Campus Connection

New display provides stories of people

A walk through the Student Union can provide a quick history lesson on UWL, regional and state people and events.

A new display, “Did You Know?” located across from the UW Credit Union on the first floor, features a look back at history and highlights the present. The first display in the exhibit features brief stories about:

• George E. Taylor, the first African-American to run for U.S. president, who lived in La Crosse in the early 1900s.

• The Moss Family, one of La Crosse’s earliest African-American families that found success in La Crosse in the late 1800s..

• George C. Poage, the first African-American to medal at the Olympics, who graduated from La Crosse Central High School and earned a bronze medal in the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis.

• Antoiwana Williams, a UWL graduate and director of Multicultural Student Services, who was named one of the 42 most influential black leaders in Wisconsin by the Madison non-profit organization, Madison365.

• Shaundel Spivey, a 2012 UWL graduate known for his commitment and passion for social justice in La Crosse, who received La Crosse’s 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award.

“Did You Know originates from the idea that there are many stories of people, events and topics of a diverse nature that should be shared in our community,” says Michael Slevin, University Centers. “The UWL Student Union, a gathering place of diverse people and ideas, is the perfect location to highlight this information.”

Slevin says the ongoing series is a collaboration among UWL students, faculty and staff, as well as community members from throughout the 7 Rivers Region. It aims to promote diversity and inclusion.

The University Centers committee heading up the project encourages those with ideas for future exhibits to make suggestions and join in the project. Contact Slevin at mslevin@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8892.