2008 Woodie Awards
Safe Space program affected
Dino Mujakovic
Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
This past year, Lakeland College introduced us to a new program. The Student Association (SA) launched the "Safe Space" program on campus.
Safe Space was developed to provide a supportive environment for members of the Lakeland community who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).
Through this program, Student Association hopes to provide individuals with a "safe space" in which to share the unique challenges, concerns, or questions related to sexual identity.
Faculty and staff around campus who participated in the program attended an informational workshop. The workshop went through issues that LGBT people face, how society reacts to them and how they can help those particular people. Upon completion of the workshop, the faculty or staff member received a sticker to place around their office in a visible location. That sticker lets students know that they can freely and confidentially discuss issues and concerns about sexual identity with that faculty or staff member.
Student diversity is common at any college. Some of the students do not feel free to talk about their sexual orientation to anybody, and that's where the Safe Space program jumps in. Once the student enters a room with a Safe Space sticker on it, the door is shut and the area becomes a "safe space," enabling a positive and comfortable atmosphere to discuss problems, concerns or anything else that is LGBT related with the person participating in the program. Anything that is said in a "safe space" will remain confidential and not leave those walls.
At this point, the Safe Space program is not advancing in any direction. Due to unknown circumstances, there are no workshops scheduled for those who wish to participate in the Safe Space program. The faculty and staff members who participated in last year's session are still available to those who would like to make use of the program and talk about what is on their minds.
More information on the Safe Space program will follow as soon as it becomes available to The Mirror.
Safe Space was developed to provide a supportive environment for members of the Lakeland community who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).
Through this program, Student Association hopes to provide individuals with a "safe space" in which to share the unique challenges, concerns, or questions related to sexual identity.
Faculty and staff around campus who participated in the program attended an informational workshop. The workshop went through issues that LGBT people face, how society reacts to them and how they can help those particular people. Upon completion of the workshop, the faculty or staff member received a sticker to place around their office in a visible location. That sticker lets students know that they can freely and confidentially discuss issues and concerns about sexual identity with that faculty or staff member.
Student diversity is common at any college. Some of the students do not feel free to talk about their sexual orientation to anybody, and that's where the Safe Space program jumps in. Once the student enters a room with a Safe Space sticker on it, the door is shut and the area becomes a "safe space," enabling a positive and comfortable atmosphere to discuss problems, concerns or anything else that is LGBT related with the person participating in the program. Anything that is said in a "safe space" will remain confidential and not leave those walls.
At this point, the Safe Space program is not advancing in any direction. Due to unknown circumstances, there are no workshops scheduled for those who wish to participate in the Safe Space program. The faculty and staff members who participated in last year's session are still available to those who would like to make use of the program and talk about what is on their minds.
More information on the Safe Space program will follow as soon as it becomes available to The Mirror.