Campus Connection

The UW-La Crosse Department of Theatre Arts and UW-L Information Technology Services received a state award for the development and dissemination of “Peter’s Story,” a documentary on former UW-L student Peter Talen who died in a house fire on the UW-Madison campus while visiting his brother. The Corporate Responsibility Award is from the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety. The video documents what happened at the scene of the fire and interviews with family, friends and faculty members. It has been used in UW-L orientations, by the City of Madison and in other fire prevention efforts. During the award acceptance speech on Tuesday, Oct. 11, Jim Jorstad, director of Academic Technology Services, spoke of the work of Mary Leonard, director of the performance program in the Department of Theatre Arts, and the many people who made this project possible. The UW-L Foundation was also recognized for having the vision and foresight to provide financial support for the project. “The dividends received from the Foundation's investment in this project have been impressive,” says Jorstad. “In some regard, perhaps the greatest dividend is priceless —saving people lives. This is a very good story to tell others.” Watch "Peter's Story"