Charlie Richmond/OutWrite
Content warning: brief discussion of homophobia.
Pride Admit Weekend (PAW) is one of the many diversity admit weekends held at UCLA! The goal of Pride Admit Weekend is to help connect queer admitted students with resources available to them, should they choose to attend UCLA, and to introduce them to the community they will find during their time here.
As the nation’s first admit weekend specifically geared toward queer students, PAW is unique in its scope. Its mission is to connect queer students with everything they’ll need to have a strong start at a large university. This includes information about the Gender, Sexuality, and Society Living Learning Community; a tour of the LGBTQ+ Campus Resource Center; mental health resources; financial aid workshops; and much more. For more information about last year’s PAW, as well as its origins and history, check out the article “Pride Admit Weekend: What It Is and What It Gives.”
PAW, like many other organizations on campus, is entirely student-run. From the directors to the volunteers, PAW is planned, budgeted, and executed by students. However, this also means that without enough student interest, PAW could cease to exist, eliminating one of the only queer-focused admit weekends in the country. In a time where queer rights are increasingly threatened, it is vital that events like this — meant to uplift, assist, and connect queer admits to resources — continue to flourish.
Jocelyn Dang (she/her), one of this year’s PAW directors, said she wants “PAW to be an event that admits can look back on and feel a sense of comfort.” She added, “we, being the other two directors and I, want to create a safe space where admits can learn more about what awaits them at UCLA and how they will be supported by the wonderful LGBTQ+ community here. This campus can seem daunting, I want to do my part in making it seem welcoming.”
If putting together this event interests you, I encourage you to check us out on Instagram @uclapaw or send an email to [email protected]. We hope to see you there!