New all-gender locker rooms in the Student Life Center

In response to requests from students, the Center for Recreational Sports has added two private all-gender locker rooms in the Hale-Andrews Student Life Center.

These spaces have been designed to provide a safe and inclusive locker area for students, faculty, staff, or alumni who identify as transgender and/or non-binary, who have or are transitioning, or simply don’t feel comfortable changing in front of other people and want to use the space for a bit more privacy.

The spaces are located within the gender-specific locker rooms in close proximity to the fitness and aquatic centers, and are only available to those with swipe card access during facility business hours.

How to access the all-gender locker rooms:

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center

Announced earlier this month, the Division of Student Affairs has restructured and increased support for students with marginalized identities in various ways, including the creation of a Women, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center and a new community gathering space, PRISM (PRogressive Intersectional Space to Meet.)

The Women, Gender, and Sexuality Resource Center (Campus Center, Suite 2010) provides awareness, educational, and celebratory offerings and houses the services and resources previously offered through the Q Center and Women and Gender programs. The Resource Center continues to partner with Counseling and Psychological Services to provide two embedded mental health counselors focusing specifically on supporting the mental health needs of this important population. 

The Resource Center staff will also manage PRISM, the space formerly known as the Reading Room. Once open, PRISM will provide students with a space to gather, host discussions and events, and create opportunities for learning and engagement. Stay tuned for more updates!

Each week, we are sharing a financial wellness tip to help you make the connection between financial management decisions, your overall wellness, and student success. Money touches every aspect of our lives, and a lack of financial literacy can cause unnecessary stress and negatively impact our mental and physical health.

Student Loan Repayment

Although pursuing higher education and attaining a degree is a great accomplishment, it can be financially difficult - especially the first few years. After graduation, you might be starting out in a new job and a new place to live, all while beginning to pay off your student loan debt.

As you may be aware, there have been efforts to alleviate the burden of student loan repayment by the federal government, such as the relief program that launched in August 2022. The Student Loan Debt Plan is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court, but if it is allowed to move forward it could forgive up to $20,000 in student loans. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student loan payments and interest were suspended in March 2020 (federal loans only). This pause has been continued and is scheduled to be in effect until at least June 2023. As we wait for the Supreme Court to make a decision about the Student Loan Debt Plan, we recommend preparing yourself financially just in case you have to begin repayment after your 6 month grace period.

Here are some ways to start preparing for student loan repayment:

• Budget, budget, budget - Budgeting is key to ensuring you don’t overspend. Start by listing all your monthly expenses and compare them against your monthly take home pay. Even if you don’t have a job yet, or if you work part time, getting in the habit of knowing what your expenses are on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis as compared to what income you have is important so you can see if you need to cut back or reduce expenses, and how much you will have to contribute towards savings and debt repayment.
  
  
• Start saving what you can - Putting away some money each month is critical. Start small and do what you can. A great idea is to start saving the amount of your student loan payment now before repayment begins so that you get used to having that expense. 

If you are unsure what you will owe, you can utilize the Loan Simulator to help calculate your federal student loan payments, and choose a repayment option that best meets your needs and goals. Don’t forget to check out the Financial Literacy website, and/or follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

For additional events and event information, go to rit.edu/events.