Each year, the University of Wisconsin System provides a report from all System campuses outlining its response to sexual assault. The report includes the educational, preventative and reporting measures associated with sexual assault that UW-Madison has introduced, as well as the number of sexual assaults reported by students to University staff members during the previous year. The complete UW-Madison report for 2012 can be viewed here.

Because sexual assault is a significantly under-reported crime, the numbers don’t really tell the full story. Research indicates that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 college women nationwide experience sexual assault while in college, and many men also experience sexual victimization. These are alarming figures, but there are steps we can take individually and as a campus community to stop sexual assault.

If you are the survivor of sexual assault, you can get help from one of the following resources:

• University Health Services (for physical and mental health services): 265-5600 or www.uhs.wisc.edu/assault. If you know someone who has been sexually assaulted and you’re not sure how to support them, UHS can also help provide you with resources.
• Rape Crisis Center: 251-RAPE
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (at Meriter Hospital): 417-5916
• UW Police: 264-2677
• Madison Police: 266-4275

I have also heard from many of you about concerns regarding new websites that enable anonymous communications. Sometimes these postings include concerns about victimization and even criminal admissions or accusations, including those involving sexual assault or a nonconsensual encounter. It is everyone’s right to feel safe in the community, and if you feel threatened by what you’ve seen posted in social media, we’d like to talk to you and try to provide resources. If you feel targeted, we want to help as well. You can talk to an on-call dean Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. by calling 608-263-5700, emailing dean@studentlife.wisc.edu or stopping by Bascom 70.

Sexual assault, dating violence and nonconsensual encounters can affect every member of the UW-Madison community, and these incidents will not be tolerated in any form. By educating students, encouraging reporting and supporting survivors, we strive every day to make the UW-Madison community a safer place for everyone.

On, Wisconsin!

Lori M. Berquam

Vice Provost for Student Life and Dean of Students

As information about the tragic events of this morning continues to come to light, I wanted to reach out to our students from Connecticut and express my deepest sympathy. There are no words at a time like this to express the grief and horror we all feel in the face of this kind of violence. I want you to know that the entire university community stands with you, and we keep the citizens of Newtown and Connecticut in our thoughts. While we don’t yet know if any Badger families have been impacted by this event, I want you all to know that there are resources available should anyone need them:

• The Dean of Students Office can assist with logistical support, referrals and short-term emergency loans. The staff can be reached at students.wisc.edu/doso, (608) 263-5700, or by stopping by Bascom 70 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• University Health Services can provide counseling support and can be reached at uhs.wisc.edu or 608-265-5600.
• University Religious Workers is a federation of campus-area ministries, and individual clergy are available for personal and spiritual counseling. The complete list of URW can be found here.

Sincerely,

Lori M. Berquam

Vice Provost for Student Life and Dean of Students

As you prepare for Thanksgiving break this week and winter break next month, I wanted to reach out with some important reminders for those who may be travelling.

Every semester, we receive reports of burglaries and break-ins to off-campus student residences that often occur when the residence is unsecured.

Whenever you leave your apartment, please remember to lock all of your doors and windows. If you have a window or sliding door that cannot be secured to your satisfaction, contact your landlord.

Since thefts and burglaries are “crimes of opportunity,” common sense can help stop criminals. Some other useful safety tips include:

• Don’t leave attractive items out in plain sight. Burglars frequently target cash, laptops, bikes, jewelry, video games, bikes, digital cameras and televisions. If possible, take small valuables with when you leave.
• Draw your curtains and shades and set a timer for lamps.
• Temporarily stop your mail.
• Let a landlord, property owner or neighbor know how long you’re going to be gone and how you can be reached in the event of a problem.
• To help reduce the risk of accidental fire, make sure to unplug large electrical appliances, including computers, stereos and microwaves.

More crime prevention information can be found at <http://www.safeu.wisc.edu/>

I wish you all a safe and restful break.

Sincerely,

Lori M. Berquam

Vice Provost for Student Life and Dean of Students

Division of Student Life

UW-Madison Students,

Tuesday is Election Day. I urge you to become an active participant in the democratic process by voting for the candidates of your choice in federal, state and local races.

Polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. The location of your polling place is determined by your address.

–If you are a Madison resident, visit http://www.cityofmadison.com/election/voter/Where.cfm and type in your address to find your polling place.

–If you’re not registered to vote at your current residence, you may register at the polls on Election Day. Details: http://www.cityofmadison.com/election/voter/voterRegister.cfm

Plan ahead. Keep in mind that turnout may be high and there could be long lines, particularly if you plan to register at the polls.

