Harmful social norms regarding sexual violence discourage University of Wisconsin-Madison sexual assault victims from reporting incidents and seeking support, according to a University Health Services statement Tuesday.
UHS Executive Director Sarah Van Orman and UW-Madison Dean of Students Lori Berquam released the joint statement in response to a letter to the editor published by The Badger Herald Monday.
“Most sexual assault perpetrators hide behind harmful social norms and attitudes about gender, violence, sex, and entitlement,” Van Orman and Berquam said in the statement. “Social norms are complex reflections of the world we live in, and we have a role in creating healthy norms rather than reinforcing unhealthy norms.”
They also said in the statement university leaders are committed to addressing sexual violence on campus through prevention, victim response and perpetrator accountability services.
Van Orman and Berquam directed students to bystander intervention resources, including the Tonight program, and services available to victims and survivors of sexual violence available through UHS.
