Safe Zone for All’s fall training topics to include internationals, active military

For its second semester in operation, the Safe Zone for All initiative training at Troy has expanded to include portions about international students and active military on campus.

For its inaugural training last spring semester, the Safe Zone for All initiative included sections on LGBT+ issues as well as the hearing impaired and otherwise disabled, but is “expanding on what there was last year,” according to Toni Davis, a graduate student involved with the program.

“We started this entirely grass-roots here at Troy,” Davis said, noting that many universities have similar programs.

“We’re discussing now what is our real focus and what we are,” Davis said. “It’s growing slowly, and at the same time we’re getting more organized and getting a better vision for the program.”

Davis said that the training is open to everyone on campus, and so far faculty members and student leaders have been signing up to attend.

“I think we’re going to become an entity that promotes, instead of tolerance, promotes what we call ‘radical inclusion,’ ” Davis said. “Tolerance is not enough.”

Stickers received after training can be placed anywhere, such as an office door, to indicate that the area is a “safe zone.”

“It means that you have had the training and you are promoting diversity and inclusion,” Davis said. “People can feel safe there and talk about issues.”

The training is tomorrow, Sept. 25, and includes a morning session on the selected topics from 9 a.m. until noon.

From 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., there will be scenarios created by the Safe Zone for All initiative. The scenarios allow participants to see the mentioned problems firsthand.

The afternoon session is not required in order to receive a sticker, but you must attend in the morning in order to go in the afternoon.

There will also be a Peace Walk the next day, Saturday, Sept. 26, starting at 10 a.m. on the main quad.

The group can be reached at safezoneforall@troy.edu.