If you are registering at the polls, you will be required to show proof of residency.  To do so, you may use a paper, electronic or smartphone copy of the Voter Enrollment Verification Form in Student Center to prove your address. Details: https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=22225

Remember, you do not currently need to show a photo ID at the polls to vote. Also, voting has no impact on your insurance, financial aid or student status.

For additional information on voting, visit http://www.uc.wisc.edu/vote/ or  https://myvote.wi.gov/.

Dean of Students Lori Berquam

Whether you are a faculty member, staff member or a teaching assistant, we all share a bond as Badgers. Maintaining the safety of our community is everyone’s responsibility.

In your interactions with students, you may directly encounter troubled or disruptive students in your classroom, office or work area. You may be the first to learn of an emotional or mental health issue, including suicidal references, the effects of a sexual assault or other crimes. You may confront insensitive or inappropriate remarks. In rare instances, you may even encounter dangerous or disruptive behavior.

In all of these cases, you can play a positive role in helping students access resources or receive assistance and, ultimately, to be successful at UW-Madison.

Please read on and consider the following information:

– Should a student exhibit dangerous, disruptive or suicidal behavior and physical safety is of immediate concern, call the UW Police Department. The 911 emergency number on campus connects directly to campus police.

– Students sometimes express issues through behavior especially observable to their instructors: sudden prolonged absences or a sharp decrease in class performance, for instance. Any time you are worried about a student or witness an observable change of behavior, I trust you will act with concern. “Acting with concern” may include discussing your unease with a colleague or your department chair/supervisor, contacting my staff, talking to the student you are concerned about or calling 911 in an urgent situation.

– If a student seems to be having mental health issues, is homesick, sad or troubled, please refer them to UHS Counseling and Consultation Services at 608-265-5600.

–In the wake of shooting incidents in Oak Creek, Wis. and Aurora, Colo., I also want to take a moment to note that UW-Madison, like universities around the country, convenes a group designed to conduct threat assessment on behalf of the entire campus community. It is our belief that the best ways to learn of and curb a threat is through extensive communication between administrators and members of the campus community like yourself. If you are aware of an individual of concern, call 608-263-5700 and ask for the on-call dean. Your care and concern is important in keeping our community safe.

– If you observe inappropriate or demeaning behavior, please confront it. You can also contact my office and speak with an assistant dean, who can be a resource if needed. Part of our campus focus on inclusivity requires you to confront students when their actions are disrespectful or harmful to their peers.

– UW-Madison has a history of setting high expectations for its students. Among these expectations is a high standard of academic integrity. Assistant Dean Tonya Schmidt, tschmidt@studentlife.wisc.edu, works with cases of academic misconduct and is available as a resource in case you need assistance working with students who potentially violated academic standards.

In any case in which you have a question or are seeking consultation, I would urge you to use my staff as a resource by calling 608-263-5700 during office hours and asking for the dean-on-call. You can also send an email to dean@studentlife.wisc.edu. I consider us to be partners in helping all our students be successful while on campus.

Thank you,

Lori M. Berquam

Dean of Students

Division of Student Life

I hope your semester is off to a safe and successful start! If you’re new to campus, you may not know me yet, but it’s one of my roles as your dean of students to provide information about your health and safety.

If you’ve been away from Madison this summer, you should be aware that there have been several recent violent incidents downtown, particularly late night in the University Avenue corridor. Learn more and take special care in this area: http://www.news.wisc.edu/20933

Some basic safety tips are:

–Always walk with a group of friends, especially at night.

–If you intend to drink, do so in moderation so as not to put yourself in a position of increased risk.

–Make use of SAFE Nighttime Services,

–Use your “radar” or common sense as your first defense.

–Sign-up for WiscAlerts text messaging at go.wisc.edu/wiscalerts

–Always carry your cell phone. If you find yourself in an unsafe situation or are witnessing a crime call the police- 911 in emergencies or (608) 264-COPS for UWPD’s non-emergency line

In the wake of shooting incidents in Oak Creek, Wis., near the Texas A & M campus and Aurora, Colo., I also want to take a moment to note that UW-Madison, like universities around the country, convenes a group designed to conduct threat assessment on behalf of the entire campus community.

It is our belief that the best way to learn of and curb a potential threat is through extensive communication between administrators and members of the campus community. If you are aware of an individual of concern or need any kind of assistance, please call 608-263-5700 and ask for the on-call dean. Your care and concern is important in keeping our community safe.

