According to the government of British Columbia, almost two-thirds of all sexual assaults reported on campus happen during the first eight weeks of school. Though sexual assault prevention should be an all-year priority, the statistic reveals a disproportionality that must be directly addressed and combatted.
TRU, for the past three years, has claimed January as its Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), putting an important campaign directly on the pulse of the issue.
SAAM is the product of a collaboration between the Sexualised Violence Prevention and Response (SVPR) office, the Wellness Centre, the Writing Centre and other important university facilities dedicated to the overall welfare of the TRU community. The programming consists of several events spread out across multiple weeks, and all focused on a chosen theme surrounding sexual assault awareness.
This year, the theme is The Power of Resistance. Students, staff, and community members will be guided through a fuller understanding of resistance—what constitutes it, how it can be built, and common misinterpretations surrounding it. The crucial conversations will be handled across the four events scheduled throughout the month and are designed to be both informative and engaging.
The first event, The Art of Resistance, was held on Jan. 16 at the North Tower residence and focused on how art can be instrumental towards sexual awareness and healing. During the second event later that evening, participants enjoyed a singalong screening of Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour at the Clock Tower Theatre.
On Jan. 24, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., the Writing Centre will host the third event, a spoken word poetry workshop focused on how writing can empower and develop individual and collective resistance.
The month-long program will conclude on Jan. 29 with Consent Tea, an annual event by the Wellness Centre. This is the tenth year of Consent Tea, which will include panel discussions and a keynote speech from Canadian actress and writer Meghan Gardiner. Keeping with the theme of The Power of Resistance, Gardiner’s speech, The Power of Sharing Your Story, will be facilitated at 7:00 p.m.
In 2016, the British Columbia provincial legislature required all post-secondary institutions in BC to establish a sexual misconduct policy. The Sexualised Violence Prevention and Response office is the home for this policy within TRU.
For the past nine years, the SVPR has been an indispensable part of the university, educating and supporting the student body in all matters related to consent, sexual misconduct, and sexual violence. In collaboration with other university resources, the SVPR has contributed to a far-reaching support network across the TRU community.
To learn more about the SVPR, visit their website here. If you’re interested in SAAM, visit their page and register for any upcoming events.