Gay, lesbian Safe Zone training takes place at 1 p.m. Thursday in Rowe Hal 229

Central Michigan University wants to be a safe zone for gay, lesbian and transgender communities.

Students can partake in Safe Zone Training from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday in the Rowe Hall Room 229, said Jon Humiston, student ombuds officer and president’s office assistant.

“Suicide rates, dropping out of class and alcohol abuse are all high because of the negative climate on campus,” said Director of Gay and Lesbian Programs Shannon Jolliff.

The training will include why it is important to have safe zones on CMU’s campus. It also will include terminology and issues facing GLBT communities, Humiston said.

Jolliff said the training also will include heterosexual privileges, GLBT climate of the campus, the coming-out process and what it is like and what it means to be a safe zone.

“(A safe zone) would be a network of campus allies for GLBT where they can go for support around campus,” Humiston said.

Jolliff said a safe zone does not have to necessarily agree with what a person is saying, but has to know how to help the person with resources.

“We don’t expect them to be trained counselors. We expect them to understand resources the campus provides,” she said.

CMU has 280 safe zones on campus, Jolliff said. Every month, there is training held for people who want to be a safe zone. The turnout is about 15 people at each training, she said.

At the end of the training, there are contracts people can sign if they decide they want to be a safe zone, Jolliff said.

“Anyone who is interested in the training and networking (is welcome to come),” Humiston said.