Spring Break
S.A.F.E - Students Alliance For Equality
Laniaya Alesia Hoofatt
Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: News
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Student's Alliance For Equality is a Facebook group that was created after the official S.A.F.E. meeting was held in Spring Arbor, Mich. on March 6. This Facebook group is student led and is open to the community. The groups exist to promote equality and diversity. S.A.F.E. attempts to create a safe haven for students who support and identify with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning community. *queer is also accepted for the Q, I didn't know which I should put*
The mission statement reads: "Student Alliance For Equality (S.A.F.E.) is a student-led group, open to the community, which exists to promote equality and diversity. We strive to create a safe environment for students who support and identify with the GLBTQ community. S.A.F.E. will accomplish this by creating a support network for GLBTQ individuals, fighting discrimination and promoting equal treatment through education, awareness and advocacy."
S.A.F.E wants to achieve this by having support systems for GLBTQ individuals. It also wants to fight discrimination and promote equal treatment through education and awareness, and advocate in a positive light.
"It seems some at SAU have felt the presence of S.A.F.E. is in some way threatening. I cannot say enough that S.A.F.E. is not here to tear anything down but to build up individuals by promoting justice and equality. S.A.F.E.'s mission is two-fold, to create a safe place for a segment of the student body to express themselves the way they are, the beautiful and unique way God made them. Secondly, to encourage Spring Arbor University to treat all of its students with an equal amount of respect and dignity as students and human beings. The university has a ways to go with the latter, but we remain determined in the face of discrimination and intimidation and will continue our work for as long as it takes regardless of negative reactions to what we are doing," said Drew Hinkle, President of S.A.F.E.
Like the Gay Straight Alliance, S.A.F.E. wants to promote a safer environment at schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other aspects of oppression. They are doing this by having open discussion and events for students to express themselves.
"I would say that my purpose in the group is to let GLBTQ students know that they have friends who are on their side and who aren't going to try and change them. And also work together to make Spring Arbor a more caring and compassionate place for everyone," said Joel Skene, S.A.F.E. member and senior at SAU.
The group stresses that it is not here to create trouble, merely to bring awareness and become a safe haven for students. Having a better understanding and being educated about homophobia and gender identity can bring better understanding and sensitivity to the subject. Education in any form eliminates ignorance.
The mission statement reads: "Student Alliance For Equality (S.A.F.E.) is a student-led group, open to the community, which exists to promote equality and diversity. We strive to create a safe environment for students who support and identify with the GLBTQ community. S.A.F.E. will accomplish this by creating a support network for GLBTQ individuals, fighting discrimination and promoting equal treatment through education, awareness and advocacy."
S.A.F.E wants to achieve this by having support systems for GLBTQ individuals. It also wants to fight discrimination and promote equal treatment through education and awareness, and advocate in a positive light.
"It seems some at SAU have felt the presence of S.A.F.E. is in some way threatening. I cannot say enough that S.A.F.E. is not here to tear anything down but to build up individuals by promoting justice and equality. S.A.F.E.'s mission is two-fold, to create a safe place for a segment of the student body to express themselves the way they are, the beautiful and unique way God made them. Secondly, to encourage Spring Arbor University to treat all of its students with an equal amount of respect and dignity as students and human beings. The university has a ways to go with the latter, but we remain determined in the face of discrimination and intimidation and will continue our work for as long as it takes regardless of negative reactions to what we are doing," said Drew Hinkle, President of S.A.F.E.
Like the Gay Straight Alliance, S.A.F.E. wants to promote a safer environment at schools for students to support each other and learn about homophobia and other aspects of oppression. They are doing this by having open discussion and events for students to express themselves.
"I would say that my purpose in the group is to let GLBTQ students know that they have friends who are on their side and who aren't going to try and change them. And also work together to make Spring Arbor a more caring and compassionate place for everyone," said Joel Skene, S.A.F.E. member and senior at SAU.
The group stresses that it is not here to create trouble, merely to bring awareness and become a safe haven for students. Having a better understanding and being educated about homophobia and gender identity can bring better understanding and sensitivity to the subject. Education in any form eliminates ignorance.
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A concerned reader
posted 5/17/07 @ 2:50 PM EST
The students that belong to SAFE has created the perfect 'Get out of Jail Card' that eludes most other students at SAU. They have found the loophole that allows them to support the sin without the fear of the consequences. (Continued…)
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