(5) Education Programs and Other Resources
The University Police Department, Norris Health Center, Women's Resource Center, University Housing, LGBT Resource Center, and the Office of Student Life, among other departments, provide support services to students, serve on related committees, and communicate regularly regarding sexual assault education and prevention. The purpose of this cooperative approach is to reduce duplication of services, provide comprehensive services and programming which are inclusive of diverse populations, increase ease of referrals, and achieve greater accuracy in the provision of information about available education and services. Following is a description of only some of the campus programs.
The University Police Department offers sexual assault education and information programs to University students and employees upon request and at freshman orientations each fall. Literature and information on date rape education, and risk reduction is available at the University Police Department. The University Police offers R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) training. The Rape Aggression Defense System is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training.
The Norris Health Center provides students a variety of information about campus educational programs regarding sexual assault, including UWM’s participation in events sponsored by the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. For example, the Norris Health Center coordinated the Fifth Annual UWM Campus and Communities United Against Violence Resource Fair, held on April 15, 2008, in collaboration with the UWM Peer Health Advocates, UWM Women’s Resource Center, UWM LGBT Resource Center, UWM Police, UWM Union Programming, and Milwaukee LGBT Community Resource Center. The Resource Fair included campus departments and community organizations that provide support services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. The participants offered interactive activities and distributed resource materials designed to further educate students and the campus community about the impact of sexual violence and inform them of various resources available to assist them related to prevention and treatment. The Resource Fair was attended by 300 students. Also, Norris counseling staff and staff with the UWM Women's Resource Center co-facilitated a discussion of the film, "Searching for Angela Shelton", April 29th 2008. Filmmaker, Angela Shelton interviewed other women with the same name for the documentary who discussed their experience with rape, childhood sexual assault, and domestic violence. Co-sponsors included the UWM Women's Resource Center, UWM Multicultural Student Center, and the UWM Norris Health Center. 15 students and three staff members attended the program.
The UWM Women's Resource Center ("WRC") also provides services and informational resources related to sexual assault and sexual harassment. WRC staff members create a welcoming and safe environment in the Center, providing supportive listening and making referrals to campus and community resources. Both the WRC Director and Assistant Director are professionally trained counselors and provide personal support, counseling, crisis intervention, and advocacy to students who have been sexually assaulted or harassed, as well as services to roommates, friends, family members, and others affected by the experience. The WRC library contains more than 50 free brochures pertaining to sexual assault and sexual harassment, and has 100 related books, dvds, and other materials that are available for loan to members of the UWM community. These resources are used both directly in support of students who have been assaulted or harassed, and by students seeking to learn more about the subjects for academic papers and projects. The WRC sponsors educational programs on these issues, and maintains strong collaborative relationships with campus and community resources serving needs of victims/survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Regular and ongoing training of professional staff at the WRC on best practices for programming, prevention, treatment, and policy related to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and all forms of violence against women ensure the development and delivery of quality programs and services. The Women’s Resource Center publishes information about sexual assault and harassment on its
web site.
Many of University Housing’s educational efforts related to sexual assault occur simultaneously with education about the risks and consequences of alcohol and drug use. One such program is Housing’s “Virtual House Party” program (attended by nearly 800 students in the Fall 2007 semester). The Virtual House Party is an experiential event, where students are led through a mock “house-party” situation and witness various scenarios that could happen at a house party. One of the scenarios involves an attempted sexual assault, with discussion about alcohol and its relationship to sexual assault.
University Housing also conducts many sexual health and personal safety-related programs in collaboration with the Norris Peer Health Educators, the Women’s Resource Center, and the UWM Police Department. One large-scale joint program occurring in the last two years has been the “Safety Dance” program. “The Safety Dance” involves University Housing Resident Assistants and Security Staff working together to create and act out informational skits on staying safe on and around the UWM Campus. “The Safety Dance” has included skits on alcohol consumption in the residence halls and at off-campus parties, locking room and suite doors, walking/jogging at night by yourself, decisions about safe sex with a partner and myths about sex. It has also incorporated current popular music and presenters from all over campus including UMW Police, Norris Health Center and the Women’s Resource center. Student feedback has been quite positive, and attendance each year has averaged about 250 students.
University departments also have developed partnerships with community organizations that provide sexual assault related services. For example, in 2006, UWM staff worked with the Healing Center of Milwaukee to generate feedback from Milwaukee-area sexual assault survivors regarding unmet service needs. The result was the creation of a support group for sexual assault survivors who are also dealing with substance abuse issues. Multiple campus and community groups also participate in a Campus and Communities United Against Violence Resource Fair and the creation of a We Use Hands that Heal, Not Hands that Hurt mural display. Contact information for community resources is provided below: