WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 21, 2017 — West Liberty University’s students and staff have an opportunity to learn more about diversity this week. An official Safe Zone training will take place at noon and 5 p.m., Feb. 22 and again at 2 p.m., Feb. 23 in the Boyle Center, Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex (ASRC).
WLU Highlands campus manager, Sara Sweeney organized the training sessions on behalf of WLU Campus and Community Diversity Team.
“You can help create a campus community where everyone is treated with respect. At the Safe Zone training you will learn about the LGBTQ+ community and find ways to be supportive of the community members,” Sweeney said. (LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning.)
“The safe zone training is extremely important in regards to showing full acceptance on a college campus and understanding various diverse groups of people,” said a resident assistant (RA) and a member of the campus LGBTQ community Adam Croasmun.
“It also gives everyone an amazing opportunity to learn and be able to ask questions,” he added.
“This issue hits really close to home with me,” Croasmun said. “People should attend this training to better understand people like me and to see that it sometimes isn’t easy for our community because there is so much stereotyping and people pre-judging based solely on our sexual orientation or even gender identity for some.”
Croasmun is an education major from Paden City, W.Va. He is a member of the WLU Pride Club and a director of programming on Student Government Association executive board.
Croasmun encourages students to attend Pride weekly meetings as well as the safe zone training, “it is such an amazing group that is so accepting and open to everyone on campus, so go to meetings on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. in the basement of the Union whether you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally who wants to show support.”
“I’m proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community,” Croasmun added. “I know that in time, everyone will have compassion and love for ALL people in the world. We are all one, and we all deserve mutual respect no matter where we come from, who we are, or what we represent. Our hearts all pump the same color blood, so let’s be there for each other.”
It is the second year the safe zone training will be offered on WLU campus.
WLU alumnus Andrew Lewis ’05 will host the event. Lewis worked as an Area Coordinator in WLU Housing Office from 2006-2009 and is now the Director of Housing and Residence Life at Bethany College.
The safety zone training is a part of Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative launched in 2009 by Higher Education Policy Commission, which aims to strengthen diversity on college campuses.
Registration for the training is open online. For more information on safe zone training, contact Sweeney at sara.sweeney@westliberty.edu or call 304-217-2800.
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