News

Incoming specialist ready to address campus violence

The University Health Service’s new Violence Prevention Specialist, Carmen Hotvedt, begins her first day of work today, bringing new ideas on how to properly address sexual and domestic abuse issues on campus.

As the first person to fill the newly created position, Hotvedt said she intends to bring a community focus to the position, formerly titled Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Coordinator.

According to UHS employee Dana Alder, the position was created to encourage the campus community to become active in preventing violence instead of resorting to traditional efforts that focus solely on victims.

The idea of directing prevention efforts toward the community came after Lori Henn, former Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Coordinator, resigned in January, according to Alder.

“Violence is an issue that affects all of us,” Alder said. “We wanted people to see violence as a community issue that affects everyone, so we broadened the job.”

After a long search and interview process that began in March, UHS chose Hotvedt to fill the new position.

Describing Hotvedt’s qualifications, Alder said, “[Hotvedt] came to us with really good experience. She is a young, energetic and creative person with creative ideas and is dedicated to prevention and how we really can make a difference in the world.”

Hotvedt started her career as a volunteer working with female victims of sexual and domestic abuse at the Every Women’s House crisis hotline in Ohio.

As she continued her work Hotvedt said she became fascinated with the power violence has over people and communities.

Hotvedt described her work in Ohio as “life-changing” and went on to work with youth in coordinating a statewide effort with the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. She focused on youth and violence and how they intersect in the domestic setting.

Before coming to the University of Wisconsin, Hotvedt returned to Ohio and worked at the University of Toledo as an educator on sexual assault issues and prevention. She also directed a volunteer program at the Domestic Violence Shelter in Toledo.

Hotvedt said she left Toledo after becoming frustrated with the system and began searching for a new way to approach violence prevention.

“I was starting to burn out on systems-based advocacy and focus on the victim and not focusing [violence] as a community issue,” Hotvedt said. “I was drawn to the position after … coming to a crossing ground over how much energy we as a culture put focus on the victim but not in terms of true prevention.”

When she begins her work at UHS, Hotvedt said she hopes to work with student groups and law enforcement to educate students to be aware of their personal and others’ safety. Hotvedt said she also plans to coordinate events to bring the student body together and to increase individual participation in prevention.

“I have a good handle on the nature of the campus and the work that needs to be done,” Hotvedt said. “I want to really challenge the way this campus responds to violence away from potential victims.

“It is no longer enough to hand out whistles and teach people to live in fear of violence. We need to … focus on the acts of violence and those who perpetrated [them],” she added.