Student Services Spotlight: SAFE@HFC
This article is part of a series highlighting our Student Services offices and what they can do for you. For information about all HFC student services, please visit the Student Services and Campus Resources.
Even in this pandemic, the goal of SAFE@HFC to keep HFC safe goes beyond our campuses.
“We find ourselves at a crossroads where the current political climate threatens to rescinded LBGTQ+ rights. These are not extraordinary rights, mind you, but basic human rights denied to many within the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a dangerous time. Our efforts are needed now more than ever. We’re committed to being there and supporting people. We’re not going away,” said Elizabeth Preston, HFC Financial Aid Specialist and SAFE@HFC chairperson.
SAFE@HFC is a campus organization of faculty and staff. Their work focuses on providing support to LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) students, faculty, and staff. Likewise, SAFE@HFC works to engage the College community to spread awareness, provide support, and connect students and employees to resources.
“We provide resources and have made ourselves available to anyone in need,” said Preston. “I’ve received emails from students who have been struggling. We have helped students who have had issues with the preferred name form and its purpose. We have shared this with faculty so they can be a resource for students.”
Finding allies
Many SAFE@HFC volunteers are allies. Allies are open and knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ issues. Allies choose to provide support openly, actively, and consistently for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. Allies support full, equal civil rights; gender equality; positive social change, and they stand against discrimination and phobias: homophobia, bi-phobia, and transphobia. Allies are often, though not always, cisgender, straight individuals.
“We have a very diverse and inclusive committee of volunteers from across campus. We also hold annual ally training sessions so we can remain informed, educated, and knowledgeable in ways we can best support our students, faculty, and staff. Trained allies are identified on our website. They don’t solve problems, but they listen, they care, they are safe points of contact, and they connect those in need to additional resources. Our commitment to students, faculty, and staff at HFC will not be reduced by the pandemic or any other factor,” said Preston.
Promoting equity and inclusion
In June 2020, President Russell Kavalhuna hosted a Town Hall Meeting via Zoom to discuss racial injustice and discrimination and how HFC can work to support all marginalized communities. Many concerns were raised at this meeting, and pointed questions about HFC’s culture regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion were asked. Preston pointed to this event as an example of the commitment and support SAFE@HFC has received from the College administration.
“This support has been invaluable to the work we have been doing, and it illustrates the commitment our College places on the importance of promoting equity and inclusion,” said Preston. “These are all positive steps toward moving the needle at the College. We’ve made great strides over the past four years. If you searched ‘diversity’ then, not much came up. Today, there’s a wealth of information available to anyone: resources, preferred name form, scholarships listed for LGBTQ+ people, a list of gender-inclusive restrooms, ally training opportunities, definitions, food pantries in the area, shelters, etc. We’ve done a lot of good, but we still have many miles to go.”
For questions or more information about SAFE@HFC, contact safe@hfcc.edu or EMPreston@hfcc.edu.
SAFE@HFC is closely affiliated with the Sexuality And Gender Acceptance Club (SAGA), a student-led group whose mission is to support students in their lives as LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. For questions or more information about SAGA, contact SAGA advisor Troy Gibson at trgibson3@hfcc.edu.