Mack Benge, Staff Writer
The GDA, Gender and Disability Alliance, is a new club on the Saint Martin’s University campus. These students have come together to support disabled students, faculty and staff and students who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The GDA has a full executive board with Kendra Sydnor (She/They) being the President, Alyssa Cox (She/They/It) being the Vice President, Emma Scotthanson (She/Her) being the Secretary and Soph Kobernusz-Gibbs (They/Them) being the Treasure. The advisor for GDA is Yunchen Tian, but Keri Graham has been helping along the way.
Sydnor was happy to do an interview and share some information about GDA with me. This semester, they plan to host two teach-in’s around the topics of mobility aids and the LGBTQ+ community. The first event will be held on February 27th from 6pm to 8pm at the TUB. Secretary Scotthanson will be hosting a presentation on mobility aids with a focus on their functionality, safe and trusted brands, and nearby repair shops. As of the moment, the second event’s date is to be determined. The club also plans to host a Lavender Graduation near the end of the Spring semester. The Lavender Graduation, previously hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, is a celebration for the graduating LGBTQ+ seniors. So far, these are the three events GDA plans on hosting for this semester.
You do not have to be a part of the disabled community or the LGBTQ+ community to join the GDA. The GDA is a great place to learn about new subjects. But it is important that everyone that joins be mindful of the safe space that the club members are trying to create on the SMU Campus.
One of the ways the GDA is making themselves a safe place is by holding their club meetings online. They have a weekly club meeting on the GDA discord server at 7pm on Tuesday nights! Sydnor states, “To join our discord please reach out to me at kendra.sydnor@stmartin.edu to get an invite! Please be aware that our invites are time sensitive so we can keep track of who has joined and when. This is to ensure people’s safety and to help us have a proper head count for the club.”
If you want to be a part of the club or have further questions about GDA, the best way to get in contact with them is to email the club president at kendra.sydnor@st.martin.edu. They will be happy to answer your questions!
The Belltower 