An expanded focus and a new location characterize a new year of providing information, education and advocacy on campus.

Some of the upcoming events planned are self-defense seminars, a return of the successful “Vagina Monologues,” and several events coinciding with National Gay and Lesbian History Month.

Patricia Grady, the Women?s Resource Center coordinator, said she would like to focus more on gay and lesbian awareness this year.

“Our [gay] community on campus is not recognized as much as I?d like it to be,” she said.

“The prejudices gays face are still too openly accepted by our culture,” Grady said. “We haven?t moved very far in breaking down those stereotypes and barriers.”

The Women?s Resource Center offers several services and resources.

Students can search for books and pamphlets on women?s issues, health and sexuality using a database, as they would in the main library.

“It?s a good place for students with assignments in these areas to start research,” Grady said.

The center also has services for violence prevention and sexual assault victims.

Representatives from the center give presentations to groups in the residence halls, athletics department and fraternities and sororities about reducing the risk of sexual assault.

“The vast majority of sexual assaults are not perpetrated by sexual predators,” Grady said.

According to Grady, acquaintance rape is far more common and poses a greater danger to students, especially given the more prolific use of date-rape drugs.

“Statistically, this is the population most at risk,” Grady said.Last semester, the center moved from the University Union to the Multicultural Center on the first floor of the library.

“It?s a little tricky figuring out relations,” said student assistant Xochitl Lopez.

While the Women?s Resource and Multicultural centers are still two separate entities, sharing space and resources will provide more opportunities for collaboration, Lopez said.