Whereas, In many cases, unaddressed, verbal harassment leads to physical and sexual harassment; and,

Whereas, Verbal taunts based on real or perceived race, religion, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, disability or any other personal characteristic contribute to a decrease in grades, dropout rates, absenteeism, self-destructive behavior and other negative consequences; and,

Whereas, Though often dismissed as “harmless teasing”, name calling is verbal bullying that can have the power to make students feel unsafe to the point to where they are no longer able to perform in school or live normal lives; and,

Whereas, Name calling reinforces unhealthy peer hierarchies and a rigid social order, especially over time as individual incidents accumulate to become a pattern; and,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of March 1, 2004, as No Name Calling Week in Michigan.