A 2008 study done by the Department of Justice reported as many as one in four women will be sexally assaulted on a college campus each year. The Center for Public Integrity said out of those women, 95 percent of them will not report sexual assault.

The UW-System recognizes the problems with sexual assault on college campuses and has been taking steps to avoid this problem and help those who have been assaulted or harrassed.

UW-Platteville will recognize sexual assault awareness month by hosting two events open to students for attend. Both events were planned by Students Promoting Respect. According to their Web site, SPR is a group of UW-P male student leaders who “want to ensure that the main message among students on our campus is that we prioritize respectful, considerate and compassionate behavior toward others.”

SPR’s purpose on campus is “to increase awareness to the issues of sexual assault against women, violence toward others, and hate-based behavior and how these impact the lives of college students.”

The first event will be from 7-8:30 p.m on Thursday, April 15. in the Pioneer Student Center. Students are invited to watch the film Breaking Out of the Man Box. Following the film, there will be a question and answer session with Josh Jasper, Executive Director of Riverview Center in Dubuque. Jasper is known for helping stop violence towards women.

The second event will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27 in the PSC. There will be a discussion panel on technology’s impact on sexual assault. Panalists will include Marc Wruble from the psychology department and Tabetha Schemmel from the Riverview Center in Dubuque. Deirdre Dalsing, a UW-P counselor said the presentation will be meant to get the attention of the audience and will contain adult subject matter. Students are welcome and encouraged to come to both events.

The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault encourages the fight to stop sexual assault. Gov. Jim Doyle declared this April sexual assault awareness month.

Doyle said, “Sexual violence against the citizens of Wisconsin continues at an unacceptable rate each year, affecting many thousands of people in Wisconsin of all genders, ages and abilities; of all racial, cultural and economic backgrounds; and of all sexual orientations.”

According to the UW-System’s Web site, each UW school is taking steps to prevent sexual assault and raise awareness. At UW-P, new students are given information in their orientation packets. Counseling staff, residence life staff, student health services staff and student affairs staff also present this information to students. Counseling is available to student victims through university counseling sevices.