Background

SAAM emerged from a student-driven initiative in the 2009/2010 academic year. Responding to what they saw as light treatment of sexual violence on campus, a group of undergraduate Arts students raised the issue of sexual violence in a 2009 ‘Meet the Dean’ session. The overwhelming interest in these issues prompted a second session with the Dean two weeks later. As a result of the engaged dialogue, Dean of Arts Nancy Gallini, together with faculty member Dr. Becki Ross, proposed SAAM: a month of events intended to foster awareness around sexual assault. This idea was realized through the joint work of passionate students, the Faculty of Arts, and Access & Diversity.

The first SAAM took place two months later, in January 2010, and included a film screening, a staging of the play Dissolve, and a Take Back the Night march. After SAAM 2010, the Steering Committee decided that the project should be turned into an annual event. Today, SAAM is still going strong, and the project is driven by a committee composed of students, Access & Diversity, SASC, and other campus partners. SAAM’s purpose has remained the same: to raise awareness and educate the campus community about the issues behind sexual assault and violence and urge us all to make positive social change.

Interested in learning more about SAAM at UBC? Have a look through our Past Events.