An open door alone does not an ally make. To many in academia who are in distress and who feel voiceless and vulnerable, knocking on another, especially senior, person’s door can be an immense psychological barrier to overcome. After perhaps a lifetime’s worth of discrimination, the path leading to such a door is seldom paved, let alone clear of obstacles. Believing that someone behind it may be an ally stems from a combination of individual experiences that are hard, if not impossible, to anticipate.