Safe Zones

Safe Zones serve as a source of support and information, free of judgment and hostility. They display the Safe Zone logo to indicate that they have completed Safe Zone training and have signed a contract expressing their commitment to Safe Zone policies and procedures. Safe Zones are also expected to challenge assumptions and prejudices related to sexual orientation and gender and to address heterosexist comments or behaviors in an educational and informative manner.

More Safe Zone Resources:

Goals of the Safe Zone Program:

  • To increase the campus community’s understanding and awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning/queer (LGBTIQ) issues
  • To provide a greater sense of safety for the LGBTIQ student community
  • To offer information to straight allies of LGBTIQ people.
  • To act as a resource for information related to combating homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia and other LGBTIQ misinformation and misconceptions

Safe Zones at Rhodes:

  • Between 5-7 Safe Zone training sessions facilitated by the Campus Counseling Center take place during each school year
  • Safe Zones include faculty and staff members and students who participate in such organizations as Residence Life, the Women’s Center and the Gay-Straight Alliance
  • As of the 2007-08 school year, 40 faculty , 34 staff members and 24 students have undergone Safe Zone training, with a total of 93 participants currently active
  • In addition to being allies for individual LGBTIQ students, Safe Zone participants attend a series of Brown Bag Lunch sessions throughout the school year to foster discussion around issues such as being transgender in college, coming out to friends, family and parents, and dealing with homophobia and heterosexism on campus

LGBTIQ Resources

Current Safe Zones:

Larkin Michelle Accinelli, Lindsey Akers, Scot Allison, Hud Andrews, Jessica Batey, La Banks, Kim Bennett, Ashley Bianchi, John Blaisdell, Jennifer Brady, Tom Bremer, Deseree Brittingham, Beverly Brooks, Margaret Carne, Jyo Carolino, Carol Casey, Amanda Cellini, James Chang, Stephanie Chockley, Kristin Cole, Kevin Collier, Dorothy Cox, Elizabeth Daggett, Anita Davis, John Davis, Pam Detrie, Robert Dove, Michael Drompp, Rachel Dunwell, Danielle Fincher, Aaron Fitzgerald, Dee Garceau-Hagen, Alexanda Garris, Elizabeth Gates, Kim Gerecke, Timothy Gibson, Eric Gottlieb, M.L. Gough, Sara Gremillion, Judith Haas, Magaret Handwerker, Erin Harmon, Erin Hillis, Kendra Hotz, Alan Jaslow, David Jilg, Bob Johnson, Leigh Johnson, Brian Jones, Daney Kepple, David Kesler, Caroline King, Susan Kus, Kathleen Laakso, Marcus Langford, Michael LaRosa, Emily Lindner, Darlene Loprete, Robert Lusteck, Marianne Luther, David McCarthy, Melissa Butler McCowen, Bernadette McNary-Zak, Tiffany Merrit, Mary Miller, Alison Morrell, Gail Murray, Erica Murrell, Scott Newstok, Amy Oakes, Brent Owens, Pamela Palmer, Janet Panter, Natalie Person, Judy Pierce, Marcus D. Pohlmann, Leigh Powell, Patrick Vernon, Michelle Voss Roberts, John Russ, Carla Shirley, Bill Short, Mark Smith, Stephen Spainhour, Robert Strandburg, Gail Streete, Matthew Tamason, Walt Tennyson, Karen Thomas, Sandy GeorgeTracy, Diana Villa, Lori Von Bokel-Amin, Dwaun Warmack, Whitney Warren, Chenobia Webster, Art Weeden, Jane Wells, Alexa Weisman, and Katie Zisson.

Do you have questions about the Rhodes Safe Zone program?  Contact Pam Detrie (detriep@rhodes.edu) for more information!