UW-Platteville sets activities for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual Assault Awareness

As part of its ongoing commitment to improving campus climate, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will recognize Sexual Assault Awareness month in April with a number of events. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a campaign to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it. Throughout April, the UW-Platteville Dean of Students office will be hosting a number of events regarding victim-blaming, supporting survivors and bystander intervention as well as tabling sessions.

“Sexual Assault Awareness Month gives people the opportunity to let their community know that they care about this issue and that they won’t tolerate it on our campus. It is on all of us to make a difference. Our words and actions shape the world around us,” said Melissa Stoner, interim prevention and education coordinator in the Dean of Students office at UW-Platteville. “I hope this month brings awareness to the resources we have available for our students, faculty and staff.”

The month will kick off with a “What Were You Wearing?” survivor art installation. This is the second year that the Dean of Students office has put together the art installation, which is made of outfits recreated from the stories of student survivors and victims.

“It is our hope that survivors who experience the installation feel heard, validated, believed and know that the assault was not their fault,” said Stoner. “The intent of the installation is to create a tangible response to one of our most pervasive rape culture myths. The belief that clothing or what someone was wearing causes rape is extremely damaging for both survivors and for our community. This realization moves us away from blaming the victim for violence and places responsibility where it belongs, on those who caused harm.”

One of the events, Denim Day, which is also observed worldwide and celebrating its 20th anniversary, encourages all members of the UW-Platteville community to wear jeans with a purpose. According to Denim Day, the Denim Day campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The next day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.

UW-Platteville has a number of resources available on sexual misconduct.