It started with a few stickers.

“Safe Zone” stickers, originating from Iowa State, can be seen across campus and even across the country.

The project, which involves promoting the use of the stickers that promote a safe environment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, originated with the Dean of Student’s Office.

To a LGBT student, the Safe Zone sticker is very important, said Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, president of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Alliance.

“It might not mean something to a person who doesn’t know about the program,” she said, “but that sticker means a lot to someone who needs a safe zone . and someone to talk to.”

According to Iowa State’s Safe Zone Web site, the sticker is used to symbolize that the individual displaying the sticker is willing to have “understanding, non-judgment and knowledge of LGBT persons’ needs and concerns.”

The sticker symbolizes “a willingness and a commitment” to provide an atmosphere of unqualified acceptance and assistance to LGBT students, colleagues and their allies, according to the Web site.

Johnny Rogers, graduate assistant for the LGBT Student Services, said the program was started with funding from a grant and has continued with private donations.

Rogers, graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies, said it is important for the program to continue to reach new students, as the population at Iowa State is always changing and growing. New students don’t always know what a Safe Zone is or where to find someone to talk to regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

Beatty-Hansen, junior in political science, said she questions how many new students know about the program, but that she has seen Safe Zone stickers as far away as Massachusetts.

“I met someone who was originally from Ames who now lives in Cape Cod this summer and thought it was so cool that they had a sticker on their car,” she said.

Other Safe Zone products, including key chains and window clings, are popular among students, Beatty-Hansen said.

“Well over 6,000 emblems . have been distributed,” Rogers said. “With new students coming in all the time it is important [to] renew some publicity.”

Both Beatty-Hansen and Rogers stressed the importance of students being aware of both students and faculty posting a Safe Zone sticker or carrying a key chain.

“I think a lot of people have the misconception that when you post a sticker it means that you are an activist, but in a negative sense, or that you have to be L, G, B or T,” said Rogers, who also said most stickers are posted by Allies, supporters of the LGBT community who are not necessarily a part of it.

Rogers said the program has pretty much remained the same since its inception at Iowa State in November of 1997.

“The only changes I’ve seen in the program is that the number and locations of stickers have changed as people have more courage or conviction to put up the stickers,” she said. “It’s interesting to see where stickers around campus have popped up.”

Beatty-Hansen said there was some question over how to reach new students at Iowa State, as well as older students who may not be aware of the program.

“We need to work on making the program more well-known,” Beatty-Hansen said. “We need more student involvement.”

The program distributes Safe Zone materials mostly through word of mouth.

“It’s always been a program based on requests,” Rogers said.