A local student is seeking support from the community to push for the installation of a LGBTQ Community Resource Center at College of the Canyons.

Andrew Rodriguez, 19, started an online petition to rally community members to prompt COC administrators to open a resource center for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning community on-campus.

“Over the past year I have worked with the COC Health Center and in the Student Development Office and noticed there is a lot of bullying happening in high school and college,” said Rodriguez, Canyon Country Representative for COC’s Associated Student Government . “I took the initiative and started the petition for support.”

The petition has already gained about 130 supporters on their online petition page.

COC has taken measures to help ease the stress of LGBTQ students, according to Eric Harnish, COC’s Vice President of Public Information.

“Student government passed a resolution for a ‘Safe Zone’ on campus last year and in October we had two students and three staff members undergo training conducted by the Gay Alliance,” said Harnish. “They have now taken multiple steps to help train other staff members.”

According to Harnish, staff from Admissions and Athletics are slated to go through training in May.

Training helps staff understand the LGBTQ experience so students can feel supported, after training trainee’s are given a Safe Zone sticker so students know who they can go to when they need to talk.

“The center would be a Safe Zone for individuals who have maybe not come out to family and want someone to talk to, even for heterosexual individuals who need someone to talk to,” said Rodriguez. “If the center is established we would work closely with the Health Center as well as COC administrators and faculty, the goal is to educate.”