Students who are questioning their sexuality are not alone -- there are mentors lined up to help them.
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center program -- which has recently been gaining in popularity -- pairs students who are questioning their sexuality with older gay students who can provide them with answers or support.
There have been 50 pairs this year, up from close to 40 last year, LGBT Center Associate Director Erin Cross said.
The program "now has such a solid reputation, and people are taking advantage of it on a more regular basis," Cross said.
Engineering sophomore Keith Mangam, who participated in the program, said, "It was so easy to talk to one person, it really makes you feel safe."
Flyers advertising the program are posted throughout campus and encourage questioning students to visit the center's Web site to learn more about it.
At the site, students are able to sign up either to be a mentor or to receive one. They then submit an application with their name and basic information.
Based on personal requests regarding things like region, religion, major and gender, each mentee is evaluated and paired with a mentor.
However, many don't want their identities known as they struggle with this personal matter.
On their applications, students can choose not to disclose their real names or can ask for complete anonymity.
"If they want to communicate with their mentor using a pseudonym or alias, that's fine with us," Cross said.
The program's main goal is to provide a comfortable environment and someone to listen for students who think they may be gay.
As a mentee in the program last year, Mangam said he "didn't really know a lot about it to begin with," but that participating in the program allowed him to "talk it out" and have someone else relate to his confusion.
Mangam is now on the executive board of the Queer Student Alliance and hopes to continue participating in the program as a mentor.
QSA Co-Chairman and Wharton junior Brett Thalmann agreed that the benefits of the program go beyond mere listening and support -- many mentees feel more confident and become more involved at Penn after participating.
"I think it's great that [the program] is helping people figure out things for themselves," Thalmann said. "They are much more involved in activities and feel more comfortable at Penn."
Generally, gay or questioning students seem to find an accepting climate at Penn, Thalmann said.
"I had no qualms or concerns about the Penn community," Mangam said. For him, how to come out to his close friends and family presented a larger issue.
Mentors in the program are asked mainly to listen and answer questions, providing an outlet for students unsure of what to do or where to go.
Cross tries her hardest to meet individual requests of each mentee.
She says that the program centers around "making students feel comfortable and safe on campus."
