Woodburn Circle at West Virginia University. (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)
A new, student-led initiative through West Virginia University’s LGBTQ+ Center will promote anti-racist and gender-inclusive practices on campus through a series of trainings that include a history of racism, systemic discrimination, the complexities of identity-based on race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender, and certain language and resources to know how to intervene in bias, harassment and discrimination.
Quotes and comments
“We are excited to launch this new safe zone training program to help bring about mutual understanding and respect in our classrooms, around campus and in our local communities. We hope faculty and instructors will invite our amazing team of student leaders into their lecture halls to lead one-hour conversations about anti-racist and gender-inclusive practices. The peer-to-peer education not only helps raise awareness of the intersection of race, color, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, but it offers our students an opportunity to hone their leadership and communications skills while building a stronger sense of belonging and community on WVU’s campuses.
“We are thankful for the funds provided by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and are eager to begin these important conversations this academic year, whether in person or virtually. Just let us know when and where, and we’ll be there.” – Ellen Rodrigues, Interim Director, WVU LGBTQ+ Center
Resources
- WVU LGBTQ+ Center
- LGBTQ+ and Transgender Safe Zone Trainings
- WVU resources for LGBTQ+ community members
Target audiences:
- Faculty and staff
- Students
- Students interested in social advocacy
- Student organization leaders
-WVU-
ks/08/18/20
CONTACT: Katie Farmer
Communications Director and Marketing Strategist
Office of the Provost
304-293-1066; katie.longo@mail.wvu.edu
Call 1-855-WVU-NEWS for the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday.
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.