UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN—LA CROSSE
ACADEMIC ADVISING
CENTER CENTENNIAL
HALL SUITE 1140
PeerSpectives
(608) 785-6950
EDITOR: BRANDON FORCIER
FALL 2015
V O L U M E
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I S S U E
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Kenya Make a Difference, Can Ya?
Travelers are allowed two
50lb. suitcases - one for themselves
Peer Advisor
and the other completely filled with
donations. During their time in Kenya, they have a donations day for the
community during which they distribute all of the donation items they
bring to the community members.
Past travelers have commented on
the recipients’ reactions, which are
extremely gracious and excited to
receive such simple things, like shoes
and clothing. Students also have time
to play games with the people and
get to know them through stories
and conversations.
Senior Emma Hermes, a member of KMAD, traveled to Barut,
Kenya with 10 other students and
the KMAD advisor in January of
2014. Over the three and a half week
trip, they built a house from mud and
sticks, volunteered at three elementary schools and one high school,
planted trees around the village, and
got to know the community members, both adults and children.
Yes! By getting involved with
the organization “Kenya Make a
Emma’s favorite memories from
Difference,” you can change the life her trip involved one of the children
of someone who lives on the other she met, Fancy. Fancy was about four
side of the world. This organization years old at the time and they shared
is comprised of driven individuals
a connection immediately. There
who are dedicated to making a
were many memories with Fancy, but
difference in under-developed
this is one of Emma’s favorites: one
countries, specifically Kenya. This
of the members brought a small pair
organization focuses on developing of black crocs for donation, and
communication and leadership
Emma instantly knew they would be
skills, critical thinking abilities, and
perfect for Fancy. On a day near the
an appreciation for worldly cultures end of the trip, Emma washed Fanthrough a three week trip over Jcy’s feet and put the new shoes on
her tiny feet that had never experiterm.
ence the feeling of shoes before. She
By: Bailey Krueger
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
“What Did You 2
Say?”
Food for
Thought
3
Football
Without the
Pads
3
Active Minds
4
Student
Spotlight
4
Visit the Academic
Advising Center at:
www.uwlax.edu/advising
began to walk, wobbling slightly, but
soon was off and running as quickly
as she had put the shoes on. In
regards to this experience, Emma
said, “I think it was so touching for
me because it is something that is a
necessity that we take for granted
in America, but it can bring so much
joy to a little girl.”
Something as small as taking
time to play games or giving a new
pair of shoes could change a person’s life forever. Not only the
receiver of the gift, but also the
giver. Seeing strong reactions to
simple things like conversations and
schools can change the way we view
the world too. In America, most
people don’t worry about having a
roof over their heads, shoes on
their feet, and food on the table,
but this is a real worry for some
people across this world.
The KMAD organization
strives to educate people on these
startling facts and make a difference
in someone’s life, maybe the traveler or maybe the Kenyan. Either
way, it’s an incredible volunteer
opportunity! If you are interested in
traveling with fellow students to
Kenya over winter break for a life
changing experience, contact Megan
Hess(hess.mega@uwlax.edu) for
more information
Are YOU ready to make a difference?
“Something as small as taking time to play games or giving a new pair of
shoes could change a person’s life forever.”
-Bailey Krueger
PAGE
2
“What Did You Say?”: The Power of Person First Language
their ability or lack thereof. It
does exactly as the name entails
Peer Advisor
- it puts the person before their
Sticks and stones may break disability. It is used to show
my bones, but words can hurt just what a person has, not what a
as much. For many people with
person is. For example, instead
disabilities, as well as people of all of saying, “the autistic boy,” you
abilities, words can hurt. This is
should rephrase it and say, “the
especially true when people make boy with autism.” By rephrasing
rude comments towards people
the sentence with Person First
who have different abilities than
Language, the boy’s identity is
they do, or even when they talk
not defined by their disability
about people with disabilities in a because most importantly, this
negative way without even know- boy is a human being.
ing it.
