Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville continues to work toward providing safe spaces for all students to learn and grow. Contributing to that effort, individuals on campus have created a new Safe Zone logo and an updated training curriculum that are specifically designed for the UWP campus.

The UW-Platteville Safe Zone logo is a pink triangle with a green border with the words "Safe Zone" and the university's seal in the center. A statement in the green border says, "This symbol is meant to create an environment committed to diversity and mutual respect, where all students can feel safe." Safe Zone training makes it possible to identify individuals who are empathetic and informed about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) issues and who are willing and able to provide support, information and confidentiality. When individuals see this logo around campus, they can know they are safe in those spaces and with those people.

The training is aimed to inform and educate people about GLBTQ issues and dispel myths and misinformation. The program involves discussion of common definitions and GLBTQ terminology, use of a survey that dispels myths and misinformation, and identification of the qualities that make a good ally.

In the past, Safe Zone training has been available to resident assistants and resident hall directors at UWP. After Deirdre Dalsing, a counselor at UWP Counseling Services, got involved as an ally for the UWP Alliance group on campus, she saw the importance of updating and standardizing that curriculum. Now it is ready to be used by additional groups on, or even off, campus.

Dalsing said, "Now that the curriculum has been developed specifically for Platteville, I think different facets of the university will want to utilize this for professional growth opportunities. ... Because it is standardized, the training can be provided not only to housing but also to any department on campus, group of students or even to members of the Platteville community."

One group on campus has already taken this opportunity; Dalsing recently gave the training to the UWP chapter of Gamma Phi Beta.

As a member of GPB, Kristina Kaker coordinates sisterhood and personal and chapter enrichment (PACE) programs for the UWP chapter. She said, "Gamma Phi Beta's mission is to promote the highest type of womanhood. I chose to bring this training to Gamma Phi Beta because I felt it would enrich the lives of the individuals in the chapter, as well as foster a more educated and accepting organization. I believe participants benefited from the Safe Zone training in that they are more educated and have a better understanding about GLBTQ issues. Education and understanding are the first steps towards acceptance."

Dalsing hopes that more groups will take advantage of the updated Safe Zone training. She said, "All students should be able to learn in an environment that is safe, respectful and friendly. My hope is that by developing a Safe Zone training specific to UW-Platteville, the university can reach that goal. ... The more safe spaces for GLBTQ individuals, the better."

Persons interested in learning more about Safe Zone training may contact Dalsing at (608) 342-1865 or dalsingd@uwplatt.edu. Those interested in learning about the Alliance group on campus may visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/org/alliance/resources.htm

Contact: Deirdre Dalsing, counselor, UWP Counseling Services, (608) 342-1865,dalsingd@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Kate McKinney, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,mckinnka@uwplatt.edu