Office of Community and Belonging
PRISM
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Located within the Office of Community and Belonging, the PRISM Resource Center is a hub for initiatives on campus that support students who identify as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community at Southern Miss. We provide educational resources, training opportunities, and programs that support students of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
Annual PRISM Events
| Second Chance Prom | In collaboration with SAGE, Second Chance Prom gives students the opportunity to attend prom without restrictions. This formal event includes music, catering, themed decorations, and live performances. Second Chance Prom is open to all USM students, faculty, staff, and administration, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation |
| National Coming Out Day |
October 11 is nationally recognized as National Coming Out Day. PRISM celebrates by holding tabling and social events to bring awareness to National Coming Out Day and the coming out process. Through these, PRISM aims to create an opportunity for LGBTQ+ students and allies to connect with each other and to feel a sense of peer and institutional support. |
| Spill the Tea | Spill the Tea is a series of educational events hosted by PRISM, with each event being unique in setup and topic. Spill the Tea sessions may range from meet and greets with faculty and staff, lectures on LGBTQ+ topics, student-led discussions on current issues, creative activities, and more |
| PRIDE Day at Spirit Park | PRIDE Day at Spirit Park allows students a fun, safe way to celebrate pride month early and with their USM community. Festivities include live performances, games, music, food, and more! As a conclusion to yearly PRISM programming, PRIDE Day encourages students to celebrate their authentic selves, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, and all USM students, faculty, staff, and administration are encouraged to attend and celebrate pride. |
Allies Training and Southern Miss Allies
Allies Training is a 2-hour LGBTQ+ sensitivity and awareness training meant to prepare attendees to be allies in and out of the USM community through informative lecture and thoughtful discussion. These trainings are open to all USM faculty, staff, and students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Southern Miss Allies is a network of faculty, staff, and students on campus who are visibly supportive and affirming of Southern Miss students identifying as LGBTQ+. Unique to USM, this program seeks to foster a campus community where all students feel safe, supported, and respected.
To sign up for a training for yourself or your organization, please contact Kerigan Brewer at kerigan.brewerFREEMississippi or 601.266.5725. You can also sign up by filling out this form.
The Spectrum Center
PRISM supports and frequently partners with The Spectrum Center (TSC) in Hattiesburg, MS. TSC fosters a supportive, educational, and active community that is open, safe, and inclusive to all. The center is a resource and advocate for full inclusion and empower of those affected by prejudice and discrimination, and it defends and demands human and civil rights secured by law for members of the LGBTQ+ community.