By: Kirsten Mendoca

Edited by: Peter Milobar

SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH

January is the month dedicated to raising awareness about sexual assault.

What is sexual assault? Any unwanted sexual contact within or outside a relationship (this can range from threatening to touching to forced sexual intercourse and anything

Why is it important to us? Because it affects people of all genders on a campus (15-25% of female students, 65.1% of male students, and 24% of transgender, gender queer and questioning students).

How can we be a part of it?
-Attending/Participating in events:
1. “Masculinity & Violence Prevention” by Jamie Utt. Jan 14th @ the Nest, 2301. For more info, email joseyross@ams.ubc.ca.
2. DENIM DAY, Jan 20th: People wear denim the entire day in support of a rape victim in 1998 whose perpetrator’s rape charge was overturned by the Italian court case because she was wearing denim jeans. The court’s reasoning was that the victim must have helped remove the jeans because they were so tight and therefore it must have been consensual sex.
By wearing denim on this day, we are standing up for a respectful campus.
3. Attend Anti-Violence Training. Jan 20th, 4 pm. This workshop covers sexual assault and consent, legal definitions, rape culture, how to respond to disclosire and support a survivor, and resources and making a referral. To register, email sascassist@ams.ubc.ca.
4. “Rethinking Sexualization”, by Julia Serano. Jan 28th, 12:30 pm, Liu Institute for Global Issues, Multipurpose room. For more info, email cj.rowe@ubc.ca.

-Standing up for it in our every day lives:
1. Getting consent (Consent is a voluntary and enthusiastic yes!)
2. Having healthy and respectful relationships.
3. Be active witnesses to various forms of sexual assault around you.

Let’s stand up against sexual assault and work together to make our campus aware of such an important issue.

*all information above was obtained from the UBC Student Services and Sexual Assault Support Centre websites.

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