Safe Zone for All training seminar expands horizons

The Safe Zone for All fall training seminar will take place on Friday, Sept. 9, in Hawkins Hall Room 107 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The seminar is being held for the fourth consecutive semester on Troy’s campus and will be covering a variety of controversial topics such as radical inclusion, the LGBTQ+ community, military veterans, spirituality and ableism.

The program focuses on ways for students, faculty, staff and even community members to help foster a safe environment for individuals belonging to these particular groups on Troy’s campus and in the city as a whole.

“We want to provide a safe zone for all students, not just for some,” said Patrick Faircloth, an assistant professor in the department of education.

Those who attend the seminar will become Safe Zone-certified and will receive a Safe Zone for All sticker. According to Faircloth, this sticker represents that the person is “willing to create a safe zone for all people.”

The group was originally founded with the intentions of fostering a safe environment for the LGBTQ+ community, Faircloth explained.

As of today, the program has branched out to protect all minorities, including international students, active duty military, military veterans, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) students, etc., making Troy a “safe zone for all.”

The training seminar will begin with students and faculty leading discussions about the topics, followed by interactive activities where they will be trained to help these groups of students in various scenarios.

“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I know it can be difficult to find someone whom you can trust to actually help you, and I think that this community helps with that,” said Carleigh Sherman, a sophomore global business major from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and president of Troy’s Spectrum Alliance.

Many faculty members will be speaking at the seminar, such as Patrick Faircloth, Pamela Rusie, Danielle Pankey, Keith Cates and Allison Hughes.

Many student organizations, as well as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service operators, will be in attendance according to Cates, associate professor and clinical director of counseling education.

Following the seminar on Friday, a Peace Walk will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, on the main quad. Registration will begin at 4 p.m., and the walk will be at 5 p.m.

To conclude, a candlelight vigil will be held at 6 p.m. on the main quad in honor of all victims and survivors of any type of violence, to include domestic violence, bullying, suicide, terrorism and criminal violence.

The seminar is free for all students, faculty and staff, and pre-boxed lunches can be ordered for $10. The last day to register is Thursday, Sept. 8. To register, e-mail safezoneforall@troy.edu.