Campus Connection

UWL senior Community Health Education and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies double major Rob Waara is in Washington, D.C. Saturday, Nov. 14 to receive the Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award for an Emerging Activist. The award recognizes a student who has exhibited outstanding leadership and significantly contributed to the dignity and freedom of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. What was your reaction to getting the award? I was really surprised when I learned about my nomination, then even more when I was picked for the award. Lots of people are very deserving to be recognized for this and some are probably in a much more difficult situation than I am in. I tried to think about why I was chosen. I would guess it’s because I try to be involved. What have you been involved in? I started getting involved back in high school. I was part of Minnesota United, the group that worked to stop the same-sex marriage ban in the state. If I would have remained in Minnesota for another year, I would have worked with them to help get same-sex marriage legalized in the state, but I was here in Wisconsin and it worked out anyway. I knew I had to start getting involved here on campus during my first semester when I took an introductory Ethnic & Racial Studies class. It opened my eyes to a number of issues, like racism in our community. I couldn’t sit by and watch, so I had to get involved. I also knew at the same time I had to keep learning. I also joined Rainbow Unity (RU) my first week on campus and stuck with it. My sophomore year I became co-chair and worked on connecting UWL with Viterbo and Winona State to build a stronger support network and work together. My junior year I became the student senator for RU, where I represented the LGBT population. While with RU, I signed up to do some panels in classes on campus where a group of LGBT students and allies would talk about their experiences. I wasn’t fully out when I started school here, but this really helped me find myself and figure out how my youth shaped me. I really liked being a part of those panels. For a lot of students, that’s their first time meeting a gay person and I think break stereotypes. I also worked with The Center in La Crosse on the outreach committee, planning events like Pride. My goal through all of this was to keep myself involved and create an inclusive community. What advice would you give to your peers? No matter what you want to do, get involved. Here on campus, I made a lot of close friends in RU and as a part of the Screaming Eagles Marching Band. I really can’t stress how much of a difference getting involved made for me. At the same time, it’s important to learn your limits. Obviously, no one has time to do everything. So prioritize where you want to spend your time and keep yourself involved. What’s the next step for you? For my Community Health Education major, I have to do a preceptorship, an internship- like experience that connects a student with a mentor. I am looking at a few places in the Twin Cities and at Howard Brown in Chicago, a clinic that specializes in LGBT-care. No matter where I go, I will continue to advocate for better care to those who are in the most need of it. This award and all my experiences motivate me to keep doing what I can to advocate and make sure I continue to give back. If I’m fortunate enough down the line, I want to create scholarships or other ways to help those in need. About the award The Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award for an Emerging Activist is administered by the Center for Diversity & Inclusion. Richard L. Schlegel was an American University alumnus and a pioneer in the GLBT civil rights movement. Richard fought discrimination based on sexual orientation in the late 1950s and early 1960s, long before GLBT rights were discussed openly. His own wrongful termination case against the Department of the Army, Schlegel vs. United States, was pursued all the way to the Supreme Court (and also documented as a chapter in the 2002 book Courting Justice by Joyce Murdoch and Deb Price).