Safe Zone Programs
The HUB Cultural Center is excited to announce the newly designed, re-conceptualized Safe Zone program - a campus-wide initiative that promotes an inviting and inclusive environment that is emotionally and physically safe for LGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, and guests. Its goals include (1) increase understanding and awareness of LGBTQ+ identities and communities, (2) decrease individual and institutional homophobia and transphobia, and (3) expand the SSU network of allies.
After listening to and collaborating with campus partners and students, we developed two new Safe Zone opportunities to further support the division’s commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion:
Level one: Focuses on foundational knowledge regarding LGBTQ+ identities, including terminology, active listening, supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and responding to microaggressions.
Level two: An intermediate level training, focusing on the intersections of LGBTQ+ identities with other social identities. This opportunity is offered to those who have completed the level one training.
Upon completion, each participant will receive an updated safe zone placard, indicating the level and the year they completed the training.
Safe Zone trainings are typically 2 1/2 to 3 hours in length and are led by teams of students and staff from across the university. Training can be requested by/for specific groups (i.e., instructors, student organizations, University offices, etc.) or you can attend individually: RSVP here.
If you have previously gone through the Safe Zone training, we encourage you to attend the updated Level one training, as it updates the former Safe Zone training with new terminology, and enhanced skill-building opportunities. Please note: you cannot attend level two until you’ve attended level one.
We hope you join us this semester. For questions, please contact Jordan Grapentine