University Affairs Committee met Tuesday to review this semester’s campaigns including sexual assault awareness, campus safety, textbook affordability and mental health.
Associated Students of Madison University Affairs Chair Hannah Kinsella said the committee will continue work with Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program in 2014.
SAPR is sending a sexual-assault survey to students this week to assess student knowledge and raise awareness of campus services. University Affairs will then use the results as part of a corresponding media campaign, according to PAVE representatives.
Additionally, Student Council member John Paetsch said he is working with an unofficial safety council and hopes to focus on student safety.
Paetsch proposed a late-night student bus service to get students home safely as an alternative to SAFEwalk, a student escort service. Paetsch also said while Madison has very low crime rates, the committee can still make improvements and is dedicated to making those changes.
“We’re just looking to get people home safely,” Paetsch said.
University Affairs member Calla Born also proposed working with faculty about making textbook listings available earlier, so students can search for cheaper online alternatives. The committee also considered discouraging faculty from assigning textbooks when they plan on using less than 50 percent of the material.
University Affairs Vice Chair Padydeh Doroodchi also discussed a mental health campaign to show students on-campus service locations and said she is working with University Health Services on a video concerning school stress to be presented at SOAR.
