LGBT (Task) Force

The LGBT Task Force met last Wednesday (11 November) – here are the highlights:

• PB Poorman Pride Center has been named after our own Dr. PB Poorman. PB’s hard work and fantastic energy lives on!
• Climate Survey had 32% UWW participation. Results will be coming in the Spring.
• Transgender brainstorming continues.

You can also read the full minutes (PDF) if you’d like.

The Assistant to the Chancellor for Affirmative Action and Diversity, Elizabeth Ogunsola, has been kind enough to invite everyone interested to participate in a webinar on campus hate crimes on 3 November (Tuesday) from 12-2 PM in UC259B. The session, titled What You Need to Know About Hate Crimes on Your Campus, will address hate crimes and their likely perpetrators and victims, the current laws, as well as what to do if such an incident occurs. The presentation is geared for anyone that attends college or works on a college campus, so feel free to join us!

What You Need to Know About Hate Crimes on Your Campus
3 November 2009
12-2 PM – UC259B
RSVP to Elizabeth at ogunsole@uww.edu
more information about the workshop available at Innovative Educators website

The LGBT Task Force met last Wednesday (14 October) – here are the highlights:

• There will be a Stop Hate Webinar on 3 November in UC259B from 12-2PM (more information forthcoming).
• The Women Studies Conference info is on the Continuing Education website.
• Safe Zone group trainings scheduled – no need to register – all are welcome!
  28 October – 12:30-1:30PM – UC 264
  3 December – 1:30-2:30PM – UC 264

You can also read the full minutes (PDF) if you’d like.

Thanks to Kathy for taking the minutes!

The Campus Climate Survey is in full swing – make sure that your voice is heard! Everyone’s thoughts and opinions are important to us!

Now who does like a little incentive? The more people that complete the survey, the better chance you have to win a prize. If enough people fill it out, you could win a KINDLE!

If you don’t have any plans on Wednesday (or you have them and need an excuse to break them), I would recommend stopping by the Summers Auditorium in the UC for a screening of Overruled!, a documentary about the landmark ruling, Lawrence v Texas, that struck down sodomy laws and paved the way for greater equality for LGBT individuals.

Overruled!
7 October 2009 (Wednesday) – 8 PM
Summers Auditorium, University Center

Not only is there a showing of the short film, there will be a panel discussion and free pizza. I know, free food is pretty awesome.

This event is sponsored by the Students for a Fair Wisconsin – if you have any questions, please contact Heather Murray at MurrayHL27@uww.edu.

The passage of the budget bill back in June brought domestic partnership benefits to UW-System employees. After a few months of getting all of the details ironed out…

The administration has now updated the benefits information to reflect the positive changes made by the legislation. They’ve also created a DP benefits matrix (PDF) to answer many of the questions that you may have about the process.

The Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds also much more information available on their website, including the affidavit required to submit for the benefits.

The first Safe Zone training of the semester is next Tuesday (29 September) from 1130AM-1230PM in UC 259B. There’s no sign-up required, so if you’re available, come on by!

Not sure what a Safe Zone is? Our informational flyer should help.

If striving for equality for the LGBTQ community interests you and you live (or like to live) in Madison, then you might want to look into this position. The UW System Administration is currently seeking a new LGBTQ Initiative Coordinator in the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

Position Announcement – LGBTQ Initiative Coordinator
(Institutional or Senior Institutional Planner)

The LGBT Task Force met last Wednesday (9 September) – here are the highlights:

• Dates, times and locations have been set for the fall semester Safe Zone trainings:
  • 29 September – 11:30AM-12:30PM – UC259B
  • 28 October – 12:30-1:30PM – UC264
  • 3 December – 1:30-2:30PM – UC 264
• We’re exploring ways to continue taking over the interwebs with a Facebook fan page, Twitter, etc.
• Suggestions for the LGBT speakers for the L&S lecture series are being solicited – ideas can go to Crista Lebens.

You can also read the full minutes (PDF) if you’d like.

As you probably read in your e-mail, UW-Whitewater will be participating in a campus climate study this year. The survey will be administered online in the month of October. The survey aims to measure the environment in which students, faculty and staff live and work to ensure that we are welcoming and inclusive to all individuals. It will also help to identify areas that we as a campus can improve in the areas of diversity and equity.

As indicated in the invitation letter from Dr. Telfer, we are part of the second round in the UW System to partake in the study. If you are interested in seeing the final output of the project, UW-Milwaukee participated in the previous and have posted their results online.

Once released, please take the time to complete the survey, as your feedback is vital to making sure that EVERYONE feels at home at UW-Whitewater.