I am the Academic Department Associate, or secretary, for biology in BILSA as well as geography, geology and economics in the social sciences department of LAE.

I have lived in this county, just outside of Platteville since 1986. I have worked on campus only since January of 2009 — not even a year yet. I am writing in response to the graffiti being scrawled on this campus by an unknown coward. I am angry. I am appalled, ashamed and embarrassed that this is happening on this campus, in this workplace, to my students and coworkers. This kind of hate has no place here. It is not okay. I am unhappy that this kind of hate exists anywhere in the world, but I am ANGRY that someone has chosen to bring it here. These actions, taken by a coward, are totally unacceptable and I am not content to wait and see what happens. So I am saying now, as loudly as I can with these words: STOP IT — IT IS NOT OKAY. Please, if you are reading this, and these incidents of hate make you as angry as I am, or even if they make you just a little uncomfortable, say aloud to someone, somewhere, “It is NOT okay, and I want it to stop NOW.” I do not want this behavior anywhere near where I live, where I work, where there are other people. Do not just let it happen.

Anne Bauer-Leffler
Academic Department
Associate