Lastly, our campus boasts a vibrant social scene, full of many different ways to have fun with your friends. Many students find that college is the first time that they encounter use and misuse of alcohol by their peers.

Too frequently I personally encounter students whose choices involving alcohol create problems for themselves and others. These choices result in harm done to themselves or others. I don’t want this to happen to any member of our community. Be safe this weekend and take a moment to learn more about campus policies around alcohol.

Safety is a shared responsibility between students, administrators, our police and community. Again, welcome and have a safe and successful semester!

Lori M. Berquam

Dean of Students

If this is the first message you’ve received from me, a quick word of introduction: I’m Lori Berquam, your Dean of Students. I hope you’re having a great summer, and we’re excited for the start of the semester.

I’m emailing because I believe it’s important to help students learn to register and vote in elections of local, state and national importance. As you may already know, a Wisconsin primary election will be held on Tuesday, August 14.

As during the June 5 election, recent changes in voting laws and your transition between home and campus may require you to plan ahead. See which of these situations applies to you:

–If you’re a new or returning Wisconsin student who has registered to vote in your hometown, vote in your hometown.

–If you’ve registered in Madison and lived in an apartment or house in Madison during the summer: Vote on Aug. 14 at your regular Madison polling place or via absentee ballot. (See below for details.)

–If you’re registered in Madison, are home for the summer, but plan to return to a new address in University Housing or an off-campus apartment or house after Aug. 14: Your options include requesting an absentee ballot using your 2011-12 Madison address or returning to Madison to vote on August 14. (See below for details.)

–If you’re not registered, you may also register at the polls on Aug. 14.

You may be required to show proof of residency, such as a paper copy of Voter Enrollment Verification form, to prove your address if you are registering at the polls. Remember, you DO NOT currently need to show a photo ID at the polls or when you register.

Absentee ballot request form.

In addition to requesting an absentee ballot by mail, you may vote absentee in person at the Madison City Clerk’s office.  Full details about absentee voting can be found here.

If you need information about your polling place or registration status, visit www.vpa.wi.gov/.

If you have questions, contact the Madison City Clerk’s office at (608) 266-4601, voting@cityofmadison.com or visit uc.wisc.edu/vote.

Lori Berquam

Dean of Students

To new students, we are so happy to have you in the Badger family. The start of a new school year is such an exciting time to meet new people, reconnect with friends and reflect on your goals for the coming year. I’m writing to share some information on the many opportunities that are available to you here.

This is the first of many times I hope to connect with you throughout the course of the year. I invite all of you to follow me on Twitter (@LoriBerquam) and ‘like’ the Division of Student Life on Facebook. You can expect that I will be in touch in the coming days with important information regarding a new violence prevention initiative and a message about staying safe on and off campus.

UW-Madison boasts more than 300,000 living alumni. These Badgers are proud of where they came from and look to you to carry on their strong legacy of innovative thinking and old-fashioned hard work.

What legacy will you leave at the UW? I’d like to offer some thoughts on how to approach this year in a way that will help you meet your goals and preserve and enrich the legacy that generations of Badgers have set for you.

–Make the Most of Your Wisconsin Experience: The beginning of the school year is an ideal time to set your priorities for the next eight months. As you do this, I hope you’ll consider what you want your Wisconsin Experience to be. By exploring new ways to learn outside of the classroom, alumni have propelled our university to the top of global rankings in research, leadership, and volunteerism. I hope that you’ll follow in their footsteps by studying abroad, performing original research and engaging in our diverse community and the city of Madison. Ask questions, get involved, become a scholar.

–Cultivate an Environment of Inclusivity and Respect: As a student, you have the opportunity to expand your understanding of various cultures and live, work, and build community with people from all backgrounds. I encourage you to seek out discussions focused on inclusivity.

Get involved in a student org or group that will challenge you to test new ideas and examine old assumptions. The Division of Student Life is home to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Center, the Multicultural Student Center, the McBurney Disability Resource Center , and International Student Services.

In addition, you can enroll in a dialogue-based course such as Intercultural Dialogues (Sociology 496) or the Seeking Equality and Educational Diversity Seminar (Counseling Psychology 325). I hope you’ll take advantage of these opportunities to build an inclusive, respectful campus community.

