LBCC’s accessibility department hosted the grand opening of Forum 114 as one of the Albany campus’ remodeled and newly designated lactation spaces with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration on Thursday, Oct. 2.
Each space is equipped with a brand-new, comfortable reclining chair, nearby running water, a refrigerator, and a microwave. The excitement was palpable as Forum 114 replaced the Room of Requirement that once served as a makeshift lactation space in the library. In addition, spaces also have been dedicated in Red Cedar Hall 121, and in Chinook Hall at the Corvallis Campus.
The project to create the dedicated spaces was a team effort. Dean Katie Winder in Academic Progression aided in scouting potential spaces with running water. Stacie Braun and her team in Facilities helped with the acquisition of items, prepping the spaces, painting, installing fixtures, and other facility-related tasks.
Melissa Williams managed the Title III retention grant and helped with the affordability of the project. Nuria Gamarra of the Student Retention office took the lead in the functionality and design of acquired items as well as managing logistics and signage. Art instructor Anne Magratten donated a few of her landscape pieces to the art featured in the lactation spaces as well as helped to source other artwork from the LBCC community. The project also received support from Carol Raymundo in Accessibility Resources.
The overall vision of the dedicated lactation spaces is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for lactating staff, students, and guests.
“We believe that offering lactation space is an important way to support our community,” said Jill Childress, the manager of Student Conduct and Retention. “We don’t want the need to lactate and a lack of private space to do so to be a barrier to accessing education or otherwise create an unwelcoming environment at LBCC. Providing these dedicated spaces is the right thing to do, and helps contribute to a campus ethos of a welcoming community that is inclusive and celebratory of all of its members.”
Forum 114 is now available for use. To gain access to the private space, you can contact Accessibility Resources in Red Cedar Hall or by email at accessibility@linnbenton.edu.
