Spring Break
Ombuds provides Safe Zone for affectional minorities
Rachel Williams
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: News
As the UA reaches record enrollment levels, faculty and staff are coming together to ensure all students feel welcome on campus, through the University Ombuds Office's Safe Zone Allies Program.
The program's purpose is to provide a safe environment for students and employees to share their concerns without fear of being judged based on their sexual orientation, said Sue Theiss, Ombuds Office director.
"The network includes faculty, staff and students who have taken time to reflect on how heterosexism in our society has shaped their opinions about individuals who are affectional minorities, and what it means to be 'allies' to students who are affectional minorities," explained Safe Zone ally and PRIDE advisor Judd Harbin.
"The zone provides all affectional minority students - regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, nationality, religion, disability or any other diversifying identifiable characteristic - people to talk to with confidence that these allies strive to provide affirming, encouraging support," Harbin said.
Participants come from across campus, from athletics department staff members to professors.
Allies display the Safe Zone Allies logo a rainbow-colored razorback, in their office to make students aware of their participation.
"When someone enters the office of an ally with the Safe Zone Allies logo on their door, the person entering knows the ally respects and supports equality for everyone and will listen to their concerns without judging who they are," Theiss said.
"We have been trained ourselves to facilitate dialogue and to serve as resources for any member of the UA community," said Ashley Tull, a Safe Zone Ally and associate dean of students for campus life.
"The UA's diversity task force report reflected that our [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning] students do not feel a sense of inclusion at this university," Theiss said.
"Even if the Kinsey data is high, at 10 percent of the population being LGBTQ, we would still be looking at the potential of 1,000 to 1,800 of our students being LGBTQ," said Dr. Daniel Pugh, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. "It is imperative to support those students."
The program's purpose is to provide a safe environment for students and employees to share their concerns without fear of being judged based on their sexual orientation, said Sue Theiss, Ombuds Office director.
"The network includes faculty, staff and students who have taken time to reflect on how heterosexism in our society has shaped their opinions about individuals who are affectional minorities, and what it means to be 'allies' to students who are affectional minorities," explained Safe Zone ally and PRIDE advisor Judd Harbin.
"The zone provides all affectional minority students - regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, nationality, religion, disability or any other diversifying identifiable characteristic - people to talk to with confidence that these allies strive to provide affirming, encouraging support," Harbin said.
Participants come from across campus, from athletics department staff members to professors.
Allies display the Safe Zone Allies logo a rainbow-colored razorback, in their office to make students aware of their participation.
"When someone enters the office of an ally with the Safe Zone Allies logo on their door, the person entering knows the ally respects and supports equality for everyone and will listen to their concerns without judging who they are," Theiss said.
"We have been trained ourselves to facilitate dialogue and to serve as resources for any member of the UA community," said Ashley Tull, a Safe Zone Ally and associate dean of students for campus life.
"The UA's diversity task force report reflected that our [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning] students do not feel a sense of inclusion at this university," Theiss said.
"Even if the Kinsey data is high, at 10 percent of the population being LGBTQ, we would still be looking at the potential of 1,000 to 1,800 of our students being LGBTQ," said Dr. Daniel Pugh, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs. "It is imperative to support those students."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Common Sense
posted 2/19/08 @ 9:17 PM CST
I think an appropriate center would be more like a counseling center. This is nothing more then state-funded propaganda.
White Heterosexual Male-Alumnus
posted 2/20/08 @ 8:39 AM CST
This is but a microscopic yet typical example of liberalism at its finest. Spend other people's (i.e., taxpayers') money on a social program that is designed to make people feel good and "safe. (Continued…)
Angela Peace
posted 2/20/08 @ 9:03 AM CST
Funny that you should think so. I am a taxpayer AND a lesbian.
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