If you’ve logged on to Twitter lately, you may have noticed that the University of Wisconsin Police Department’s logo is now teal.
This is just a small step in UW-Madison’s effort to increase dialogue about sexual violence on campus during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
In addition to UWPD, University Health Services and student organizations like Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment are all making efforts to educate students and raise awareness for sexual assault resources.
According to the UHS website, UHS, PAVE and other student organizations on campus are offering various events this month — including speakers and workshops — which will focus on supporting survivors of sexual assault and promoting healthy relationships, as well as how bystanders can intervene in incidents of sexual assault.
PAVE communications coordinator Shay Jens said the goal of these events is to create a supportive community for those who are affected by sexual assault and to reach out to other students on how they can use their voice to make change.
Jens said it is important that the group make survivors feel supported “all year round.”
“We want to make sure people know that sexual assault is not just an issue for victims or survivors to deal with: It is a widespread issue that is on all of us to help prevent,” Jens said.
UWPD spokesperson Marc Lovicott said the department has also taken measures to honor Sexual Assault Awareness Month through a social media campaign.
According to Lovicott, UWPD has partnered with six other universities in a social media campaign, which shows students the resources they have on campus to “break the silence” on sexual violence.
He said he hopes the campaign will make victims feel more comfortable reporting incidents of sexual assault.
“For many different reasons, victims choose not to go to the police, so we’re doing our best to spread awareness about all the different resources that are available to them,” Lovicott said. “We want people to know we’re here for them.”
