At a time when a UW-Madison fraternity fights rape allegations and local elections hinge upon campus and city safety, April's National Sexual Assault Awareness Month has never been more pertinent. This month, student groups such as PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment) and UW-Madison administrators have emphasized the importance of utilizing resources and students educating themselves about ways to avoid becoming a victim of sexual assault.
SAFE Services, the most well-known program on campus for promoting safety, is often neglected by the majority of the student body. SAFEWalk services run from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. every night. SAFERide services run from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.
PAVE has also planned an expensive campaign with the tagline ""Consent isn't blurry,"" meant to raise awareness about taking advantage of others when their judgment is impaired. PAVE will be distributing stickers, bottle openers, key chains and bookmarks during the month to promote smart decisions and safety.
Do yourself a favor: Take time to attend a PAVE-sponsored event and become educated. The more you know about what can be done to prevent sexual assault, the better.
