students can try on chest binders to find the right size and style before buying their own. Sign up for an appointment here.
Programming
Campus-wide programming often features a range of high profile trans and nonbinary guest speakers and performers. In past years we've hosted such figures as Alok Vaid-Menon, Janet Mock, Laverne Cox, Eli Clare and others.
Financial Support
GLBT Resources
Contact
Wesley House, basement
Smith College
Chapin Way
Northampton, MA 01063
Email: RCSG@smith.edu
Staffed hours vary. Email for the current schedule.
All students, faculty and staff have access to the center with a OneCard from 7 a.m. to midnight.