QUEST (Queer Unity for Eastern Students), in partnership with the LGBT Resource Center (LGBTRC), hosted a creativity night on Thursday to give students the chance to relieve some stress as they prepare for midterms. Students could color - Pokemon was a common favorite among attendees - play with Play-Doh, make pins or create poems with word cut-outs.
Sierra Bartsch, LGBTRC’s previous Social Media Manager and now Office Manager, believes hosting events like creativity night are important for students.
“This event was important for two reasons,” Bartsch said. “First, there’s the QUEST aspect. We’re trying to get people interested in it. It’s really the only queer student organization on campus. Without it, there’s a noticeable gap.
“The other reason is midterms. Coloring and playing with Play-Doh is nice when you’re stressed.”
Bartsch hopes that students walk away from the event feeling refreshed and stress-free.
“I’ve heard from everyone I’ve talked to that it’s been a long week,” she said. “If it’s a long week for everyone, that’s not great.”
Kaylee Gilleland is a freshman at EMU.
“I learned about this event from a dear friend,” said Gilleland. “When I learned there was a crafting event with QUEST, I said ‘heck yeah.’”
Gilleland believes it is important for events like this to be provided to students.
“I’m a lesbian and a woman. It’s frightening out there,” she said. “It’s so nice to be at events with people in the community. You don’t only feel safe but you meet people who you can talk about things with.”
Students are looking to revive QUEST after it had been inactive due to some students not feeling welcome, cliques, students graduation and members being too busy with work and studies.
When Andrew Smith, a transfer student, was asked what drew him to this event, he said, “I saw a poster at a LBQT kick-off event.” Being a nontraditional student, Smith was looking for a place to socialize that would also let him be himself.
He found this event to be a success and at the turning point he said, “I would become a member of the club if it was revived.”
It looks as if QUEST is coming back stronger than ever this semester with Bartsch leading the way. When asked the focus mission for the club, she said, “The mission is defined by the people in the club at that time.” But overall she is looking to promoting the club as a social group.
An upcoming, free event for QUEST is the Evening of Dominique Jackson on Tuesday Nov. 5, located in the Student Center ballroom and with the doors opening at 6:45 p.m.
Aside from QUEST, the LGBTRC - located on the third floor of the Student Center - provides many resources including: free condoms and dental dams, pamphlets for allies, information on addictions and homelessness, as well as many friendly faces to provide help or answer any questions you may have.
For more information about upcoming events, how to join QUEST or to seek out more resources, you can reach out through email at lgbtrc@emich.edu and follow them on Twitter @lgbtrc_emu or on Facebook @emulgbtresourcecenter.
