Pride at Farmingdale State College

Nov. 18, 2025

By Maleena Dionisio

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - At Farmingdale State College, community is more than a concept. It's something students actively build together. Few organizations embody that spirit more clearly than the FSC Pride Club. Pride Club President, River Harrison and Treasurer Tiffany Campbell opened up about what the club means to them, why its mission matters, and how its events help strengthen a campus where students feel seen, supported, and welcomed.

Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ students experience higher rates of isolation. According to a report by The Trevor Project, LGBTQ+ young adults who have at least one affirming space are significantly less likely to experience depression or self-harm. College clubs like FSC’s Pride Club play an important role in creating those safe, supportive environments.

For River, leadership in the Pride Club comes from a deeply meaningful place. During the interview, she explained that the club exists to create a sense of safety and inclusion. A space where LGBTQ+ students and allies can show up authentically without fear of judgment. “It’s for people to feel safe and included,” she says, a simple but powerful reminder of why clubs like this remain essential on college campuses. Pride Club is not just a meeting place. It is a refuge, a home, and a reminder that everyone deserves a space where they can be themselves.

Tiffany, who serves as the club’s treasurer, emphasized another core part of the Pride Club’s identity is connection. For her, joining Pride was not only about representation, it was also about friendship. “It’s to have friends,” Tiffany shares, reflecting on how the club gives students the opportunity to bond, laugh, support one another, and create memories as they navigate college life. That sense of belonging is every bit as important as the club’s larger mission of visibility and acceptance.

The Pride Club’s events are an extension of these values. When asked which gatherings meant the most to them, River immediately mentioned Pride Prom, an event she describes with genuine enthusiasm. For many students, Pride Prom is a chance to experience a celebration they may not have been able to fully enjoy in high school. It’s colorful, joyful, and unapologetically affirming everything a prom should be.

Tiffany’s favorite events have that same energy. She highlights both the Holiday Party and Pride Prom as her top choices. These events may seem simple on the surface, but they represent something bigger. Moments where students come together not only to celebrate identity, but to simply have fun. In a world where LGBTQ+ students often feel pressure to justify their presence or their experiences, these gatherings create space for joy without explanation.

FSC’s Pride Club shows how meaningful student organizations can be when rooted in compassion, understanding, and genuine community-building. River and Tiffany’s perspectives reveal that what truly makes the club special isn’t just its events, it’s the people, the welcome, and the shared sense of belonging. As their video feature reminds us, Pride isn’t just a celebration. It’s a home.