Survey: Gays, lesbians feel unsafe on, off UGA campus

ATHENS - A survey of gay and lesbian students at the University of Georgia says half feel unsafe off campus and ten percent have been threatened with physical violence. <br> <br> The survey of 82 non-heterosexuals was the first study conducted on sexual minorities at the university. <br> <br> A new report called, ``In the Shadow of the Arch,&#39;&#39; details the responses to the surveys. It suggests the campus climate may not be as welcoming as school officials would hope. <br> <br> Among the findings: <br> <br> - One out of two respondents said they had experienced prejudice on campus. <br> <br> - Sixty percent knew someone who&#39;d been shunned because of sexual orientation. <br> <br> - One of ten had been threatened with physical violence. <br> <br> - Three of every four knew someone who&#39;d been verbally harassed. <br> <br> Education professor Robert Hill was among the administrators and professors who oversaw the project. <br> <br> He says many gay and lesbian students at Georgia did NOT want to identify themselves. Researchers placed ads in the student newspaper and gave out 223 surveys, but got only 82 responses by the December deadline.