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Letters to The Platteville Journal for April 9
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A month of awareness

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which offers an opportunity to highlight UW–Platteville’s many on-going efforts to prevent sexual assault and assist those affected by sexual violence. Our university is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free from rape and sexual assault as well as harassment, exploitation, and intimidation based on sex. Personally, I appeal to all members of our shared community to actively engage in learning more about and preventing sexual violence.

During my tenure as chancellor, UW–Platteville has implemented training from nationally recognized experts in sexual assault prevention, education, and response; reviewed our policies and procedures for response to sexual assault and harassment; and actively engaged students on these issues. Through input from students and an external consultant, we recently conducted a safety review of our campus and identified areas of improvement, which are being addressed. Our university has also established a sexual assault awareness council that is charged with the coordination of efforts aimed at increasing awareness to the issue of sexual violence and creating programs and services specific to prevention. This committee adheres to the belief that sexual violence is best addressed through collaborative efforts which engage administration, students, faculty and staff.  In addition, UW-Platteville is hiring an Issues Education Coordinator who will be focused on sexual assault, alcohol and other drug prevention and education. Our campus efforts have been good, but in order to be effective, each one of us needs to continually commit to fostering a culture that will not tolerate sexual assault and violence.

UW–Platteville is participating in National Sexual Assault Awareness Month by hosting distinguished lecturers, forums, media presentations and self-defense classes. I encourage all members of our community to attend and partake in these events. Please visit www.uwplatt.edu for additional details. We are also offering students the opportunity to participate in our second annual “Bystander Intervention Video Contest.” This contest gives students the chance to win up to $300 by creating a YouTube video of a bystander intervention that can also be used on campus to promote safety.

By all of us working together, we can strive to make UW–Platteville and the surrounding community free of sexual assault and violence, thus ensuring every day continues to be a great day to be a Pioneer.

Dennis J. Shields
UW–Platteville chancellor

Feed the hungry people

I hope the people who had enough money to feed eggs to dogs will contribute at least as much to the hungry people in this country and the world.

Jerome F. Cullen
8189 County D, Platteville

The Platteville Journal will print most letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion presented. The Journal reserves the right to edit material that is libelous or otherwise offensive to community standards and to shorten letters the Journal feels are excessively long. All letters must be signed and the signature must appear on the printed letter, along with a contact number or email for verification. Some submitted letters may not be published due to space constraints. “Thank you” letters will not be printed. All letters and columns represent the views of the writers and not necessarily the views of The Platteville Journal.