The Department of Residential Life is committed to creating communities that are inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ students. We hire staff who are inclusive, we offer programs that are educational and that celebrate diversity, and we have a protocol in place to address prejudice incidents in the halls.

Take a look at some RHD perspectives on supporting the Queer Community.
Jay Tifone- Jessie Doe Hall Director
Sarah Linz- Engelhardt Hall Director

STAFF: Each residence hall has a full-time Hall Director who lives in the building and is responsible for making the hall a vibrant, respectful, and educational community.

We also provide extensive diversity training to our Resident Assistants. They participate in a day-long training in the fall called "Boxes and Walls".

Amie, Melissa & Beth 2007-2008

PROGRAMS: We educate residents about a variety of topics, and diversity is high on our list of priorities. Our goal is to encourage studentsto explore and celebrate diversity. One example of an initiative that celebrated our LGBTQ students was a campus-wide T-shirt campaign led by Patrick Wade, the Christensen Hall Director. We purchased shirts that said "Gay? Fine by Me" for the 130 undergraduate Resident Assistants on campus and they wore them around their buildings while doing rounds during National Coming Out Week.

PREJUDICE RESPONSE: Our staff aggressively confronts anti-gay sentiments in our halls. We simply won't tolerate this type of behavior, whether it is written or verbal. We realize we can't necessarily change people's beliefs, however any acts of prejudice directed at under-represented groups in our community will not be tolerated.

Emily Gifford, Resident Assistant

I have several gay, lesbian and bisexual students on my floor this year. I was a little nervous at first, coming from a small town with a small LGBTQ population. But then I realized, what difference does it make!? It has been a great experience for my residents and me to talk about and get to understand sexual orientation better. Conversations between the GLB residents on my floor and the straight students has helped made everyone be more aware of the offensive things that can happen in the world.

Scott Chesney, Director of Residential Life

As Director of Residential Life, I am proud of our department's commitment to the GBTL community. It is important to me that my staff reach to all our students to help them find their own niche and contribution to our residential community. We will not accept homophobia as an okay state of mind.

These values mean much to me both professionally and personally. As a teenager, my sister tried to kill herself. When she awoke at the hospital and I asked her why, she chose that moment to come out to me..the first person in our family she came out to. She told me that she just didn't want to continue to live hiding her real life and essence from everyone. This was close to 30 years ago when the culture was even less accepting than it is today. From that moment, the issue has mattered to me in a very personal way and it always will.

Abbey Kendrigan,
Senior RA
2005-06

An effective, yet simple, way that I have shown support for GLBTQ students is putting a Safe Zones placard on my door.  It serves as a reminder to everyone who approaches my door that I will not tolerate discrimination.  I also support and consistently call people on "word choice." It is really important to have a conversation with someone if they have used a word inappropriately.  When you can make someone understand why their language choices are bad for the community, then they will be more likely to make lasting changes.

ReportIt is an initiative that began in 2002 in order to provide the UNH community with additional ways to report incidents of hate, bias, discrimination and harassment. The University of New Hampshire is committed to creating and ensuring a safe, welcoming and equitable campus.
ReportIt

Welcome Incoming LGBTQ Students

Inside Scoop/Welcome Class of '09

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Share the experiences of some UNH staff and what it means to be a multicultural employee at the University of New Hampshire
Being a Multicultural Employee