Mission Statement

We are a concerned group of students, faculty members, staff, and community supporters who celebrate the diversity among us and choose to work towards inclusion and affirmation of all people. It is our intent to eliminate discrimination in all fields of human relationships and in specific instances because of age, gender, race, color, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, religious creed, or national origin. It is our hope to foster, through education and community effort, good will, cooperation and conciliation among the groups and elements of our campus and community.

Goals

Our goal is to create an environment in which people of all sexual orientations feel safe and free to pursue their educational, professional, and personal goals without fear of harassment and/or intimidation and receive support and assistance when needed. Specifically, we seek to:

• Develop and support on-going educational programs that address the issues of heterosexism and homophobia across all levels of the campus and community.
• Create safe space for gatherings offering support and social interaction among peers and develop self-governing student groups.
• Empower lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals to report incidents of harassment without fear of reprisal.
• Create alliances with non-gay students, faculty, staff, and community members to eliminate homophobia.
• Encourage administrative and departmental support and endorsement 'of these goals.

Progress

The Board of Trustees of the University System of New Hampshire included sexual orientation in the USNH non-discrimination policy on June 18, 1992. That statement is included in the USNH Personnel Policy manual, and in student, staff and faculty handbooks. In recent years the Plymouth State College community has made efforts to reduce discrimination based on sexual orientation. The PSC Safe Zone Project is the latest initiative.

For information concerning our next meeting contact Betsy Cheney at 535-2643