March 5, 2019
After the snowstorm delayed the grand opening of the Office of Inclusion: Multicultural and LGBTQIA Student Services (IMQ) Center, the rescheduled event took place on Tuesday. More than 100 people came to celebrate the new space, which includes an expanded student space, a rainbow lounge, study area and programming center with computers and monitors.
The Mariachi Mar y Sol, HAPA Hawaiian Club and Divine 9 fraternity were just a few of the clubs and organizations that performed at the opening, demonstrating music from throughout the world, the hula, step, traditional dances and more.
“Diversity is a fundamental aspect of the learning experience, and we are proud of the commitment of our faculty, staff and students to support and enhance diversity for all Lumberjacks,” President Rita Cheng addressed the crowd of people in attendance. “The need to expand from a small room in the Union to this space, which is three times the size of the old one, demonstrates the success of our commitment.”
Ivy Banks, director of the IMQ center, and Erin Grisham, associate vice president and interim dean of students, also spoke at the event, which concluded with a group-wide Cupid Shuffle dance.
The IMQ center, which supports students through cultural, gender and sexual diversity in a safe environment, is located in the University Fieldhouse, room 145—the NAU community is encouraged to stop by anytime to check out the new space.
