Approximately one in 10 students at UW-Madison experiences some form of dating violence while in college. UHS is here to support survivors of violence – no matter how a student labels their experience or when a situation occurred. This October, UHS recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month and brings attention to the important work happening all year round across campus to support student survivors and prevent sexual violence.
Integrated Approach to Survivor Support
UHS supports student survivors through coordinated medical, mental health, and advocacy services. The integrated team is expanding in response to student needs. Recent areas of growth include deepening support for survivors who hold marginalized identities – including students of color and students who identify as LGBTQIA+. There are also movements to make resources available within the campus community, outside of the UHS physical space – including support groups hosted at the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC) and Let’s Talk sessions in University Housing.
Survivor advocates at UHS are here to support student survivors and help them navigate campus resources. Services are always confidential and survivor-centered. Domestic and dating violence are just some of the many areas Survivor Services addresses. Patterns of power and control against an intimate partner may be physical, sexual, or psychological in nature.
Students can schedule an appointment to talk with an advocate and learn about their options by emailing survivorservices@uhs.wisc.edu, calling 608-265-5600 (option 3), or self-scheduling via the MyUHS portal. Learn more about Survivor Services Advocacy on our website. Advocates validate your experience and provide emotional support, while sharing information and resources you might need, like referrals, accommodations, and reporting options.
Ongoing Work in Violence Prevention
UHS’s violence prevention strategy aims to increase the campus community’s knowledge about issues related to violence, shape attitudes, and build the necessary skills to prevent violence before it occurs. All incoming undergraduate, transfer, and graduate students participate in required violence prevention programming which empowers students to make healthy decisions, intervene in difficult situations, and learn about resources available to survivors on campus. UHS recognizes the vital role each student plays in creating a community of care that allows everyone to thrive. UHS acknowledges the invaluable contributions of anonymous donors to build capacity and carry out important work in preventing violence on UW-Madison’s campus.
Recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
On Wednesday, October 19 University Health Services (UHS) is partnering with University Housing to host an event for the Eagle Heights community that will introduce the signs of domestic abuse and dating violence as well as the resources that are available to survivors on campus and in the community. Representatives from UHS Survivor Services and Violence Prevention will be present to speak to rights and resources, as well as introduce the Light in the Window campaign.
“While we work to prevent dating violence and support survivors all year round, October is an important time to focus our efforts to increase awareness of the issue,” says Sam Bowen, Assistant Director of Violence Prevention. “I encourage students to take care of one another by learning to recognize the signs of dating violence and supporting their peers with empathy.”