Campus Dining Today - NACUFS 2023 - 40

From left, Wesley Alvers, Anastasia Curtis, and Mac Crimmins speak
as part of a trans and nonbinary student panel at the NACUFS 2023
National Conference July 21.
Jake Muscato, associate director
of the LGBT Center at the
University of Pennsylvania,
speaks during the opening of the
general session.
" How do I define kindness to people? How do I define
taking care of somebody? I think it's that simple, " they
said. " It's knowing how to say, 'I'm sorry,' and moving on
and changing your behavior. ... It's knowing where to put
your money, time, and energy. It's being there with folks
and letting them talk to you, and saying, 'I receive you,
thanks for telling me.' "
The panelists reported largely positive and supportive
experiences at their universities, noting how lucky they
felt.
" (Towson has) resources so you can change your
name and it will go out to your professors, " Crimmins
said. " There are also a lot of resources on campus for
inclusivity and diversity that really make it a welcoming
environment. "
Curtis noted that Morgan State-where she is active as
a resident assistant (rA), secretary of both the campus
NAACP and Students Open to Unique Love (S.O.U.L.), and
president of The english Society-has a culture that feels
like family, where she has felt seen, heard, and understood
by the faculty and other students.
Alvers, who served in student government and was
vice president of field affairs at the UPenn School of
Social Policy and Practice Student Government, agreed,
saying they are " extraordinarily fortunate and extremely
privileged " to have been treated with respect, care,
support, and celebration. However, that doesn't mean
there isn't work to do to improve the way schools are set
up for trans and nonbinary folks.
" I've experienced many situations, whether it be in a
dining hall or another campus building, where I can't go
to the bathroom without being concerned that I might
be put in danger due to someone else's discomfort
with me and my body, " they said. " Making sure that we
address structures, systems, and policies-that's the most
important thing in my mind that needs to be tweaked in
many places. "
The panelists described what drew them to their
universities and helped them feel included and safe.
Curtis chose a historically Black college because of her
intersectional identity as a Black woman and because it
was close to home. She also used social media as a tool to
find out about the campus LGBTQIA+ community.
" I knew for my own self, my safety and transition meant
more to me than any education I could have received
outside of the city, " she said.
Crimmins, originally from Connecticut, said they came
a long way to Towson, Maryland and scoured many
university websites looking for clues about support and
inclusivity. At Towson, they noted a gender-inclusive
housing option that was critical to their decision.
" That meant someone else who was queer would be living
with me, and I wouldn't feel in danger, " they said.
They also noted Towson offers maps of gender-neutral
bathrooms on campus and inclusion groups that hold
events multiple times a month for trans and queer
students to gather.
A member of the audience asked about challenges the
panelists have in on-campus work environments and
how dining operations can improve their employment
practices.
Crimmins worked in a dining hall on campus and
said while many of the full-time staff didn't always
40
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