A coalition of UW-Madison students, faculty and Dane County officials kicked off a campaign addressing sexual assault crimes at UW-Madison in a press conference Tuesday.
UW-Madison students formed the initiative a few years ago in former UW-Madison Professor Steve Sparks' class on public relation campaigns.
'Because they were students themselves, they were able to come up with some very creative and innovative strategies to communicate on this topic with others their age,' Sparks said at Tuesday's rally.
'I have the Courage, We have the Power to Stop Sexual Assault' is the theme of the initiative, which aims to create greater campus awareness of sexual assault crimes through the use of informative fliers and posters, according to UW-Madison junior Austin King, a member of Men Opposing Sexual Assault.
'Sexual assault is a silent crime on this campus,' King said.
According to a survey compiled by the Office of the Dean of Students, there were 58 sexual assaults reported on campus in 2000, up from 33 in 1999.
The bright yellow posters, which feature information on sexual assault rates and provide the Dane County Rape Crisis Center phone number, will be posted in Madison Metro buses and around campus. Two different series of posters will be released in November 2001 and spring of 2002. These posters will encourage student participation and positive male involvement in sexual-assault prevention.
UW-Madison raised more than $4,000 for the program, while Dane County is providing an additional $4,000 in matching funds and $1,000 for operational costs, according to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. 'I really look to our next generation to set a positive trend that we can all be proud of in the future,' she said.
In coordination with the announcement of the sexual assault awareness campaign, a silent rally was held by 20 to 30 students of Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment at the state Capitol.
PAVE gathered in support of a bill sponsored by state Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, which would reinstate alcohol as an intoxicating substance for the purpose of sexual assault trials.
According to UW-Madison senior Angela Bartucci, a member of PAVE, even codeine, a common ingredient in many cough syrups, is included in the current list of intoxicants.
'It's ridiculous because alcohol is an intoxicant,' Bartucci said.
Ald. Todd Jarrell, District 8, voiced his displeasure with the existing statute at the rally.
'It's very sinister that people can't be prosecuted because of this [law],' Jarrell said.
Bartucci said she was pleased by the cohesiveness of sexual-assault groups on campus.
'We're all working in coalition together to work for a unified campus,' Bartucci said.
