By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
What started out as a clothing swap between students who wanted to express their new gender identities has expanded into a flourishing community resource.
Located in the Sexuality and Gender Equality Center, SAGE, the innovative closet is filled with shelves and hangers that hold a diverse range of clothing options for the whole campus community to utilize.
“We have professional clothing, regular clothing and some personal products. We have everything. We have a lot of stuff all the time, and all here, free, for anybody who needs it,” Dustin Rader, the university assistant for the SAGE Center, said.
The initiative originally began to support students who wanted to enhance their wardrobe to express their gender.
“If your parents aren’t supportive and they won’t buy you clothing in the gender that you identify as, this is a space where you can get that clothing at zero cost,” Rader said.
However, after ample donations, the closet grew into a vital asset.
“We have had a lot of students donate, and we get some from a lot of professors,” Rader. “They’ll bring in whatever they’re getting rid of if their kids have outgrown it or whatever it may be.”
The clostes lives up to its name, the open door closet, as it is open to all students, staff and faculty to use and take clothes.
Rader said visitors of the closet range from professors and administrators to students.
“People come in with their friends, and they can pick what they want. We have bags that you can take stuff out,” Rader said. “It’s a store basically.”
The office’s no questions asked policy allows students to pick up desired clothes and items discretely.
Recreation and leisure studies major Jordan Nixon, a sophomore, said that the closet is a good opportunity for students to save money.
“I think that’s nice because not everyone is a working college kid,” Nixon said.
With the season changing, Rader said the closet has everything from winter coats and boots to scarves, beanies, and gloves to keep students warm during the winter.
“With all these seasonal changes students are going to need warm clothing, and this a good way to do so,” Nixon said.
Since there is access to clothing, shoes and accessories free of charge, it is recommended that members of the campus community take advantage of the endless items the closet offers.