Safe Zone Training Program Analysis

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Stephanie Young and Amie McKibban were new to the faculty at the University of Southern Indiana (USI) in 2009. They mutually decided that there was a need for “Safe Zone” trainings at the University. The paper they published is distinctly written to explore the tensions that both authors experienced in establishing a Safe Zone training program at USI. The authors use qualitative methods of recording their experiences and how they relate to one another, and the wider social implications their experiences were based around. The bulk of the paper is spent discussing how they collaborate, sometimes with more success and other times with less. Ultimately, the pair were successful and lauded for their contributions to improving LGBTQ safety in and around the USI …show more content…

Their experiences allowed them to write about the types of issues that leaders hoping to begin a Safe Zone training program will be faced with. In their writings, they establish the importance of continuing forth in the development of these vital training programs with mindfulness to the types of resistance that they may encounter. Additionally, the types of people who decided to participate in Safe Zone training vary widely and may have different needs and motivations. This means that Safe Zone training can make some people uncomfortable and depending on the audience, there may be resistance encountered. Lastly, they establish that it is a significant commitment and people who take these leadership positions should note that they are choosing to be an active member in a vital role on their campus. It’s important to take into consideration time management and prevent burnout. The goal of the paper was to empower readers to build community and advocate for social