Resource Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Students
Greetings!
If you are new to the UW – La Crosse community, I would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt welcome. This publication is an attempt to provide a handy and comprehensive piece on the resources available for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) students. Since we are continually looking to ensure that our information is current and helpful, we welcome your feedback. Please feel free to contact me with your comments at miyamoto.mich@uwlax.edu. We will strive to improve this document with each printing.
In addition to soliciting your feedback, I am also asking for your help. As the Assistant Dean of Students, I am charged with a variety of tasks. One, in particular is that of investigating and adjudicating student misconduct. We often hear second and third hand accounts of alleged hate crimes and discriminatory behavior being perpetrated against GLBT students, but do not receive official reports or complaints. If you are ever a victim or a witness to a crime of this nature, please contact the Office of Student Life, 149 Graff Main Hall, (608) 785-8062. The mission and value statements in this document are not merely rhetoric. My pledge to you is to do all that we can to ensure that your experience at UW- La Crosse is free from threat, danger, and harassment.
Michael Miyamoto, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Students
MISSION STATEMENT
Each institution of the University of Wisconsin System shares the mission of the System. The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse strives to offer an environment that emphasizes teaching excellence and meets the educational and personal needs of students through effective teaching, academic advising, counseling, and university sponsored cultural, recreational, and extracurricular programs.
Every member of the University community has the right to conduct his or her academic and social life in an environment that is free from threat, danger, harassment, or other disruption.
YOU ARE VALUED
At UW – La Crosse, we value every member of our community. Our community is made up of individuals from both sexes, whether heterosexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, or transgender; many races, ethnic groups, and nationalities; many religions; and representing a wide range of physical and mental abilities. UW – La Crosse is proud to affirm its commitment to a community in which all students, staff, and faculty are accepted and seen as individuals.
The purpose of this brochure is to provide general information, lend support, and offer referrals to resources on and off campus that can help make your experience at UW – La Crosse a positive one.
POLICIES
The university has no tolerance for discriminatory or harassing behaviors. The UW Board of Regents has clearly stated that discriminatory harassment based on race, religion, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or age is contradictory to the goals of the institution. If you witness or are subjected to behaviors of this kind, there are offices and services to offer you support, counseling, options based on applicable laws, and advice.
If you believe that a student is responsible for discriminatory or harassing behavior, report the incident to the Office of Student Life (OSL). The staff will provide support, explain the instances in which disciplinary action can be taken, indicate whether your situation involves a violation of university rules, help you sort out alternative courses of action and direct you to additional resources: online university rules governing student nonacademic misconduct
If you believe that an employee of the
University is responsible for discriminatory or harassing
behavior, report the incident to the Affirmative Action and
Diversity Office. The Affirmative Action officer will review the
situation and your options with you, which may include an
investigation and recommendations to remedy the situation.
RESOURCES
The following resources are available for information, support, and involvement.
UW-L Offices
Office of Student Life149 Graff Main Hall
(608) 785-8062
http://www.uwlax.edu/StudentLife
The Office of Student Life provides
support, explains the instances in which disciplinary action can
be taken against harassing behavior, indicates whether your
situation involves a violation of university rules, helps you
sort out alternative courses of action, and directs you to
additional resources.
Affirmative Action and Diversity Office
235 Graff Main Hall
(608) 785-8541
www.uwlax.edu/aaod/
The Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity monitors UW System Policy on Equal Opportunities in Education, the UW-L Sexual Harassment Policy, and various policies protecting rights of all individuals. The office ensures that UW-L faculty, staff, and students are not denied the benefits of an education/employment due to his or her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, or other protected status.
In addition, the Affirmative Action
Office receives and investigates student, faculty, and staff
grievances alleging any form of discriminatory treatment.
Counseling and Testing Center
1st
Floor Wilder Hall
(608) 785-8073
www.uwlax.edu/Counseling/
The Counseling and Testing Center helps all UW-L students who seek to be more effective in their academic work, personal lives, and relationships with other people. The counseling process may involve changing self-defeating behaviors, understanding uncomfortable feelings, exploring social and sexual issues that diverge from family tradition, and acknowledging and enhancing personal strengths.
Our staff provides confidentiality and a
safe space for all students. We are experienced professionals
and welcome anyone wishing to discuss sexual orientation, coming
out to parents, coming out to friends, and improving
communication with partners.
Pride Center
223 Cartwright Center
(608) 785-8870
PrideCenter@uwlax.edu
http://www.uwlax.edu/PrideCenter/
The Pride Center works:
- To focus on addressing the campus's need of providing resources for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Allies, Questioning, and Queer student concerns;
- To empower Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning and Queer students and their Allies;
- To provide educational programs at UW-L and within the La Crosse community on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning, and Queer concerns, homophobia and heterosexism;
- To provide a safe space for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning, and Queer community;
- To collaborate with the UW-La Crosse community to provide resources and educational programs that encourage the acceptance, respect, and appreciation of human diversity in relation to race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical capabilities, socioeconomic status, and religious affiliation.
