(Posted March 19, 2001)

Bias and hate incidents happen quite often in Pennsylvania. Learn just how often these incidents crop up from Daniel Welliver, a director in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, who will speak on "The State of Hate in Pennsylvania" at 8:15 p.m. March 29 in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Science Center on the Juniata College campus.

Welliver, director of the division of education and community services for the Human Relations Commission, will outline how often and in what ways bias and hate can appear in schools and communities. He will talk about hate crimes, organized hate groups, unlawful discrimination and how "everyday" interactions can be symptoms of deeply rooted problems.

The lecture is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by Juniata College and the Huntingdon chapter of the American Association of University Women.

Welliver also is the coordinator of the Pennsylvania Inter-Agency Task Force on Civil Tension, comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement, governmental and private agencies. The task force offers assistance to local schools and communities in preventing or responding to hate or bias-related incidents.

Welliver, who earned a bachelor's degree from Juniata College in 1979, has worked for the commission since 1998. Previously, he served as executive director of the Neighborhood Center of the United Methodist Church in Harrisburg from 1988 to 1998.

Welliver earned a master's degree in community psychology from Penn State University. He also serves on the board of directors for Penn State's Graduate School Alumni Association.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.