Brian Piasecki '11 grew up in Minocqua, Wis., with the innate drive to be the best he could. When he excelled at wrestling, he was recruited on a full scholarship to U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich.

The food service management major's prowess and ability to size up opponents was enough to impress the coaches at Olympic Training Center in Colorado. Piasecki received a highly coveted invitation to come to Colorado springs to train for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic games.

Though injuries prevented him from competing for a spot on the Olympic team in Beijing, he was selected to help train and work with Brad Vering, who represented the U.S.A. in his weight class. Vering chose Piasecki for his dependability and responsibility as an athlete and a person. Piasecki came back motivated to work even harder on his dream of an Olympic gold medal and the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games.

But on his return to Colorado, he tore a knee ligament. Having made a pact with himself that if he sustained another injury he would hang up his wrestling shoes, he focused on finding a career path that would feed his passion. Beijing had been an eye-opener.

"Training for the Olympics doesn't prepare you for the real world," Piasecki noticed. "You see so many unbelievably great athletes who don't know what to do once they leave the training center. Those who train athletes typically don't put enough focus on careers."

With that thought, he left Colorado Springs and enrolled at JWU. Piasecki will be graduating in May. He wants to run his own business as an entrepreneur, beginning in the field as a manager in a fine dining establishment in the Rockies. Once he gets real world experience in the Colorado mountains, he intends to build his own enterprise.

A Stand Against Bullying
Late in 2010, campus students took a week in October to speak out against bullying, ridicule and harassment. The week began with Compliment a Stranger Day. Whether in person or in online communication, the intention was to let peers know that they are not alone, and to reinforce the notion that someone is here for them.

On day two, participants were asked to write anonymously about a time when they were bullied, and how it made them feel. Sticky notes were posted on a bigger poster to underscore the response.

Day three had students wearing purple in some part of their attire in memory of those who’d lost their lives. Purple represents “spirit” on the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & Questioning (LG BTQ) flag and is epitomized by those who are open about their sexual orientation. Bandanas, ribbons, shirts, ties, pants, bookbags and more symbolized campus solidarity.

Speakers from JWU included LGBT Club President Armando Olivas ’13, club member Michelle Anderson ’11 and Jeff Ederer, EdD, dean of students. Under Ederer’s leadership, the week was officially declared Anti-bullying Week. “It provided an important opportunity for students to offer support and learn about this critical matter that affects so many of our young people today,” Ederer said.

Day of Apology offered a chance for those who may have bullied others to make amends. The week ended with Socialize with Someone You Wouldn’t Normally Interact With Day.

At the time, the media shined a small light on the issue of abuse and harassment, but the campus is determined not to let the topic dissipate into yesterday’s news.

Image above: Students gather in Coors Family Commons to talk about bullying and to affect change on the campus and in their personal lives.