Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center to hold Spring Pride – Elon News Network

By Trista Panagakos | 4/30/25 11:56am
Students gathered on April 12, 2024 at Young Commons to celebrate Spring Pride with the Gender and LGBTQIA Center.
Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center is holding its Spring Pride event from 5 to 7 p.m. May 1 in Young Commons. The event will feature tabling from other organizations and on-campus services such as the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education, Disability Services, and Counseling Services. 
Student Manager for the GLC events team and senior Ana Sofia Rodriguez said part of the CREDE’s table will include history on queer people of color. Rodriguez said the GLC wanted to include disability and counseling services for students to raise awareness of the work both departments do and where people can find those resources. 
This year Spring Pride will be Western themed, something Rodriguez said is different from previous years, when the theme would center around spring or flower power. Rodriguez said the GLC is drawing inspiration from music from Chappell Roan and Beyonce. 
“From what I remember, this should be our first different theme,” Rodriguez said. “Just something to try and have fun with.”
Throughout the event, the GLC will have different activities for students to participate in such as putting the hat on Elton John, queer trivia, Jenga and painting miniature cowboys. 
The GLC has been utilizing social media, flyers and PhoenixConnect to raise awareness to the student body. Rodriguez said the GLC has had an average of 150 people take part in previous Pride events, so she said she is expecting a similar number this year. Usually, Fall and Spring Pride are held at Medallion Plaza, but Rodriguez said she hopes the change in setting will get more people to join in the celebration. 
Rodriguez said the event will showcase the GLC’s presence on campus in spite of the political climate in the country. 
“We’re letting students know that we are still going to help and are going to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and safe on this campus,” Rodriguez said. “Events like this should be a good way to stay present within campus.”
Part of the GLC’s plans for Spring Pride is to ensure students are aware of the community building efforts of the organization. 
“There’s obviously the stigma that we’re only for queer people, but we do much more, we have all kinds of resources,” Rodriguez said. “I think having a bigger event that’s targeted for everyone, with more fun activities should be a good way for us to get the word out of what we do and what we offer students.” 
Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center is holding its Spring Pride event from 5 to 7 p.m. May 1 in Young Commons. The event will feature tabling from other organizations and on-campus services such as the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education, Disability Services, and Counseling Services. This year Spring Pride will be Western themed which is  different from previous years, when the theme would center around spring or flower power. Part of the GLC’s plans for Spring Pride is to ensure students are aware of the community building efforts of the organization. 
Elon senior Craig Brandstetter was selected as the student undergraduate commencement speaker on April 30, according to an email sent to seniors by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley. Brandstetter will deliver the message of appreciation on behalf of the graduating class of 2025 during the Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 23. In February 2024, the Student Government Association announced that all seniors who meet the application criteria would have the chance to apply to speak at the 2024 graduation ceremony. Previously, the senior class president automatically gained the spot.

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