Kara Miller, the Vice PresiWhat some people do not
dent of SAPA (Students Advorealize is that people with disabili- cating Potential Abilities) on
ties are, first and foremost, peocampus said, “Person First Lanple. People with disabilities have
guage is important because it is
individual inabilities and needs that inclusive of everyone no matter
may be different from other peo- their ability. You wouldn't point
ple, but that does not make them someone out by the color of
any less of a person. The National their shirt, so why would you
Center on Health and Physical
point someone out by their
Disability website states, “People disability?” This is a great examwith disabilities are our nation’s
ple of how hurtful our words
largest minority group,” but it
can be and how simply changing
does not only affect one group of the way we say something
people. This minority group affects about someone’s abilities can
a wide variety of people from
make a big difference.
varying ages, genders, races, ethPerson First Language is
nicities, and socioeconomic statussomething that is very imes.
portant to incorporate into our
One way to make sure we
everyday language. Whether
are addressing people with disabili- you have a disability or not, it is
ties with respect is by using Perimportant to remember that
son First Language. Person First
everyone is human and deserves
Language recognizes that people
to be treated with dignity and
with disabilities are not defined by respect through words and
By: Jenna Horton
“Person First
Language is important because
it is inclusive of
everyone no
matter their
ability. You
wouldn’t point
someone out by
the color of
their shirt, so
why would you
point someone
out by their disability?”
-Kara Miller
PEERSPECTIVES
actions. Using Person First Language is just one step in breaking
down barriers and stereotypes of
people with differing abilities. In
this way, we can be advocates for
people with disabilities and bring
forth a change in attitude and
speech to be more inclusive of
people with all abilities.
SAPA is a group of students,
with and without disabilities who
are committed to raising awareness of disability issues through
fun hands-on activities, as well as
providing members with opportunities to learn and to teach others. Their mission is to demonstrate the potential ability and
capabilities of people with disabilities because, in all reality, everyone will have a disability at some
point in their lives. Why not learn
about them now? If you are interested in joining SAPA, they meet
Tuesday nights at 5:30 in Centennial Room 2140.
*Person First Language Tips found
below.
Person First Language Tips
Words to Avoid
Words to Say
Brain damaged
Person with brain injury
Deaf person
Person who is deaf or person with a hearing impairment
Crippled; wheelchair-bound; wheelchair-confined
Person with a disability (or the name of the disability)
Able-bodied
Person without a disability
Suffers from…
Person who has…
Mentally retarded
Person with an intellectual disability
Stroke victim
Stroke survivor
*Table retrieved from:
http://www.nchpad.org/1201/5833/Person-First~Language~and~Effective~Communication
VOLUME
1,
ISSUE
20
PAGE
3
Food for Thought: Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredient Checklist:
Directions:
6 apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
1 cup water
1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 cup packed brown sugar
2. Arrange apples in an even layer in bottom of
3.
baking dish. Pour water over apples.
In a medium bowl mix together cake mix,
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in melted
1/2 cup butter, melted
butter or margarine until ingredients are thoroughly blended; mixture will be crumbly. Sprin-
*recipe found at http://allrecipes.com/recipe/15404/easy-applecrisp/?internalSource=search%20result&referringContentType=se
arch%20results
4.
kle mixture over apples.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes.
Football without the pads : Exploring the Sport Management Major
By: Brandon Forcier
Peer Advisor
I would be the first to admit
that my athletic abilities are subpar,
yet I still love being around sports.
Not everyone has the means to
become a coach,
or even have the
desire to coach
athletes, so finding
a career within the
sports world can
be a daunting task.
At UWL there is
one particular
major that is
unique to focusing
on many different
avenues within the
sports world: The
Sport Management
Major.
Kevin King, a sport management professor and currently helping the UWL football team create a
winning culture as a Coaching Staff
Consultant and Player Development
coordinator, describes the Sport
Management major for “Students
who are interested in the management side of sports, whether that be
at the youth level, Olympic, high
school, college, or parks and recreation.
Within those broad spectrums it can be
different skill sets.” Professor King expanded on those skill sets, “It can be
marketing, human resources, advertising,
public relations, communications, so a
lot of specific disciplines under a broad
umbrella of industries.”
The sport management major attempts to provide students with the
necessary information and theory practice to create a successful foundational
skill set to become a strong business
professional. Along with learning about
theoretical ideas in various areas, Sport
Management students are also given
hands on practical experiences within
their final internship.
Before declaring a Sport Management major, students must first go
through a competitive application process. To be considered a strong applicant, it is vital to go beyond the minimum application requirements.
Seeking out volunteer
opportunities in specific
areas of interest, taking
an active part in Student
Management Association, and past job experiences are all great ways
to stand out as an applicant.
If you have any questions about the Sport
Management Major and
the application requirements, visit the Sport
Management Department website, or
contact Kevin at kking@uwlax.edu for
more information.
