Listening Up: Peer Listeners Support Fellow Students

Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor

Tucked away in a secluded corner of Pearlstone is a space designated for listening and confidentiality. Called the safe space, the room serves as the destination for the college’s peer listening program for which students serve as a support system for their fellow Gophers.

The 18 peer listeners receive in-depth training, including over 60 hours in the space, as part of acceptance to the program. In its third year, the service is co-directed by founder Roshelle Kades ’10 and chaplain Cynthia Terry.

Peer Listening co-director Roshelle Kades poses in the Safe Space, where students can talk to peer listeners. (Photo: Annie Cutchen).

Using the logo, a conglomeration of Chinese characters, representing the words eyes, ears, attention and heart, the program’s purpose is to “create a service where students feel like they can come to someone who is genuinely listening to them in a very complete way,” said Kades.