Rowan U Students Find Security in “Safe Zones”

From thewhitonline.com:

A rising community that is often an invisible underrepresented and marginalized population is that of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) people.

Rowan University is currently working towards becoming one of the many universities and campuses worldwide to provide safe spaces that are highly visible and easily identifiable to GLBT persons, where support and understanding is key and bigotry and discrimination are not tolerated.

“We are creating space for GLBT students so they can have a place to be themselves; a place to be ‘out’ if that’s what they choose,” said Dr. MaryBeth Walpole, Associate Professor of Educational Learning and advocate of Safe Zone.

Safe Zone is an ally program where members of the GLBT community may go to receive support from faculty, staff, friends, and allies. Safe zones are easily identifiable by a safe symbol on office doors and living spaces throughout campus. The program, which was founded last spring, currently provides faculty and staff with voluntary training sessions in order to qualify to represent the symbol on their office door.

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