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The training program has five specific goals, which further expound on the overarching goal that Sneed explained. The goals, which are listed in part of the training handbook, include educating about homophobia and the realities of being GLBT, encouraging the development of healthy attitudes concerning GLBT people and fostering an appreciation for diverse sexual orientations, developing and empowering GLBT allies to take supportive stances concerning GLBT people and issues, fighting homophobia and heterosexism at the university, and building, strengthening and sustaining an inclusive living, learning, and work environment for all members of the university community.

Sneed said the main training session, which took place once this year during RA training and then again on Oct. 23, usually lasts between three and four hours. The session consists of discussions of self, building of skills, and learning how to take action to aid with education about the GLBT community.

“Participants work with awareness of self in terms of sexual identity, and they discuss what they know about the GLBT community and discuss what is correct and incorrect about the information they have. I would say 50 percent of the training focuses on self,” Sneed said.

Sneed added that the participants are taught what important terms mean in the Hamline and GLBT
community. The “G,” “L,” “B,” and “T” are all defined, as well as other important terms pertaining to the GLBT community. Sneed said that common definitions are very important, because on a campus of 1,800 people, there are probably 1,500 different definitions for each term.

Because the training is targeted at potential allies, Sneed said part of the training also involves the risk in being identified as an ally. He also explained that merely taking part in this training does not automatically make a participant an ally; to become an ally, the GLBT community must label the person as an ally.

At the end of the Safe Zone training, each participant is given a sign that denotes his or her space as a “safe zone.” A safe zone is a place where individuals who “pledge to be understanding, supportive, and trustworthy if a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered student or colleague needs advice, support, or just someone with whom to talk,” according to the safe zone sign.

The sign also says that people displaying the sign are “committed to their own and others’ education and development on GLBT issues.” Sneed said that participants are asked not to display the sign until they feel that they are ready. Sneed said that it can sometimes take days, weeks, months, or years to display the sign. Sometimes participants never feel that they are ready to hang the sign.

In addition to the initial training session, there are several follow-up sessions. These sessions are open to everyone on campus, and attendance at the main training session is not required. One of the sessions was held during Coming Out week and focused on the issues surrounding coming out. Other follow-up sessions are planned and include GLBT law issues, GLBT religion issues, and a year-end celebration for Safe Zone participants.

Spectrum president Katelynn Jensen says Safe Zone signs improve Hamline’s community.

“Seeing the signs [on professor’s doors] really makes you more comfortable with that professor. It’s a feeling of security that you know you’re in a welcoming enviroment,” Jensen said.

Junior and RA Mathew Byrnes took part in Safe Zone training while being trained for his current position as a RA. Byrnes said that he was already aware of a lot of what was taught during the session, but he said some of the issues are extremely important to educate those who are not aware of the issues.

Byrnes said that his training hasn’t been directly used in his job as RA, but he is glad that he has the training.

“I haven’t really used the training in a direct way as an RA yet, but after going through the training I’m a lot more confident that I have a better idea of how to handle situations in a more positive and helpful way,” Byrnes said.