Help put an end to sexual assault at UW-Stout by raising awareness! In order to put an end to such a growing problem, we need to get the University involved. It is imperative that the school implements a mandatory sexual assault workshop for all first-year and transfer students. These workshops will explore the definitions of sexual assault, rape, and relationship violence along with how to deal with such incidences. Workshop participants will interact in college life scenarios in both mixed-gender and separate male and female groups, along with separate LBGTQ and International Student workshops. By implementing these workshops, it will offer ways in which students can become active bystanders in the prevention of sexual violence from occurring to themselves, their friends, and their peers and continue to become more informed.

For Stout, this will be a relatively easy program to incorporate into already existing programs like “Think About It,” where students are mandated to take the program or else their account is put on hold, and they cannot register for classes. Although programs like this can potentially require a lot of funding, this one will not. It will be ran by a campus organization, so it will be student-led and very convenient for the university. If additional funding is needed, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers a $750 grant for campus events on topics such as sexual assault. Also, we could reach out to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Rape Prevention and Education Program which annually distributes $42 million in funding to support rape prevention activities across the nation.

Please sign this petition to help keep yourself and your friends safe from sexual assault while at UW-Stout. With your help, this petition will eventually be given to Chancellor Bob Meyer.