By Patrick Fergus
@Fergus5Fergus
Raya Sawyer is a sophomore student and is double majoring in Business Management and Marketing. They are also president of the GSA (Genders and Sexualities Alliance), a group that aims to celebrate the pride of LGBTQ+ members on campus. They are known for putting on events such as the Pride Prom and the Rainbow Fest every Spring. The Student sat down with Sawyer to talk about the future of the group.
The Student: How did you first become involved in GSA?
Sawyer: I ran the GSA in my junior and senior year of high school, and I was very familiar with it. So coming into college, it was something that I was looking for. Wyatt, who was the president of the club at the time, was very welcoming, and with many e-board member’s leaving it was perfect timing.
The Student: What are some events and activities that the GSA has put on this year?
Sawyer: The main focus every year in the fall is the Pride Prom. It’s a fun formal dance, we have catering and it’s really a lot of fun. We sell tickets for that and the turnout is always good. Then in the Spring, the Rainbow Fest, which this year we had at the end of March. It’s a week, so everyday we had events like a resource fair and drag bingo. Some of the events we host in collaboration with other groups on campus like the office of DEI and Title IX campus resources.
The Student: What is the main goal of the GSA? Is there a mission statement?
Sawyer: It’s just about showing that the communities are here on campus, bringing awareness to it and just giving people that space to feel safe….a place anyone can come to regardless of any sort of background. It’s a scary world, and having a safe haven to come back to, it’s just really important to me.
The Student: Are there any future plans to put on new events?
Sawyer: We’re trying to figure out what the GSA is going to look like moving forward. We are going through some big leadership changes, and I’m excited to see what happens next year. Some are set in stone, but there are certain things that I have started to talk about.
The Student: How can people get involved?
Sawyer: Our emails and our social media are always available, and I do stay on top of my messages, especially on Instagram. Also, just keep your eye out for the events.
GSA’s instagram account is @gsa_sc and their email is scgsa@springfieldcollege.edu