Training supports GLBT community
Unfortunately, discrimination is an issue that many students face on a daily basis. To combat the discrimination some students experience for their sexual orientation, NDSU Safe Zone was formed.
The mission of the Safe Zone Ally Program is to provide a network of safe and supportive allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community at NDSU.
A fall semester Safe Zone ally training session was held Tuesday in the Memorial Union.
Safe Zone has been in existence at NDSU since May 2001 and currently includes approximately 100 allies.
Based on a climate assessment conducted by the President’s Diversity Council a few years ago, a high percentage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people at NDSU experience a variety of forms of exclusion, even harassment.
“ Safe Zone is just one way to try to send the message that there are people here who care about and welcome LGBT folks,” Kara Stack, assistant director for service learning and civic engagement, said.
Participation in the Safe Zone Training program involves attending a two-hour training session.
After completion of the training, participants have the opportunity to choose to sign a pledge to be a Safe Zone Ally.
Topics of a Safe Zone Ally training session include: the difference between sex and gender, sexual orientation identity development, specific issues related to bisexual, transgender and intersex people, definition of terms, heterosexual privilege, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, and how to be a Safe Zone Ally. Safe Zone is open to any NDSU students, faculty and staff.
Safe Zone is open to any NDSU students, faculty and staff.
The message the Safe Zone Ally program wants to communicate is displayed on its window decals.
The decals say the person displaying the symbol will be supportive if a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person needs someone to talk to.
Those who have committed to being Safe Zone Allies indicate that bigotry and discrimination, specifically regarding GLBT persons, are not tolerated here at NDSU.
The next training session one will be 4-6 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Meadow Lark room in the Memorial Union.
Safe Zone also works with the Ten Percent Society on campus to offer additional speakers and programs about the issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.
A current list of all NDSU Safe Zone Allies is available on the Safe Zone Web page: www.ndsu.edu/memorial_union/safezone/