Resource Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual Students and their Allies

Greetings!

If you are new to the UW – La Crosse community, welcome. This site is an attempt to provide a handy and comprehensive piece on the resources available for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual students and their allies. Since we are continually looking to ensure that our information is current and helpful, we welcome your feedback. Please contact the Student Life Office with your comments at studentlife@uwlax.edu.

In addition to soliciting your feedback, we are also asking for your help.  We often hear second and third hand accounts of alleged hate crimes and discriminatory behavior being perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual students and their allies but do not receive official reports or complaints. If you are ever a victim, a witness, or a hate incident is reported to you, please complete a confidential hate incident report form or contact the Student Life Office, 149 Graff Main Hall, (608) 785-8062. The mission and value statements in this document are not merely rhetoric. Our 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.

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 different sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions; 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 webpage 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, gender identity or expression, 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 Student Life Office (SLO). 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 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

Student Life Office
149 Graff Main Hall
(608) 785-8062
http://www.uwlax.edu/StudentLife

The Student Life Office 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 Office
135 Graff Main Hall
(608) 785-8541
www.uwlax.edu/aaod/

The Office of Affirmative Action 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
2106 Centennial 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
Lower Level, Cartwright Center
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, Asexual, Questioning, and Queer student concerns;
  • To empower Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual, 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, Asexual, Questioning, and Queer concerns, homophobia and heterosexism;
  • To provide a safe space for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual, 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
Eagle 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
Lower Level, Cartwright Center
(608) 785-8887 
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 LGBTIQQAA issues are invited to join.

Eagle Equity Committee
The mission of the Eagle Equity Committee is to focus on issues of homophobia/heterosexism, with an emphasis on creating a better environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, asexual students, faculty, and staff and their allies.

The committee is also invested in creating a collegial working relationship with LGBTIQQAA 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.

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 & Newman Catholic Students 
1732 State Street
newman@uwlax.edu
(608) 784-4994

The Roncalli Newman Parish is the Catholic parish for the academic communities of the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and Western Technical College. Our primary mission is to invite the student community at UW-L and WTC to know God in Christ, to enrich their lives through prayer, to promote Christian values, and to educate for justice and peace.

We provide an environment for students of Catholic background, or who may be interested in Catholicism, to grow in faith through study, worship, spirituality, fellowship and service. While sponsored by the Catholic Community, our doors are open to all students of good will seeking common ground.

La Crosse Community Resources

GALAXY
LGBT Resource Center for the 7 Rivers Region
PO Box 3313
303 Pearl Street
La Crosse  WI   54602-3313
608-784-0452
 www.7riverslgbt.org/about.htm

GALAXY is a group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning youth ages 14 to 19 who want to hang out with other LGBTQ teens and discuss issues relevant to LGBTQ teens. GALAXY creates a safe and drug free space where kids can freely discuss issues, participate in activities that allow them to become educated about important issues and to just be who they are as unique spectacular individuals.

LGBT Resource Center for the 7 Rivers Region
PO Box 3313
303 Pearl Street
La Crosse  WI   54602-3313
608-784-0452
www.7riverslgbt.org/about.htm

The LGBT Resource Center provides services to foster understanding and build connections on issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity to the 7 Rivers Region through education, events and programming.

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG)
LGBT Resource Center for the 7 Rivers Region
PO Box 3313
303 Pearl Street
La Crosse  WI   54602-3313
608-784-0452
 www.7riverslgbt.org/about.htm

Meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 at the Center, 303 Pearl St. Parents, friends, and allies of LGBTQ people meet to share support and experiences.

AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW)
2519 South Avenue
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
401 West Avenue South
La Crosse, WI   54601
(608) 796-9993
www.uulacrosse.org/index.html
Sunday services -- 10:00 a.m.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse is  liberal religious congregation welcoming to everyone searching for truth and meaning.  We, as a member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote

  • The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  • Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  • Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  • A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  • The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  • The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
  • Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

 The Unitarian Universalist of La Crosse has taken part in the UUA Welcoming Congregation Program to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people.

  

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.

Educational Studies (EFN)

Psychology (PSY)

Sociology (SOC)

Women's Studies (W-S)