Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Hotvedt, Carmen" <>]

All:
 
In an effort to share some of the great work the students I work with
(PAVE:  http://uwpave.rso.wisc.edu/) are doing, I'm sending along the
talking points and image for the new alcohol facilitated sexual assault
social marketing campaign at UW-Madison.  
 
Campaign materials will be on the backs of local metro busses (most of
which run through campus) and on the interiors of campus busses.
Students will also be distributing bottle opener key chains, stickers,
bookmarks, and posters throughout the month, and intend to evaluate the
impact of the campaign in May.  They're also using the SAAM events as a
forum to talk about alcohol and consent.  
 
I've attached the talking points in .pdf form and copied them below in
case the attachment doesn't go through.  
 
I'm curious to get lots of reactions to this campaign--students who
designed the campaign were very honest about what felt "real" to
them--and while consent is probably best understood, communicated, and
respected while sober, that's just not how many students have sexual
experiences.  Further, nearly 50% of the students who responded to
PAVE's evaluation form in the past year agreed with the statement that
"Victims could prevent assault by monitoring how much they drink."  This
campaign is designed to respond to those realities by encouraging very
simple steps to understanding consent and helping to create a safe,
respectful learning community.  
 
Thoughts, ideas, comments?  Please respond to me off list!  Thanks!  
Carmen Hotvedt, UW-Madison 
()
 
University Communications press release with image: 
http://www.news.wisc.edu/16503
 
Become a fan on facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/?ref=sb#/pages/Some-Things-Sh
ould-Never-Be-Blurry-Ask-for-Consent-Every-Time/60341223325
<http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/?ref=sb#/pages/Some-Things-S
hould-Never-Be-Blurry-Ask-for-Consent-Every-Time/60341223325> 
 
________________________________

 
PAVE's TALKING POINTS:  Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault
Alcohol is the leading predatory drug (also called a "date rape drug")
used in sexual assaults on college campuses, and at least 50% of those
assaults involve alcohol prior to the incident.1  Perpetrators often
strategically use alcohol to increase vulnerability, diminish
resistance, and convince themselves that the victim is sexually
available.  Alcohol is often used as an excuse for bypassing responsible
sexual behavior:  
respecting boundaries and understanding what consent is.

While alcohol can make things fuzzy, this much is clear:  Consent isn't
blurry.  Ask for consent every time. 


*       The majority of sexual assaults on college campuses occur when
women are incapacitated primarily due to alcohol use.2 
*       Sexual assault encompasses a continuum of behaviors from
unwanted touching to forcible rape.  Nearly 1 in 5 undergraduate women
experience sexual victimization during their collegiate career.3 
*       9 of 10 victims of sexual assault are victimized by men they
know and trust, rather than strangers.1 

WHAT IS CONSENT?
Consent is a freely given yes, not the absence of a no.  Consent is most
clear when it's communicated verbally.



*       Alcohol can impair one's ability to give consent.  If you are
seeking sexual activity, it is your responsibility to make sure your
partner is sober enough to give consent.  If your partner passes out,
vomits, has trouble walking, has trouble talking, has trouble with
focusing, and/or makes decisions he/she might not make if sober...he or
she may not be able to give consent. 
*       If you find yourself hooking up with someone new or old, clarify
your assumptions.  A choice to drink does not mean losing the choice to
say no.  Going home with someone does not mean consent.  Silence does
not mean consent.  Being drunk does not mean consent.  Making out does
not mean consent for other sexual activities.  
*       If we do not take the time to act carefully, responsibly, and
respectfully toward one another, we risk creating a campus community
that is dangerous to both men and women.  Men and women can both play a
role in supporting each other, being clear and respectful about sexual
boundaries/desires, and intervening in potentially dangerous situations.


HELP FOR VICTIMS/SURVIVORS

*        Reporting the Crime: Many victims, both of the legal age of
drinking and those not, fear reporting to law enforcement when they were
drinking at the time of the assault.  Victims of age often believe that
law enforcement will not believe them and victims underage often fear
that they will be cited.  The University of Wisconsin Police Department
is committed to investigating sexual assault reports in a sensitive
manner and generally will not charge a victim who has been drinking with
an alcohol-related offense, even if he/she is underage.  

*        24-Hour Free and Confidential Crisis Services:  The Dane County
Rape Crisis Center provides medical and legal advocacy, support groups,
short-term counseling, community education, and Chimera self-defense
classes, regardless of a victim/survivor's decision to report the crime
to law enforcement.  A satellite office is located on the UW-Madison
campus (333 East Campus Mall, 7th floor).  
24 hour Crisis line:   (608) 251-7273; www.danecountyrcc.org
<http://www.danecountyrcc.org/>     

*        UW-Madison Cares: A list of services available to UW-Madison
students experiencing sexual assault, dating violence, and/or stalking
is available here: http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/docs/SARVBro906.pdf.  ;
This brochure outlines the contact information for the variety of
services offered by many campus and community offices/organizations.



*        What you can do

o       Be a supportive friend when someone discloses to you-thank them,
be compassionate, and ask what they need from you. 

o       Talk to THREE friends about sexual assault and alcohol use in
the next week.  Share your stories about those conversations on the
facebook page! 

o       Show your support! Attend a Sexual Assault Awareness Month
event!

 

Carmen Hotvedt
Violence Prevention Specialist
University Health Services, UW-Madison
www.uhs.wisc.edu/assault
608/265-5966 

Grant/Project Director:  "Community Problems, Community Solutions:
Building Capacity to End Violence Against Women at UW-Madison"

Staff Advisor, PAVE:  Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, a student
organization dedicated to ending sexual assault and dating violence
through education and activism. 
http://uwpave.rso.wisc.edu/Pave_web/website/pages/saamcalendar.html
<http://uwpave.rso.wisc.edu/Pave_web/website/pages/saamcalendar.html>