University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire — Local services in Eau Claire

Important Warning to UWEC Students: Drugging and Safety in Eau Claire:

I want to urge all UWEC students: Drugging is a serious and ongoing issue in Eau Claire. It is commonly believed that some of these incidents are linked to bartenders themselves. I was drugged in 2020 at the Pioneer Tavern. I woke up at 7 PM the next day, still hazy, and went to Sacred Heart Hospital. When I asked for testing, the hospital said they had no way to test for date rape drugs, which is appalling, given how many women have reported being drugged in Eau Claire.

If it weren't for my roommates, I don't know what might have happened to me.

There have been well over 20 student deaths in Eau Claire after nights of drinking, many of them involving drowning. Being drugged is disorienting enough, but it's made worse when you’re left with no answers and no way to get tested. It should be a priority for UWEC and the city of Eau Claire to provide proper medical testing and to investigate patterns of danger to students. There is no real accountability for the people doing this, and women are often left to question themselves or are dismissed outright. Even when these instances don’t end in death, many students are left with long-term fear and trauma. As a 2021 UWEC grad, I urge you: Never walk home alone, even if Eau Claire feels “safe” If you are intoxicated, know you’re vulnerable — stay with friends Help strangers. If you see someone intoxicated and alone, please don’t look away

UWEC now has CASA, which is a good resource, but what can be done if basic testing still isn’t available? This is how violence against women continues in plain sight — no tools to confirm what happened, no accountability, and survivors wondering if it was all...

I love going to school here! They made my transfer process easy and accepted more credits than I expected. My advisor has been amazing, my department is outstanding, and I haven't had an issue with any faculty to date. I wish people knew how many resources are available on campus, I wish I had them at the first college I went to! They do all they can (with the cards they're dealt) to improve the experience of their students. College is NOT cheap, but I feel like I get my money's worth here. having multiple sources of coffee on campus is amazing! Some of the buildings aren't as great as the others, but I guess that's to be expected with a campus that's been here for 100 years. The constant construction gets pretty annoying, but luckily it doesn't interfere with my day too much. The campus is beautiful, making those long walks not SO unbearable. What I don't like is how spread out the campus is. There's really 3 sections of campus, and when you only have 10mins to get from up the hill to the water street buildings, it feels just about impossible! Also, the updates in some buildings are way over the top when some of the older buildings actually need basic renovations. HAAS and HSS don't have accessible or gender neutral bathrooms, or enough stalls in either building, yet Davies has 30 stalls on their upper floor that's...

Realistic Review: Let me start by saying that, having attended and graduated from UW Oshkosh, this school IS academically difficult. I am an education major in my last semester on campus. Classes are tough, don't let the reviews fool you.

Second, all the reviews calling Eau Claire a "hick town" are total BS. It is a Wisconsin city, with a somewhat smaller town feel. There are not people walking around in camouflage or orange jumpsuits like they just left the tree stand. Give me a break. It is a city of younger, hard working people, trying to make a living. The downtown is friendly and upbeat, great work young people and new families. Lots of parks and walking trails help to show off this beautiful city and her waterways.

Lastly, on the quality of non-academics of UWEC: The dorms are average, the food quality is average, and the services provide are exceptionally average. But my point stands at this - Are you attended college because you want a solid, academically rigorous challenge, ending in a life altering degree reception? Or are you here to make friends and flourish as a self-actualized adult? Because both will occur if you...