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Extend the Safe Zone
This is the fifth year for the Safe Zone program at CSU, Chico.
It was developed in 1999, in the wake of the 1998 murder of Wyoming
college student Matthew Shepard, who was gay. The hope was to create
an environment on our campus that lessened the chances of similar
incidents happening here.
Safe Zone at CSU, Chico, founded by Lorraine Smith, Advising, and
Larry Bassow, Housing, enlists faculty and staff as identifiable
“allies” for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender
students who need a non-threatening and non-judgmental place to
talk.
Safe Zone participants receive a safe zone decal to display in a
visible location. The decal signals that the person who displays
it is committed to providing a space of acceptance and respect.
The more allies with safe zone stickers visible on campus, the more
we create an atmosphere of safety and commonality.
More than 120 allies signed up soon after the program was created,
and many more have signed up since then. Now it is time to update
the current list of allies and enlist more volunteers.
Tray Robinson, Admissions, is the primary contact for Safe Zone.
He sends out information packets, placards, and buttons to faculty,
staff, students, and community members. He is available to speak
at events and training sessions.
If you would like to become an ally or are currently an ally and
wish to stay on the contact list, please call Robinson at x6835.
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Volume 35/Number 3