Office of Residence Life
2nd
Floor Wilder Hall
(608) 785-8075
http://www.uwlax.edu/ResLife/
The Office of Residence Life is one of
the educational and student development services at UW-L. We
provide reasonable prices and well-maintained living/learning
environments designed to foster community, self-growth and
responsibility, respect for others, leadership, and positive
citizenship. To get involved or to get help in handling
situations in the residence halls, contact the student resident
assistant or the full-time hall director who lives and works in
your building. You can also stop in the Office of Residence Life
where the Director or Assistant Directors are available to
assist you. We are all here to help you have a positive living
experience.
UW-L Organizations and Committees
Rainbow Unity: People Advocating Unity and Love (RU)Will Van Roosenbeek, adviser
221 Cartwright Center
(608) 785-8866
vanroose.will@uwlax.edu
www.uwlax.edu/rainbowunity/
RU provides a community for gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender students, allies, and friends.
Activities include socials, educational programs, and discussion
groups. All people who are interested in LGBT issues are invited
to join.
GLBT Equity Committee
The mission of the GLBT Equity Committee is to focus on issues
of homophobia/heterosexism, with an emphasis on creating a
better environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender
students, faculty, and staff.
The committee is also invested in
creating a collegial working relationship with GLBT groups and
agencies in the greater La Crosse community. The committee is
constantly working on creating an inclusive atmosphere at UW-L
and in La Crosse through a range of activities.
GLBT Equity Fund
Contact the GLBT Equity Committee
This program helps fund GLBT issues at
UW-L. If you wish to donate or want to utilize the funds for
GLBT programs, please contact the GLBT Equity Committee.
Crossroads United Campus Ministry
126 N. 17th Street
Pastor Marge Erickson
(608) 784-7600
Crossroads offers GLBT students personal
counseling regarding sexual orientation, as well as offering
Bible studies and a meeting place for P-FLAG. Join us for
personal as well as spiritual growth.
Lutheran Campus Ministry
127 N. 17th Street
Campus Minister Paul Petersen
(608) 784-5935
paul_petersen@email.msn.com
Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) is a
searching, serving, and celebrating Christian community open to
all students at UW-L. LCM is a Reconciled in Christ Community
offering a safe environment for all GLBT persons. Campus
Minister Paul Petersen is available for individual or group
conversations concerning issues of faith and sexuality.
Roncalli Newman Parish & Catholic
Student Group
1732 State Street
Father Mark Pierce, Pastor
(608) 784-4994
The Roncalli Newman Parish is a
gathering of students, university staff, and area folk of Roman
Catholic background and their friends who seek a stronger
connection with God through study, worship, service, and
fellowship. We are not a perfect community, but we are striving
to grow in understanding, hospitality, and respect.
La Crosse Community Resources
GALAXY – Gay Alliance of La Crosse Area Youtha program by the YWCA La Crosse
3219 Commerce Street
La Crosse, WI 54603
(608) 781-2783 ext. 3
Galaxy website
GALAXY exists to Support, Educate, and Empower (SEE) LGBTIQQA* young people between the ages of 13 and 19. We meet for weekly programs and activities, attend community events together, go on group outings and road trips, participate in conferences, provide referrals, sit on panels for diversity days and other experience-based opportunities, have socials, and try out other cool ideas that people in our Galaxy dream up and enact.
Parents, Families, and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG)
P.O. Box 3655
La Crosse, WI 54602-3655
(608) 784-7600
The La Crosse chapter of this national organization for support, education, and advocacy meets at United Campus Ministries on a monthly basis. Please call for our meeting day and time.
AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW)
Grandview Center
1707 Main St, Suite 420
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608)785-9866 or 1-800-947-3353
http://www.arcw.org
The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin is a private, nonprofit health and social service agency that works to confront and alleviate the effects of the HIV disease in Wisconsin. ARCW provides aggressive HIV education and prevention; comprehensive services for people affected by HIV disease; clinical research on HIV treatment and HIV advocacy. The La Crosse office serves 5 Western Region counties: Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of
La Crosse
Southside Senior Center, 1220 Denton St., La Crosse, WI
54601
P.O. Box 2676
(608) 796-9993
Sunday services -- 10:00 a.m.
Unitarian Universalism is a non-creedal religion, holding that each individual should be free to find truth and meaning as it best fits their own life experiences. The respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people is a key guiding principle for Unitarian Universalists. Our national organization, The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), passed its first resolution supporting bisexual, gay and lesbian communities in their struggle for equal rights and acceptance in 1970. Since then, the UUA has continued to advocate for equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification. Our La Crosse congregation will support you in your search for meaning and value you for who you are.
COURSES OFFERED
The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse is striving to offer an education that embraces diversity. There are a number of UW-L courses that in some fashion address issues of sexual orientation, homophobia, and heterosexism as part of their content.Following are some departments that offer such courses. For more information, please contact the department chair.