<< Front page News March 5, 2004

AHH defines its safe space

Lately students, faculty and administration have been discussing the idea of safe spaces at Oberlin College. Whether in student organizations, dorms or other affiliations, many people are clueless about what a safe space is.

While the definition varies from group to group, it is important for the logistics of the idea to be explained for others to follow and adhere to. It is this notion that brings the Afrikan Heritage House (also known as Lord/Saunders) to clarify its meaning, purpose and objective of a safe space. Following is a statement from the House to the Oberlin community explaining its function and service.

The following was submitted by Afrikan Heritage House resident Morgan Shelton, composed by residents of Afrikan Heritage House.

To the Oberlin College campus and community:

There has been much speculation regarding safe spaces on campus. As a center of such a site, the Afrikan Heritage House wishes to explain its definition of safe space and service to that term. It is with this explanation that we hope visitors to the House and all who speak of it have a better understanding of how the House functions.

The House serves as a program house that dually educates the campus and community about the Black community and serves as a residential dorm to students. It is this binary function that makes it necessary to have a safe space for members of the Black community to gather and coexist comfortably.

While it is important for the House to educate those willing to learn about the Black experience, it must also serve the needs of the Black community in providing a space where people can relax together.

The safe space, then, has been defined in accordance with the following understanding. The House serves as an educational tool in conjunction with the African American Studies Department and does not exclude any person or group of people.

The safe space is recognized as the Afrikan Heritage House as a whole. Meaning that Lord Lounge, Saunders Lounge, Lord Hall, Saunders Hall, Lord/Saunders Dining Hall and all components of the House are considered to be safe spaces.

When people enter the House, residents of AHH request that they act with respect toward the Black community and its heritage. This means that anyone who comes to the dining hall must eat and act with a basic level of respect; users of the computer lab must be respectful; anyone walking through the lounges or the halls must be respectful to the space and others; people attending programs in the House will also be respectful.

In reference to programs held in the House, people are required to attend with a basic level of respect. If there are any exclusive safe space programs catered toward a specific community, program attendants must fit the criteria set and advertised in order to attend.

If the location where the exclusive safe space meeting being held is temporarily blocked off (i.e. Lord Lounge), nobody may pass through the space. If there is no sign signifying that the space is blocked off, people may walk through in order to pass to another side of the building, but must be respectful and not disrupt the event.

In asking for people to be respectful to the AHH, its residents, and its programs, the House wishes to define what is meant by the term “respect.” Respect means that people must be open to learning about the Black community, not be offensive or rude with their actions nor with their remarks, adhere to traditions upheld by the House and be considerate toward the history of the Black community.

The House also wishes to define the population that it serves. It caters to members of the Black community and African Diaspora, those who identify with the Black community,and allies of the community. An ally of the House is defined as a person who respects the Black community, its endeavors and its heritage.

With this clarification of what the AHH’s safe space means, residents and supporters of the program house hope that this will aid in the public’s understanding of its services. The AHH thanks all who have helped in continuing its mission of working for and with the Black community as well as its allies. Its mission could not be continued without your contribution.

Respectfully,
The Afrikan Heritage House


 
 
   

The Review News Service: News, weather, sports and more, in your ObieMail every Sunday and Wednesday night. (Click here to subscribe.)