[CW-Grad] From Dean Cullenberg and the LGBT Center staff: Vigil & resources following LGBT suicides nationwide

[Robin Russin]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Stephen Cullenberg <scullen at ucr.edu>
Date: October 11, 2010 10:37:19 AM PDT
To: chass-faculty at lists.ucr.edu, chass-nsfaculty at lists.ucr.edu
Cc: nancy.tubbs at ucr.edu
Subject: [Chass-faculty] Vigil & resources following LGBT suicides nationwide

Dear Colleagues,

Please read this important message from Nancy Tubbs, Director of UCR's LGBT Center.  This has been a particularly difficult time for the LGBT community, and frankly all of us. I urge you to be even more sensitive and supportive of our students and contact the LBGT Resource Center as needed.

Steve

**********************

To  members of our campus community,

Over the course of the last 3 weeks, there have been a number of suicides of young people that have received national attention, including Tyler Clementi, a freshman from Rutgers who jumped off a bridge, and Raymond Chase who reportedly hung himself in his residence hall room on the campus of Johnson & Wales in Providence, Rhode Island. Seth Walsh, Asher Brown, Billy (William) Lucas, and Justin Aaberg were also lost to suicide. All experienced bullying and public shaming.

College age students are particularly vulnerable when it comes to suicide, as is our LGBT community.  The two factors combined, plus this string of highly public suicides makes us very concerned for our community.  And as always, those from multiple marginalized communities, often not catching media attention or spotlight even in similar circumstances, are tapping into resiliency, and are at risk.
 
As students hear stories, see images and read accounts of these suicides, it can trigger many emotions and thoughts.  We would like all of us to be particularly attuned for what is happening.  Keep our ears open, our eyes sensitive to the subtle cues that may help us a identify a student in distress.  Be listening for what other students are saying about these incidents (if anything) and also what they are saying about their peers.  Is anyone acting out, acting odd, or not acting at all (that is, not around as they usually are)?

We invite you to a campus-wide candlelight vigil on Tuesday, Oct 12, 7:30pm @ the Bell Tower to remember those lost, and to remind ourselves that "It gets better." Candles will be provided by The Well.

We'd also  like to remind you of resources available to students and others.

Many LGBT folks simply need a place where they feel accepted.  The LGBT Resource Center in 245 Costo Hall is open 9am to 8pm, Mon-Thu and 9am to 6pm on Fridays. Students may also speak with LGBTRC staff Nancy Tubbs and Toi Thibodeaux 1-on-1. Our phone # is 951.827.2267 and our web site is http://out.ucr.edu 

Two specific programs that might help students are:

Peer Connections Monday Online Chats every Monday, from 7pm to 9pm., logon at http://out.ucr.edu/programs/peerconnections.htm . Students may log-on and anonymously talk with trained online peer support buddies, under the supervision of the LGBTRC program coordinator, Toi Thibodeaux.

Tuesday Talks, every Tuesday starting October 12, from 5pm to 6pm in the LGBTRC lounge, 245 Costo Hall. Rotating topics and outreached communities, Tuesday Talks provide a safe space for students to talk with each other, with staff facilitation. The groups this quarter include Coming Out Stories, Grrrl Talk, Faith Talk , Queer People of Color, Guy Talk, Fluidity, Family Talk, and Let's Talk About Sex.

UCR students may contact the Counseling Center to access services such as individual and group counseling. Call 951.827.5531 or stop by Veitch Hall to make an appointment. On call counselors are available for emergencies. Services are free to currently enrolled UCR students who pay registration fees. A therapist is available 24-7 when you call, including after 5pm.
 
The Student Affairs Case Manager, Sarah Pemberton, is also available to help students 1-on-1. Contact her at sarahp at ucr.edu or 951.827.9354. Sarah's office is located in 381 HUB.

National resources are also available 24/7.  The Trevor Project, the leading national organization for crisis and suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth, has a lifeline available at 866 4-U-TREVOR.  Their website (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/) also provides information about "Suicidal Signs and Facts" and "How to Help Someone." 

Finally... You may also report hate/bias incidents and crimes, anonymously if you wish, at http://stophate.ucr.edu

Best, LGBTRC Staff
Nancy Tubbs
Toi Thibodeaux
Mark Dunn

--------------------------------------------
Nancy Jean Tubbs
Director, LGBT Resource Center
University of California, Riverside
nancy.tubbs at ucr.edu
www.out.ucr.edu
951.827.2267




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Robin Russin

Associate Professor, Department of Theatre
Director, MFA for Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
(951) 827-2707
(213) 949-1061 cel
robin.russin at ucr.edu
http://robinrussin.com

"I try all things; I achieve what I can." - Ishmael in "Moby Dick," written by Herman Melville

"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it." - William Munny in "Unforgiven," written by David Webb Peoples

"Hunger is the best spice." - Spike Spiegel in "Cowboy Bebop," written by Keiko Nobumoto

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