The National Day of Silence does not hate, it doesn’t hold a bias and it doesn’t discriminate based on sexual orientation. These points were important to the students on the University of Virginia in 1996 who participated in the event. This year, UW-Platteville’s Alliance hopes to be one of the 8,000 or more schools that take part in this event on April 17.

The Alliance was founded in 1963 and now is a national organization on college campuses as well as having the Gay-Straight Alliance programs at high schools. UW-P’s Alliance has, on average, about 15 or 20 students that attend weekly meetings.

Members of the UW-Platteville Alliance hope that the National Day of Silence opens the eyes of students on campus to what they are saying and how it affects people around them.

“It’s important to address issues like using phrases like ‘that’s so gay,’” Rebecca Wonder, business administration major and member of the Alliance, said. “It hurts when people use racial slurs, and this is along the lines of a racial slur.”

The Alliance hopes that people take action against phrases that hurt others.

“This year, the Alliance welcomes you to stand with us as we publicly announce that hate, bullying and harassment will not be tolerated on this campus, in this community, and in our presence, period,” Wonder said.  “We will be walking out of class and gathering outside the PSC at 11 [a.m.] sharp where we will acknowledgment and remember those who have lost their lives in this brutal fight for acceptance.”

Members of the Alliance hope that this event draws attention to them, so students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and straight have a place to go to educate themselves and feel comfortable on campus.

“There is a lot of people who do not know we have a GLBTQ group on campus,” Jacob Cournoyer, junior engineering physics major and co-president of the Alliance, said. “It’s important for people to know that we have some where to go and feel comfortable.”

Zachary Strehlow, junior psychology major and co-president of the Alliance, said that it was important for students to know about the group because it’s a place for people of any sexual orientation to go and feel comfortable and get educated.

“We share similar experiences with one another, no matter if you are straight or gay,” Strehlow said. “The Alliance is important because we want to promote activity and advocacy, as well as a healthy and positive atmosphere.”

The National Day of Silence is one of many events the Alliance hopes will create a positive atmosphere. Other activities include attending classes to discuss gender issues and changing the date of the Rainbow Rave this year to October.

If you are interested in attending Alliance meetings, the group meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in 126 Warner Hall. More information on the Alliance can be found on their Web site at uwplatt.edu/org/alliance.com.