Hofstra's IEI paints Pride pumpkins
Lilly Spellman (left) and Nicole Svec (right) paint pumpkins at IEI’s affinity-group based event. // Photo courtesy of Sabrina Blandon.
Hofstra University’s Intracultural Engagement and Inclusion Office (IEI) hosted a Pride Pumpkin Painting event for the LGBTQ+ affinity group on Thursday, Oct. 21, in the Student Center.
The purpose of affinity group-based events is to represent different minority identities and create a safe space, according to Alia Ervin, a senior public relations major and the LGBTQ+ Specialist Head Peer Educator for IEI.
“[We have] sensitivity trainings for allies and faculty, discussions among LGBTQ+ students and staff about what it means to be LGBTQ+ in 2021,” Ervin said. “Even social events like the pumpkin painting are all things that I work to bring to campus to make sure our LGBTQ+ population feels heard, respected and welcome.”
Affinity group events occur once per month and participants don’t need to be a part of the minority group to attend.
“I’ve seen people become friends during an affinity group meeting when they didn’t previously know each other,” Ervin said. “Understanding and seeing first-hand the positive outcomes of affinity groups is the best part for me, and it makes me look forward to planning each meeting every month.”
Students are looking forward to more events like the Pride Pumpkin Painting event because of their fun and memorable nature.
“I like being involved in this club and doing the events,” said Lilly Spellman, a sophomore music major and IEI member. “[I’ll] remember the good conversations and the pumpkins.”
Other students enjoy attending IEI events because they believe it is a great way to start a conversation with people.
“I think it’s really cool they have fun events [that are] not even intimidating,” said Nicole Svec, a freshman Spanish education major. “People think they have [to] talk about their sexuality and things like that. You can talk about it if you want and you [don’t have to] talk about it if you [don’t] want. It’s just somewhere you can go be around a community of people.”
Even though the university is very welcoming, there may be some people who don’t feel comfortable discussing sensitive issues, according to Ervin, whose favorite part of being a Head Peer Educator is hearing the difference her work makes on campus.
“Students expressing how comfortable they feel on campus, with events like these [to] help them find other LGBTQ+ friends when they haven’t had any before is so rewarding to hear,” Ervin said. “I didn’t have that experience my first two years at Hofstra, so I’m beyond grateful that I can provide these experiences to others.”
The goal of Hofstra’s IEI is to create a safe space for minority groups to express themselves by organizing events like the Pride Pumpkin Painting to help students feel welcome and comfortable on campus, according to Ervin.
“If you don’t feel welcome or comfortable at least somewhere at Hofstra, it’s hard to do what we’re all here to do: get an education,” Ervin said. “I hope the greater Hofstra community [will] continue to benefit from these safe spaces and continue to attend and support these events so we can do better for them in return. It also helps people connect with like-minded people because no one should have to go through their college experience alone.”