–Strive for Integrity in All You Do: One of the best parts of being a Badger is celebrating our collective achievements – in the classroom, in the lab, on the field, and everywhere in between. Demonstrate your pride as a Badger by being respectful and responsible. Wherever you are – you are a representative of UW-Madison. Badgers take care of each other – please watch out for yourself, your friends, and our neighbors, and be respectful of our community’s property.

Pride in our institution is also reflected in the classroom. The basics of academic integrity are simple: Be honest in your work and give credit where credit is due.

If you have a question about the policies in your classes, the best resources are your syllabus, your professor and the department. As a Badger, you are expected to credit sources, act with honesty during tests and exams, and do the work that is assigned to you. By doing this, you ensure the quality of your education and the quality of a UW degree.

Thanks for taking the time to read this message. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at student org functions, at sporting events, and on the streets of our campus.

On, Wisconsin!

Lori M. Berquam
@LoriBerquam
Dean of Students
Division of Student Life

As you know, Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. We are writing to share questions and answers about how to register to vote, as well as reminders of important dates related to voting this year.

Q. Do I need to register?
A. If you are voting at the same address as the last time you voted, you should already be registered. If you have moved to a new address or even changed apartment numbers, or if you have changed your legal name since the last time you voted, you will need to re-register. Also, if you are a first-time voter, you will need to register.

Information for Wisconsin voters can be found at myvote.wi.gov. This website allows you to check to make sure that your registration is current, locate your polling place and see a sample ballot.

Q. How do I register to vote?
A. You have three options for registering to vote: Register by mail more than 20 days prior to Election Day, register in person at several locations or register at your polling place on Election Day. Here is information about registration by mail or in person.

To register by mail more than 20 days prior to the election, visit myvote.wi.gov. The site has a new registration method, “Click and Mail,” which offers a series of web pages that help you enter registration information, and provides instructions for printing and mailing a form. For first-time voters who are mailing the form, the instructions require proof of residence.

To register in person more than 20 days prior to the election, go to the Madison City Clerk’s office, Room 103, City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., or to a special registration deputy in the Associated Students of Madison office, Student Activity Center, Room 4301, 333 East Campus Mall.

For complete details on any of these options, visit the UW Voter Information site

Here are important reminders:

• To vote in Wisconsin, you need to have resided at your current address
  for at least 28 consecutive days before Election Day. You may register
  as soon as you move to your current address, as long as you will be
  living at the same address for at least 28 days prior to Election Day.
• If you have a current and valid Wisconsin driver’s license, you must
  enter the license number on the registration form. If your Wisconsin
  driver’s license is expired or revoked, or you have never had a
  Wisconsin license, you may enter the last four digits of your Social
  Security number.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Oct. 9 (28 days before the election): If you move after this date, you
  must vote at your previous polling place, either in person or by
  absentee ballot.
• Oct. 17: The end of open registration. After this date, you must provide
  proof of residence to register. You are no longer able to register with
  a special registration deputy; instead, you must register at the City
  Clerk’s office or at the polls on Election Day, with proof of residence.
• Oct. 22-Nov. 2: In-person absentee voting at the City Clerk’s office.
• Nov. 6: Election Day. You may register at your polling place.

For complete information on voter registration, please visit the UW Voter Information site.

Sincerely Lori M. Berquam, Dean of Students
Hannah J. Somers Chair, Madison Student Vote Coalition

“The School of Education at UW–Madison is one of the best in the nation. As a result, we have world-renowned faculty who are preparing us to be leaders in the field of education. It is an honor to be a part of this program.” — Katie Malone

Katie Malone has been actively involved with the Division of Student Life beginning with her freshman year at UW-Madison. She has held positions with hiring committees and has drafted policies, and she currently represents the university as a Wisconsin Ambassador.

Through these activities, she has become acquainted with faculty members and has challenged herself to try new experiences.

During her time on campus, Katie has strengthened her commitment to one of her passions — educating children. She is pursuing a double major in elementary education and history, with a certificate in leadership. As one of only eighteen people chosen to be a New Student Leader this past summer, she worked with incoming freshmen and transfer students during Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR).

True to her interest in education, Katie truly enjoyed working with new students and contributing to their overall college experience. As she and her fellow SOAR leaders created rituals and soon-to-be traditions, she also discovered a sense of community.

Katie has also been challenged in her coursework. Among the most interesting courses, she says, is Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima: Japan, the U.S. and the Crisis in Asia, which offered information from the Japanese point of view. Learning to think about historical events from multiple perspectives has broadened her critical thinking in any situation — a skill she knows will be invaluable in her future elementary-school classroom.

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