Employee Support Information

Below are brief descriptions of prohibited conduct. For policy definitions of each term, please reference the UW–Madison Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence.

Sexual Assault

Any sexual contact without consent, including sexual touching, groping, or rape. Remember, a person is unable to consent to sexual activity if they are incapacitated due to alcohol or drugs.

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors, or other unwelcome sexual conduct.

Stalking

Behavior pattern directed at a specific person that causes serious emotional distress or fear for physical safety. This may include monitoring, pursuing contact through calls or emails, sending unwanted gifts or items and showing up at victims’ home, workplace, or class.

Dating & Domestic Violence

A single act or ongoing pattern of abusive behaviors that exert control and power over a significant other. This can include physical, sexual, emotional or economic abuse.

There are a variety of methods someone may use to exert control and power over you.

Jealousy & Possessiveness

Examples: following you or showing up uninvited, sexting, extreme jealousy, seeing you as property or “less than”

Emotional Abuse & Humiliation

Examples: making fun of your weight or clothes, telling you that you deserve abuse, constantly criticizing

Manipulation & Limiting Independence

Examples: using anger or silent treatment as punishment, controlling your finances, monitoring your alcohol intake

Sexual Abuse

Examples: using drugs to get sex, comparing you to past partners

Threats & Intimidation

Examples: threatening you with harm, warning you they will commit suicide if relationship ends

Isolation

Examples: controlling what you do and who you spend time with, pressuring you to choose between them and family or friends

Physical Abuse

Examples: punching, hitting, throwing objects

Experiencing violence such as sexual assault or an abusive relationship can be a traumatic event, and we all handle trauma and stress differently. Though each person and situation is unique, the following list provides some examples of possible reactions. You may experience one, more, or none of these.

There is no right or wrong way to act or feel

• Diminished capacity to cope with the demands of daily life
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
• Inability to concentrate and focus on the tasks at hand; slower recall and organization or information
• Lack of energy; fatigue
• Sleeping and eating disturbances
• Depression; anxiety
• Very calm or very upset
• Flashbacks (feelings of reliving the event), intrusive memories, and nightmares
• Changes in your relationship with your partner
• Hyper-vigilance

Community Confidential Resources

Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS)

Domestic Abuse Intervention Services | (DAIS) 24-hour line: (608) 251-4445 | toll-free (800) 747-4045

Works to ensure the safety and well-being of domestic violence survivors and their families, and to change societal attitudes that perpetuate violence and the abuse of power

RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center

The RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center | (24-hour talk/text line: 608–251-RAPE [7273]) |  info@thercc.org | 333 East Campus Mall, #7301 Madison, WI | 600 N Park St (College Library) Room #2191D | Use hazelhelps.me to make an appointment with a UW RCC advocate

RCC provides vital crisis intervention services to survivors of all forms of sexual violence including recent or past sexual assault, incest, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation.

Deaf Hope

Deaf Hope | Text helpline: (510) 403-1464 | Videophone/Voice helpline: (510) 735-8553 | M-F 10:30 am – 7 pm | deafhope@deaf-hope.org

Their mission is to end violence in the Deaf, DeafBlind, Late Deafened, Hard of Hearing and CODA (children of Deaf adults) communities through empowerment, education and services.

Unidos of Wisconsin

UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence | (Toll Free 1-800-510-9195)

Provides victim advocacy services for Latina and non-Latina survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Freedom, Inc.

Freedom, Inc. | (608-661-4089) |  M-F 9am-5pm | 601 Bay View, Madison, WI 53715 | refugeeproject@hotmail.com

Victim advocacy services for victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence that are language/gender/generation and culture-specific to women, gender non-conforming, and youth in African American and Southeast Asian families.

Room to Be Safe

Room to Be Safe | (Resource Line –Not 24-hours: 414-856-5428)

This is a collaborative anti-violence program that provides support and resources to LGBTQ people who are experiencing or have experienced dating, long-term or intimate partner violence. Room to Be Safe also provides support and resources for family members of LGBTQ people who are experiencing or have experienced dating, long-term or intimate partner violence.

Meriter Forensic Nurse Examiner Program (608-417-5916)

UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital
202 S. Park St., Madison, WI (ER entrance)
This program was formerly the SANE program. They provide medical and forensic examination for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and dating violence. Nurses will examine for injuries, collect evidence, and offer medications to prevent STIs and/or pregnancy. Evidence can be collected within 5 days of an assault. There is no requirement to report to law enforcement.

Victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking are entitled to the following rights in UW–Madison Disciplinary Proceedings:

• Disciplinary proceedings that provide a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation and response
• Disciplinary proceedings that are conducted by panel members who receive annual training on the issues related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking and how to conduct an investigation and hearing process that protects the safety of victims and promotes accountability
• The same opportunity to have others present throughout disciplinary proceedings as the accused, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by an advisor of their choice. UW–Madison will not limit the choice of advisor for either the victim or the accused in any meeting for disciplinary proceeding.
• Both parties shall be simultaneously informed, in writing, of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding that arises from an allegation of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking; of the procedures for either party to appeal the outcome; of any change to the results that occurs prior to the time that such results become final; and of when such results become final. At no time can a victim be required to keep the outcome confidential, or be prohibited from discussing the case.
• Victims have equitable rights to the accused to appeal the outcome of a disciplinary proceeding
• Victims shall be informed of their options to notify law enforcement
• Students and employees will be provided written notification about existing counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid and other services available to victims, both within the institution and in the community
• Victims shall be notified, in writing, of options for changing academic, transportation, work, living situations and protective measures
• Victims can obtain a free forensic exam from a Forensic Nurse Examiner without filing a police report or involving the police in any way. If additional treatment is sought, other hospital charges may apply

In addition to the rights given by federal and state law, UW–Madison is committed to ensuring that victims of violence also have the following rights:

• The right to a victim advocate of their choosing. (For additional information and resources about victim advocacy, services on campus, and in the community, see the UHS Victim Advocacy website.
• The right to access sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, emergency contraception, and pregnancy testing
• The right to be informed of and have access to their own medical, mental health, Forensic Nurse Examiner, campus disciplinary, and/or victim advocacy services
• The right to not be punished for underage drinking or personal drug use if reporting a sexual assault or other crime per UW–Madison’s Policy on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence. Complainants and witnesses to incidents of sexual harassment or sexual violence will not generally be issued citations or be subjected to disciplinary sanctions for conduct at or near the time of the incident that would violate University policies regarding alcohol or personal drug use unless the University determines that the violation of University policy exposed others to serious risks to their health and safety
• The right to have options for offering their testimony in a campus disciplinary hearing, including via phone or video conference
• UW–Madison will disclose to the victim of a crime of violence or sex-offense, the results of any disciplinary hearing conducted by UW–Madison against a student who is an alleged perpetrator of such crime or offense. If the victim is deceased as a result of the crime or offense, UW–Madison will provide the results of the disciplinary hearing to the next of kin of the victim, if requested in writing

When a student or employee victim reports to a university office or official who is not explicitly designated as confidential, UW–Madison takes every precaution to protect victim privacy and confidentiality by sharing information only with university officials who have a legitimate educational interest and/or those who need to know for the purposes of providing an institutional response.

In an effort to protect victim safety and privacy, UW–Madison maintains information about sexual violence in a secure manner. If the University has notice of an incident, UW–Madison will balance the victim’s request to keep identifying information confidential with Title IX’s mandate to investigate hostile environments.

To the extent permissible by law, UW–Madison will endeavor to keep victim and necessary party information private. However, once a report is made to the University, or the University has notice of an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed unless that information is reported directly to one of the confidential resources listed.

UW–Madison will strive to maintain as confidential any supportive or protective measures provided to the victim, but keeping victim information confidential may limit UW–Madison’s ability to provide supportive or protective measures.

For victims aged 18 and older who report to non-confidential sources, reports of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and/or stalking are directed to the Title IX Coordinator, who will share relevant information only with those who need to know, such as Deputy Title IX Coordinators, complaint investigators, and other individuals who are responsible for handling the school’s response to incidents, or as necessary to comply with the Wisconsin Public Records law, a valid subpoena, a lawful discovery request, or a governmental inquiry or investigation. UW–Madison follows applicable Title IX guidance and the requirements of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g, when evaluating whether to disclose student information. In the case of minors, UW–Madison employees must report child abuse to Child Protective Services or local law enforcement.

For Clery Act reporting and disclosures, a victim’s name or identifying information will never appear in a Crime Warning, on the Daily Crime Log or in the Annual Security Report. UW–Madison will redact a victim’s identifying information when responding to requests for information pursuant to the Wisconsin Public Records law. The University also will not disclose identifiable information about research subjects if prohibited by an NIH-issued Certificate of Confidentiality, HIPAA regulations and state laws pertaining to the privacy of health information or promises of confidentiality made to research subjects pursuant to the federally required consent form and authorization form. UW–Madison must respond to valid subpoenas that are not prohibited by other applicable law, and may not be able to redact information when responding to a subpoena.