Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected. John Blue and Theo Edwards’ titles have been fixed, the definition of transition was added, a quote incorrectly attributed to John Blue was corrected and the GSD Center hours were corrected.  

The EIU Center for Gender and Sexual Diversity hosted a ribbon cutting event to open the new Trans*formation Station on Oct. 23.   

From 7 to 9 p.m. in EIU’s Sexual and Diversity Center, which is in the basement of Stevenson Hall, people were welcomed with snacks such as cupcakes, chips and drinks.   

Executive Director & Senior Diversity and Inclusion Officer John Blue was there enjoying the event. He said that it isn’t really a ribbon cutting but more like an open house for the new room.   

“It was really just a reopening of the newly construction space of the room. It’s much more user friendly,” he said.   

Years before, the transformation station was just a closet and a bit stuffy, according to graduate student and GSD Center graduate assistant Theo Edwards, but now that it has been remodeled, Edwards said it gives students the opportunity for more space and more clothes.  

As it hit 7, the new station was opened. The Trans*formation station is for those who are transitioning or considering transitioning. Transitioning is the act of expressing gender identity through a series of changes. The room provides all types of clothing students can try on and take home.    

Edwards was there giving tours around the room. The room consists of different types of clothing including shirts, dresses, pants and even accessories.  

Blue was also there giving attendants some options when looking through the closets. 

“If students want to try on clothes and they want to model what it looks like, they welcome to do that here,” he said.   

Blue said one of his goals for the center was to make it more visible than it currently is, being on a lower level of Stevenson. 

People began to walk in, sorting out different pieces of clothing from tops to bottoms. Student Paola Cuatepitzi-Rojas was there with some friends looking through some clothing.   

“I’m having a good time here. I love the capacity, and I love the community. It’s like a safe space where you can be yourself,” Cuatepitzi-Rojas said. “I honestly have no reason to feel uncomfortable here because I have friends that don’t judge me for being me.”  

While guests were enjoying themselves at the event, some said they had their doubts about how it would turn out, including Cal Jimenez, a student who works at the GSD Center.  

“I didn’t think people were going to show up,” he said. “But I feel happy that people came because it made me feel a part of it.” 

After guests selected what clothing they wanted from the transformation station, they would put them into bags and leave. But before they could, the attendants gave thanks to Edwards for putting the room together.   

“I too didn’t think it would be a lot of people were going to come. There wasn’t a lot of turnouts for our events,” Edwards said. “But if I can make at least one student happy, that’s all that matters.”   

The GSD Center’s hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. 

Koria Downs can be reached at at 581-2812 or at kdowns@eiu.edu.