“It can be marketing, human
resources,
advertising,
communications,
so a lot of
specific
disciplines under
a broad umbrella
of industries.”
-Kevin King
Active Minds: Promoting a Happier, Healthier Campus
By: Madeline Marquardt
Peer Advisor
Did you know that suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst college
age students? Did you also know that there
is a student organization at UWL that aims
to prevent suicide and encourage college
students to seek help?
According to Active Minds president,
Haley Ingersoll, “Active Minds aims to create a happier, healthier campus by starting
and resources regarding mental health and
mental illness, encourage students to seek
help as soon as it is needed, and serve as
liaison between students and the mental
health community.”
Ingersoll stumbled upon the organization at Involvement Fest during her freshman year at UWL, and quickly became
involved. “From the start, I liked their approach to making UWL a place that is not
only physically healthy but also mentally
healthy. You go through a lot of changes in
“Many times, people who experience stigma feel voiceless or delegitimized, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
That’s why we speak up.” -Haley Ingersoll
the conversation about mental health. We
do so by hosting events that cover topics
ranging from mental health and wellness,
suicide prevention, test anxiety and more.”
your college years, so it’s nice to know
there is a support system pushing the cause
forward and working to let students that
are suffering know that there are resources
Added Ingersoll, “The goal is to change on campus to help,” said Ingersoll.
campus climate to be more acceptant and
According to the organization, one in
informed about mental health, seeing as one four college students have experienced a
in every four adults lives with a diagnosable mental health issue, or have known someone who has been affected. Active Minds
mental health disorder.”
wants students to know that they are not
Active Minds is a national non-profit
organization that has been around for over alone.
fifteen years, and is active at college camIngersoll explains, “Many times, people
who experience stigma feel voiceless or
puses across the United States.
delegitimized, but it doesn’t have to be that
According to the organization’s webway. That’s why we speak up. It is incredisite, “By developing and supporting chapters
bly rewarding to have students, staff, and
of a student-run mental health awareness,
any other outsiders approach us and tell us
education, and advocacy group on campuses
they’re glad an organization like this exists.
nationwide, the nonprofit organization
It goes to show that talking about mental
works to increase students’ awareness of
health and combating stigma truly can make
mental health issues, provide information
a difference.”
The organization hosts a number of
events on campus, including: bake-sales or
handing out hot chocolate during finals or
mid-terms while providing tips for beating
test anxiety, stress relief techniques, and so
on. Active Minds will also be helping with
Distress Fest on December 16th in Port
O’Call. Distress Fest encourages students
to “engage in active recovery from stressful
things in their lives, including studying for
finals.”
According to Ingersoll, “Our biggest
event of the year is usually “Light Up a Life,”
which is a suicide awareness/prevention vigil
that takes place by the clock tower. Passersby are able to make a luminary bag in
memory of those who are gone too soon.
We also have the La Crosse Area Suicide
Prevention Initiative there to provide support. It is really powerful to see it up front
like that.”
She added, “We ultimately want to
boost mental health awareness in as many
ways as possible, and I’d say we are growing
in leaps and bounds this year. Our social
media outreach has grown considerably and
we are networking with more people than
ever. We have some exciting things in the
works and I can’t wait to see where our
effort takes us in the next few years.”
Peer Spotlight: Bailey Krueger



Hello everyone! My name is
Bailey Krueger, and I am a junior
from New Richland, MN. I am
currently majoring in Business
Management with a minor in
Accounting.
One dream I have would be to
go skiing somewhere outside of
Minnesota, like Canada, Switzer- 
land, Alaska, or Italy, somewhere crazy! I would also love
to meet Carrie Underwood,
Mike Fischer, and their baby!
I currently work in the Academic Advising Center as a Peer
Adviser.
My favorite part of being a Peer
is helping the students and making the connections with them.
Every once in a while I will get an
appointment that ends up being
more of friends chatting while I
help them instead of an appoint- 
ment feel. I love those days!
I am also involved in the Vanguard organization, Golden Key,
and Society of Human Resource
Management. They keep me
busy, but in a good way! I have
also made little "families," if you
will, with each of these different
groups.
As a junior I should probably have my goals figured
out for after graduation, but the truth is, I have no
idea. I can barely decide what to have for supper
tonight let alone what the rest of my life looks like.
With that being said, I know I love the major I am in
and have faith it will lead me to a job I am passionate
about. I know I want to work with people and have
everyday challenge in one way or another.