In the weeks following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, student safety has become a priority at UW-Madison. The Office of the Dean of Students and various organizations have expressed their concern and their commitment to ensure the safety of all UW-Madison students.
On the security front, Kent Barrett, university relations specialist for University Communications, said no new campus safety measures have been implemented since Sunday, when the United States and Great Britain began air strikes against targets in Afghanistan. After Sept. 11, a system was developed that would link UW-Madison officials through telephone and e-mail in the case of an attack on campus.
But Barrett also said the details could not be released to the public.
'The release of those plans ... would cause [them] to lose effectiveness,' he said. 'Especially if they're known by someone who may be planning any wrongdoing.'
Some organizations have expressed concern specifically about the safety of students of color and women on campus due to the terrorist attacks, as well as other incidents.
On Sept. 28, the Office of the Dean of Students sent an e-mail to students regarding safety issues ranging from alcohol abuse to discrimination. Some students said they wondered if there was reason to be concerned.
'It seemed odd that we would receive a letter like this out of the blue,' said Sara Wimberger, a UW-Madison freshman. 'But I understand that after what has been happening ... [that] those ... in charge want us to know that we are safe.'
The Office of the Dean of Students also sent a letter to student organization leaders urging them to address various aspects of student safety.
The dean's office was not available to comment on whether these letters were sent in response to a specific incident.
The Palestine Right to Return Coalition and the Multicultural Student Coalition sent a letter to UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley Oct. 3 addressing an alleged increase in hate crimes, asking Wiley to 'speak publicly against such heinous, racist acts.'
Bina Ahmad, a representative for the Palestine Right to Return Coalition, said the letter was born out of a need to inform students about what is happening to people of color.
'No UW official has publicly commented or established the university's stance [on these hate crimes],' Ahmad said. 'We've been forced to take matters into our own hands.'
But Wiley said he thought the concerns were 'understandable' and 'reasonable' regardless of whether more hate crimes on campus occurred. He also said there has been no increase in reported violence at UW-Madison.
'It was one of the first things we thought of in the morning hours of Sept. 11,' he said. 'I think we should all redouble our efforts to foster intelligent, respectful behavior.'
Wiley said many safety concerns deal with drinking, and students can curb that by being responsible with alcohol.
Angela Bartucci, the founder of Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, an organization addressing sexual assault, echoed Wiley's concern for violence induced by alcohol use.
'Up to 90 percent of all sexual assaults involve the use of alcohol, the most commonly used drug on college campuses,' Bartucci said.
At noon today, PAVE is rallying at the state Capitol in support for the proposed bill by Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, that will include alcohol as an intoxicant in sexual assault cases in Wisconsin statutes.
