In the Gender, Sex & Sexuality Resource Center’s (GSSRC) April newsletter, it was announced that current coordinator and Spectrum advisor Eli Scriver will depart from his roles on Friday, April 18.
Scriver has been a part of Hamline staff for a little under a year as the coordinator of the GSSRC, and during his time here he has implemented initiatives that have left a positive impact not only on the student population but also on the campus itself, ranging from increasing access to menstrual and safe sex supplies to revitalizing old programs.
One initiative under Scriver’s guidance has been the small white carts around campus that hold not only menstrual and safe sex supplies but also UTI tests for students to take as needed, making sexual health resources more accessible for the Hamline community.
“The thing I’m personally most proud of is the work I’ve done to make our emergency contraception access program more sustainable. We now get all of our Plan B for free, which frees up our resources so that we can provide a more robust selection of menstrual products and safer sex supplies,” Scriver said via email..
While the carts do have limited supplies and are restocked, when they are unavailable, students can also access the supplies from the center itself and vice versa. Along with increased access to resources and supplies, Scriver has also revitalized programs that the center and the campus has had in the past.
“Eli revitalized StepUp — the bystander intervention training — and brought back the Sexual Violence Prevention Task force,” Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Patti Kersten said via email.
StepUp is a national bystander intervention program that aims to educate students about being proactive in helping others. It also teaches students how to train others to be active members of their communities. On campus, there are annual training sessions that students can attend throughout the academic year.
While Scriver has brought back these programs, the main positive impacts of Scriver’s time here have been through working with the students — not only with those who are a part of student organizations that are housed within the GSSRC, but also the student workers and the student population.
“It’s really helpful when our advisor, like how Eli has been very willing to help support us, guide us, and put us into the roles of who he listens to,” Vice President of Spectrum and junior Frog Tolstad said.
When it comes to creating change on campus, it takes more than one person. However, thanks to being an advisor and coordinator, Scriver has the tools and resources to help students plan events and gather new resources both now and following his departure. For the remainder of the academic year, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Associate Dean of Students Carlos Sneed will be taking over in the meantime while the process of finding another candidate to fill the role of coordinator can be found.
“It represents our inclusive, generous, and welcoming community of scholars, something I hope we can stay committed to even as event participation or use of the GSSRC waxes and wanes.” Scriver said.