Safe Space makes room for GLBTQ students
At the end of August 2004, around 50 Georgia College & State University faculty and staff trained for Safe Space, a new program supporting the school’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning population.
According to Mary Jane Philips, assistant director of counseling, the GLBTQ program is long overdue.
“There’s been a desire to do this for a while because [of] two reasons. One, to be sure that students can identity safe people, especially if they run into an incident where something happens that’s difficult or problematic. And another factor for me at least, is to provide visibility. I want people to know there is a gay community. There are people who can be supporting and nonjudgmental,” she said.
“The notion is this: if I’m black I can probably look around and find people in my environment who I think are likely able to understand the particular challenges of being black in this society,” she said. “If I’m gay, it’s very difficulty to know who I can trust and talk to about any issues or concerns that might come up.”
Senior Political Science major John Wright spoke at Safe Space training.
“I think it’s important because on a campus like this, with an issue like GLBTQ students, there isn’t necessarily this feeling of security, whether it’s real or imaged. Something like this where students can see these signs on campus, they see there is one person, one contact, or one place where they can feel comfortable being themselves or just feeling secure.”
Philips said that although Safe Space was originally created for use in a corporate environment and intended for a strictly gay and lesbian audience, GC&SU is taking a more general approach.
“We have very intentionally been broad in our approach and we want people to know that they can talk about really any issue of diversity that might be going on. If there is a professor that made a racial comment in class, [a girl] has an issue where she has been sexually harassed, someone feels he or she not being understood because he or she uses a wheelchair, or any issue related to any aspect of diversity, our program provides a place for people to go and talk about that.”
Faculty who attended the two-hour training session were given tips on how to be effective listeners and who to talk to if the situation should be handled by someone else.
Dr. Melanie Devore, assistant professor of biological and environmental science, participated in the training and is ready to help students however she can.
“As a faculty member participating in the program I will not have all the answers. However, I can provide general assistance and the guidance to direct students to the right office and services. That is what allies do,” said Devore.
“By completing Safe Space training, and displaying a Safe Space Sticker, a faculty or staff member is telling our GLBTQ students that they can expect to not be treated negatively about there sexuality,” she said. “Most importantly, students will know that each faculty and staff displaying a safe space sticker will be supportive.”
President Dorothy Leland said she’s been a part of Safe Space at other schools and she welcomes the program to GC&SU.
“I am very supportive of the Safe Space program, which is modeled after programs that have worked well at many other universities. The program is part of our continuing effort to create a welcoming and supportive learning environment for a diverse student body. It is equally important to maintain supportive work environment for our faculty and staff regardless of one’s sexual orientation.”
For Wright, Safe Space is an investment in the future of GC&SU.
“It’s great to see something like this start because, from my perspective, the campus has changed so much since my freshman year,” he said. ” Something like this shows me that it’s going to keep going in a positive direction even after I’m gone.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 17 2004. Filed under News.
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