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Sapiro: No place for hate at UW-Madison

January 20, 2006 By John Lucas

UW–Madison is a place for people of all political, social and religious beliefs, but aggressive and violent behavior toward others will not be tolerated, says interim Provost Virginia Sapiro.

“Our university is committed to promoting a campus climate that is welcoming to all people,” Sapiro says. “To be a truly great university, we need people of many experiences, backgrounds and orientations living and learning together.”

Sapiro’s comments come in the wake of four men being charged with hate crimes after allegedly defacing the door of an Ogg Hall Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) liaison. “We strongly oppose discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, gender, or political affiliation,” she says.

UW–Madison offers a range of resources and educational programming for members of the campus community interested in learning more about LGBT issues.

The programs include:

  • University Housing LGBT Liaisons, student staff members who work to make residence halls supportive and open places for the discussion of LGBT issues. The program offers regular socials and educational programming for all students, including straight allies of gay students.

    The goal of the program is to ensure that all students feel safe, welcomed, included, and supported in their residence halls. For more information, call Larry Davis at (608) 262-0914.

  • The LGBT Campus Center, located on the second floor of the Memorial Union, works to provide support to LGBT students and their allies on campus. In addition, the center provides educational outreach and programming designed to foster a greater understanding of LGBT people among the university’s heterosexual community.

    The center’s services include a mentoring program and support and social groups. One-on-one mentoring programs match students who are just coming to an understanding of their sexuality with mentors of similar backgrounds and experiences.

    Support and social groups offer a safe and secure environment for students, whether LGBT or heterosexual, to develop support networks as they continue through their coming out processes, or, as heterosexual students, work to explore ways they can better support the LGBT person in their life.

    For more information on the center’s support activities, to take advantage of upcoming programs, or to schedule a speaker, contact (608) 265-3344 or lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu.