The vigil — at which participants will hold glowsticks in lieu of candles — will be from 8 to 10 p.m. at the UCF Reflecting Pond in front of Millican Hall. The event will be open to the public.
The event is sponsored by three student organizations — the UCF colony of Delta Lambda Phi, Equal and Knight Allies — with support from UCF’s Office of Diversity Initiatives and UCF’s Division of Student Development and Enrollment Services (SDES).
“We want to create a movement toward civility that puts a stop to the bullying, and that puts a stop to suicide,” said Tyler Teegardin, a UCF student and president of UCF’s colony of Delta Lambda Phi. “This event is important because the next suicide caused by bullying could be someone here at UCF.”
Scheduled speakers will be representatives of the sponsor organizations, as well as UCF officials. Multiple UCF departments and student groups will have tables at the vigil to provide information and resources.
“One of the core values of the UCF Creed is Community, which charges us to ‘promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual,'” said Maribeth Ehasz, vice president for SDES. “This event is an important way to show that UCF is an inclusive and compassionate university where bullying, harassment and intimidation are unacceptable.”
Thanks to the resources available at UCF, there are many opportunities for students, staff members and faculty members to find help and feel welcome.
The UCF Counseling Center offers a range of services, and anyone who needs its assistance can call 407-823-2811 or e-mail councntr@mail.ucf.edu. Click here to read the Counseling Center’s brochure about bullying.
UCF Victim Services can help victims of crime explore their rights and options, and provide information about the civil, university and criminal justice systems to help victims make informed decisions. The on-call advocate can be contacted at any time, including after hours, weekends and holidays at 407-823-5555 (police dispatch). Callers can request a Victim Services advocate, who will call back within minutes.
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities provides services designed to assist and educate students in resolving disputes. Anyone experiencing bullying or other harmful behavior can complete a “Person of Concern Reporting Form” online.
The UCF Police Department is available to investigate any alleged criminal conduct of bullying or harassment. For non-emergencies, call 407-823-5555; for an emergency situation, call 9-1-1.
Many student and university-sponsored groups, clubs and programs support diversity and inclusiveness.
The considerable resources UCF devotes to these issues are in addition to those available elsewhere in Central Florida, including support groups, religious organizations, community programs and more.