“The attention is good. More institutional support is certainly needed for services like this.”
– Sue McCarthy, assistant director of the Women’s Resource Center

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved the annual Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at its meeting Thursday and Friday, and discussed the need to raise awareness and prevention of sexual assault on UW campuses.

Each campus presented information to the regents regarding the initiatives and strides their campus was making to prevent sexual assault and aid assault victims.

Sexual assault is defined as any act of violence where sex is used as the weapon, according to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Victims and survivors of sexual violence are forced, coerced or manipulated to participate in unwanted sexual activity.

The crime is significantly underreported — only 5 percent of actual crimes get reported. The biggest reason for this is that the victim feels personally responsible for the assault. In most cases, the victim is also familiar with the attacker.

In 2005, according to UW System statistics, only two cases of sexual assault were reported at UWM, as opposed to 64 reported throughout the UW System. This includes only the actual report, not any investigation.

Wisconsin law requires that UW institutions include written and oral information in new student orientation programs and to make the information available to students already enrolled.

Required information includes legal definitions of sexual assault and the penalties; available local, state and national statistics on sexual assault; the rights of victims; services helpful to victims; and information on protective behaviors to prevent sexual assault.

“The attention is good,” said Sue McCarthy, assistant director of the UWM Women’s Resource Center. “More institutional support is certainly needed for services like this.”

UWM’s presentation to the regents focused on the WRC and its efforts and collaborations, both on campus and in the community, to combat sexual assault using the required media.

Beginning this year, the WRC helped to train 20 teaching assistants on personal support issues, including violence against women, and also on the services and resources the WRC provides.

Resources include a library on many personal support topics, such as health, relationships and sexual violence against both genders. Brochures and a video library are also available. Information from these libraries can be used for academic papers, projects or personal education.

The WRC also offers many support groups and offers advocacy to victims should they want it. Information about local and national personal support services is also readily available.

The staff of the WRC includes two trained counselors, at least one of whom is usually on hand at any time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; student employees and volunteers who help the WRC get the word out through flyers, staffing tables in the Union and helping to organize events.

The WRC is “definitely a great resource for anyone who comes in the door,” said Siobhan McKay, WRC office manager. “We’re here for victims when they need someone to talk to about it instead of them holding it in. We give them the support they deserve.”

Some of the WRC’s recent events include “Take Back the Night” and “The Undetected Rapist,” a facilitated discussion held in Sandburg Hall on April 3. Self-defense workshops and classes are also available through the WRC.

Collectively, the UW System recently received the 2006 Voices of Courage Award for Community Support, from the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault. The award was given in recognition of the combined efforts of the entire UW System at combating sexual assault and raising awareness.

For more information about the WRC, visit their office in the Union, Room WG93, or call 229-2852. For more information about WCASA, visit wcasa.org.

Regents allocate funds

The Board of Regents also approved and allocated funds from the William F. Vilas Trust Estate for the upcoming year. Three UWM entities will receive funds from the Vilas Trust Estate. The Regents approved:

• $19,780 for the Peck School of the Arts Department of Music for its upcoming “Absolutely Amadeus – Celebrating 250 Years of Mozart.”
• $40,000 for Department of English Vilas Research Professor Kumkum Sangari for research and salary support.
• $2,500 for Vilas Emeritus Ihab Hassan for continuation of standard retirement benefits.

> Comments