Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Students face hate speech on UC campus


Some people wonder why we need an LGBTQ Center on campus. Like racism and sexism, homophobia and transphobia are often overlooked or brushed aside. For many students, facing heterosexism is a daily reality.


Niki Dorset was walking to a class in Edwards from the LGBTQ Center one evening. In the area by the ticket stands and the tennis courts, a group of three or four white males made fake coughing noises and saying "fag" and "faggot" under their breaths. As they passed one another, Niki heard one of the boys say, "I'm tired of all these faggots around here." Niki kept walking without any further confrontation.


"I'm tired of this happening to me," Niki said. "More specifically, it’s frustrating to have this kind of thing continue to occur at UC, a place where I’m supposed to feel valued, a place where I’m supposed to learn. I feel angry that this is happening, and quite frankly I’m scared when it does happen because I don’t know when it will stop or what the result may be."


Not only do incidents like this deeply affect students' emotions and personal lives, but it can also affect their learning. "When I got to class, I was still feeling the emotions from what I had just experienced. Unfortunately, it influenced my experience inside the classroom. My thoughts were focused on getting called faggot rather than the purpose of the professor."


"Knowing that people on campus hate me, it doesn’t really allow room for trusting that this behavior of hate will not happen by the students in the class," Niki said. "Furthermore, I realized that after class I knew that I had to walk back across campus, which for very good reason I didn’t want to do."


"I truly hope that something can be done about hate speech at UC and other campuses. It doesn’t matter if it happens one time or 20 times, it still hurts. I know that if it is happening to me then it is happening to others."




Monday, March 5, 2012

Campus-Wide Safe Zone Training


On Wednesday, March 7, the LGBTQ Center is holding a Campus-Wide Safe Zone Training in Rec Center 3220 from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. Some people may be wondering what Safe Zone Training is, and why it's important.

Safe Zone Training seeks to increase the visible presence of students, staff and faculty who can help to shape a campus that is accepting of all people regardless of sexuality, gender identification/expression, or any other difference.

"It's valuable because people can learn a lot from attending," says Jaisha Garnette, a first-year Art History student. "It's useful to everyone. It can only help." Garnette went through Safe Zone Training fall quarter. "I became more aware of what it meant to go through training."

Training topics and exercises include becoming comfortable discussing sexuality and gender identifications, the importance of inclusive language, creating safe spaces, and how to be a supportive advocate and ally for LGBTQ social justice and equality.

"I think it's important to be inclusive," says Stacey Taylor, a second-year transfer student in the Fine Arts program. "Even though I identify as gay, I still think there's a lot more that I can learn about the LGBTQ community."

Jordan Sosna, a third-year Political Science major, went through the training earlier this quarter. "It should be mandated that more people, including all university staff, have to go through it," he says, stressing its importance. "That includes RAs and SOLs."

In addition to sexual orientation and gender identity, Safe Zone Training also covers topics like race and violence.

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If you plan on attending, please RSVP to UC.LGBTQ.Center@gmail.com

Facebook event can be found here.

-Ben
Social Media Intern