USC launches sexual violence awareness campaign Tuesday

 

Activities start at 10 a.m. in the University Community Centre, with a special presentation at 1 p.m.

“We are very excited about this campaign,” says Louise Pitre, executive director at SACL. “Research tells us that 1 in 4 women attending university or college will likely experience sexual violence. With such disturbing statistics, creating campus communities that are safe, respectful and healthy becomes a priority for us all.”

The USC, along with the Sexual Assault Centre London and Changing Ways, a local agency supporting abusive or violent men, was granted $118,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for the campaign.  

The partners received a two-year grant to implement a campaign challenging male and female students to increase their awareness and involvement in reducing incidents of sexual violence.  
 
The project will roll out in two phases. The first year involves research into the issues on campus and developing the campaign objectives and strategic marketing approaches for the campaign.

Changing Ways in an organization dedicated to helping men end violence against women and children.

“Unlike traditional sexual violence public education campaigns that focus on providing women with information on keeping themselves safe from sexual assual and sexual violence, our campaign is a social marketing campaign that provides students with the knowledge, tools, resources and intervention skills they need to engage and recognize that everyone has a part to play in ending sexual violence,” says Tim Kelly, executive director, Changing Ways.

“We want Western to be a space that is welcoming and safe for all,” says Scott Kerr, vice-president, campus issues for the USC. “Western is a leader in Canada in terms of academics and student experience, and we want to continue that through making students more aware of sexual violence and how it affects those around them, and more importantly, what they can do to stop it.”