Background / Basic Information
What is the SafeZones program?
SafeZones is a program that utilizes faculty and students to serve as advisors and peer counselors to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and LGBT questioning students on campus. Faculty and students involved display a sticker signifying that they are a “safe zone” and are trained to talk, in confidence, with a person at any time about LGBT issues on campus or their sexual orientation. Any person active in SafeZones is considered an ally to, not only Widener LGBT students, but also the entire LGBT community as a whole.
What are the goals of SafeZones?
The goals of the program are as follows:
1. Create a comfortable atmosphere for LGBT students on Widener’s campus by increasing the number of straight allies present, or making that number known.
2. Make dorm life safer for LGBT students through a mandatory requirement that all resident assistants (RA) participate in the SafeZones program.
3. Obtain a greater number of active members in the LGBSU from the increase in involvement and presence of LGBT issues on campus.
4. Compile a master list of straight allies in the Widener LGBSU Resource Guide.
5. Promote Widener University’s goals and ideals of accepting and encouraging diversity.
What are the requirements to become an active member of SafeZones?
Anyone can become an active member of SafeZones. To be an active member requires a person to attend a professional training session on campus designed to orient them to the goals of SafeZones. After completing the training and signing the Widener SafeZones Contract, the new member will be given a sticker to display where it will be visible to those in need of the program. There is also a monthly meeting held by the Widener LGBSU to discuss the progress, current issues and possible improvements of the program.
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