The Pride Network will commemorate its fifth year at NDSU with an anniversary celebration scheduled for Sept. 21 at noon in the Memorial Union Gallery. President Dean L. Bresciani will share opening remarks, followed by a special message from Provost Bruce Rafert. In addition, Evie Myers, vice president for equity, diversity and global outreach, will present the Diversity Impact Award. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The Pride Network works to support and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees at NDSU. The group regularly supports awareness-raising activities on campus and holds monthly meetings both on and off campus. The Pride Network seeks to increase the visibility of issues of safety and well being of LGBTQ employees and encourages the development of LGBTQ friendly policies at NDSU. Recently, the group celebrated the launching of a new website with information for LGBTQ employees, boosting the visibility of the group and the community. The Pride Network received the 2011-12 NDSU Diversity Impact Award for its service to the university.

The NDSU Pride Network is an organization formed by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees in collaboration with the NDSU Strategic Plan for Diversity Equity and Community and the Office of Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach.

For more information, contact ndsu.pridenetwork@ndsu.edu or visit www.ndsu.edu/lgbtq/groups_and_meetings/pride_network.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.