As a member of California State University, Channel Islands' first class of transfer students, Rebecca Glazier realized she had an opportunity to help shape the young campus.

She knew exactly what she wanted to do. She wanted to create a safe and comfortable place to exchange ideas or find resources on issues relating to racial and ethnic diversity, women's issues and gender identity.

Monday, Glazier's idea came to life with the opening of the Multicultural and Women's and Gender Center on the CSUCI campus.

The center, run by students and supported by the student government, was officially opened after a brief ceremony and Chumash blessing Monday afternoon.

"As the first students here, we were very eager to determine what this campus was going to be for the students and the community," said Glazier, now a senior and president of the student government at CSUCI.

"The creation of this center has been driven by the students and this is ultimately for the students," she said. "We wanted a unique center where we could examine how racism, sexism and homophobia work together as oppressors in today's society."

Renny Christopher, an English professor and chairwoman of the university's Academic Senate, said the center will help provide a safe learning and working space for everyone on campus, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

"The opening of this center represents a physical manifestation of this university's commitment to embracing all forms of diversity," she said.

The small center, located near the student lounge in the Bell Tower building, has several comfortable couches and chairs and a small library with books on a variety of topics, including African-American poets, Indians in California and women in America.

"The most important aspect of this center is its inclusiveness," Glazier said. "We definitely want to be a resource."

Students will staff the center, which will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. four days a week. The Associated Students, the student government at CSUCI, is funding the center through student fees.

The center also will offer programs and events relating to issues of diversity on campus, Glazier said.

The center's opening served as the kickoff event for the university's International Week Celebration.

University President Richard Rush called the opening of the center a milestone for the young campus. The center, he said, is emblematic of the university's long-standing commitment to diversity of all types.

"This is an extension of those efforts to celebrate the diversity of this region," he said. "That's what a university is truly all about."