SHAW’s Violence Prevention works to build the capacity of the campus community to prevent violence, support survivors, and shift our community culture to one of care, consent, and respect. We do this through educational and skill-building programs, providing assistance to students, staff, and faculty who are working to create change on campus, and building campus collations for violence prevention.
In a 2018 survey, 10.9 % of UWM students reported being sexually touched without their consent in the last 12 months (ACHU UWM 2018). This aligns with a national study that found that 13.0% of all students experience nonconsensual sexual contact during their time at school, with rates for women and transgender, nonbinary, and gender-non-conforming students being significantly higher (AAU 2020).
Sexual, relationship, and domestic violence affects all of us. At UWM, we believe in the importance of creating a safe and healthy environment for all of our community members. Although we are making progress, there is much work to do. You can help prevent violence in our community and support our mission to create a culture of consent at UWM.
Learn More
Student, staff, and faculty groups can request one of the workshops described below to be delivered by Violence Prevention staff and adapted to your group/audience. If you are interested in booking a workshop or if you are interested in a workshop or program topic that is not listed below, please contact the Violence Prevention Coordinator at uwm-violenceprevention@uwm.edu.
You Can Help! Prevent Sexual and Relationship Violence
With this bystander intervention training, participants will learn the important role they can play as an active bystander in preventing sexual and relationship violence by learning safe and effective ways to intervene. Participants will learn how to identify potentially harmful situations, understand behaviors and attitudes that contribute to a culture of violence, and practice new intervention techniques.
Relationship Goals: Exploring Healthy Relationships
This workshop focuses on healthy relationships (platonic, romantic, and/or sexual). Using a mix of self-reflection and group discussion, participants will explore their own needs, wants, and deal-breakers in relationships, be introduced to new ideas about healthy relationships, and practice communicating their needs.
Get Involved
Panthers Against Sexual Assault
PASA is an organization made up of undergraduate and graduate students dedicated to ending all forms of sexual violence on campus. PASA advocates for survivors and works to educate students on sexual violence prevention through open discussions, workshops, and campus-wide events. Sign up to join PASA or attend one of their events.
Caring for Others
If someone you know has experienced violence, here’s some tips on how you can best support them:
- Listen empathetically to what they are telling you.
- Acknowledge what has happened to them.
- Thank them for sharing with you and for trusting you.
- Understand that no matter the circumstances of the assault, what the survivor experienced is not their fault.
- Offer your support and helpful resources that they can lean on as they navigate through their options.
- Keep in mind that everyone’s experience with violence is unique and that there is no “right” way for a survivor to respond to or heal from their experience.
- Know that a survivor’s first concerns may include: physical and emotional safety, seeking medical assistance, seeking police intervention, or calling a hotline to speak to someone.
If you are feeling the impact of someone in your life experiencing violence, know that you are not alone. Vicarious trauma can occur when we are exposed to traumatic stories and experiences in our lives. The Student Health and Wellness Center’s Counseling Services are available support to all students, including students who are impacted by vicarious trauma, stress, anxiety, or other concerns that can occur when someone we care for is impacted by violence. Request an appointment for counseling or a Let’s Talk consultation to see if you could benefit from receiving support.