title: Allies in the struggle.
abstract: SUMMARY Providing a community that is committed to standards, diversity, and enhancement of the academic environment is often difficult. Offering an Allies or Safe Zone program is among of the first steps an institution can take to achieve a community that embraces diversity and creates a learning environment that is accepting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals. While there are many opportunities in institutional group settings to address these issues, they often go either unnoticed or untapped. How can being an ally impact the greater institutional environment? This paper will discuss the campus environment for LGBT students, examine existing Allies and Safe Zone programs, and offer a framework to assist program coordinators and participants in establishing comprehensive programs to change the campus climate and develop institutional environments that are gay affirmative.
authors.affiliation: a Engineering Academic Programs Office, Look College of Engineering , Texas A&M University , MS 3127, College Station , TX , 77843-3127 , USA.
authors.forename: Tricia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Draughn
authors.forename: Becki
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elkins
authors.forename: Rakhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roy
keywords: Ally/Allies; campus climate; heterosexism; homophobia; safe zone