Sexual Assault Prevention Video from UBC Okanagan Equity Office on Vimeo.

In this video, Lea Sebastianis, a director of SARA – Sexual Assault and Rape Awareness campaign, discusses the role of our own language in setting up and reinforcing systems of oppression that may ultimately lead to sexual violence.

SAAM Report by Andrea Johnson, Equity and Inclusion Office

• Learn more about sexual assault, how to help prevent it, and the supports available for survivors.

Starting my practicum with the Equity and Inclusion Office (EIO) in mid- January meant that I was quickly immersed in the various activities surrounding Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) coordinated by the office on campus. It has grown from a one-week event in 2015, to a month long campaign this year.

SAAM puts the spotlight on an issue that, frankly, no one really talks about. I, myself, have heard “I don’t know anyone that has been sexually assaulted,” or “that doesn’t really happen here.” Yet, the reality is that close to 25% of female students and 6% of male students on campus are victims of sexual assault. This alarming data alone makes it an issue that can no longer be ignored. This is where SAAM comes in.

A variety of creative events, workshops, and lectures were offered in January exploring topics such as responding to a sexual assault disclosure, maintaining continuous and enthusiastic consent, and deconstructing myths about sexual assault. As a graduate-level social work student, I was eager to participate and dove in head first.

On January 20, the Sexual Assault and Rape Awareness (SARA) group gathered students in Fipke Centre to commemorate Denim Day with an art installation showcasing ten pairs of denim shorts painted with words like “stand up!” and “consent” hung on a clothesline to elicit further awareness.

After attending the Inclusive Language Workshop, hosted by the EIO on January 13, I felt both refreshed and dismayed. I learned that pop culture, be it porn or the film industry, sexist jokes, and behaviours like cat-calling, all contribute to a culture where violence against women is tolerated and in extreme cases encouraged. It gave me hope for change to witness a room of engaged participants all working to change the discourse as a watershed in preventing sexualized violence.

On January 19, I attended a combination workshop hosted by SARA and the EIO called “Let’s Get Consensual and Bystander Intervention Training.” We explored the idea that consent can be sexy and doesn’t have to be a ‘mood-killer’ but rather sets the stage for a healthy intimate relationship. For a three minute animated video on how asking for consent is like asking a friend if they want tea, click here. It’s a great watch.

Jenica Frisque, an educator from the Equity and Inclusion Office and Melissa Feddersen a nurse practitioner and project coordinator from Health & Wellness co-hosted “Responding to a Disclosure to their first-ever audience comprising mainly of staff from the Student Support Services. As the only student participant, I immediately felt the connection to my work in a helping profession and learned valuable strategies of how to respond to a sexual assault disclosure. It was uplifting to see the unified support that staff already provide to students in these circumstances, yet, disheartening that the occurrence of sexual assault incidences are all too common.

Visual Coordinator and Director of SARA, Varenka Kim reflected on her experiences at SAAM and shared a few highlights. “I really enjoyed working towards making SAAM a bigger, more impactful event and I hope to see it strengthen and become more widespread on campus for the following years. Each time I was approached while volunteering people shared such personal experiences that really made me want to create a big impact on the student population and create a safe and consensual campus.”

Even though SAAM has wrapped up for another year, the hard work continues, and we encourage everyone to join in the conversation and stand up against sexual assault.

Photo: Guest speakers Sydney Lawson and Chevi Rabbit (photo by Teagan Welch). Illustration by UBCO Creative Studies professor Tannis Nielsen.

Article written by Teagan Welch: UBC Okanagan Equity Ambassador and International Relations Student.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) ceremony held at UBC Okanagan on November 20 was an incredibly beautiful, yet unshakably tragic celebration of lives, both lived and lost. I had the opportunity to attend TDOR through my volunteer role as an Equity Ambassador with the Equity and Inclusion Office.

Students, staff, and Okanagan residents alike gathered for the ceremony and candle light vigil on campus in honour of transgender individuals whose lives were lost to senseless acts of gender identity based violence. As we listened to name after name of transgender folks from around the world who were taken from it too soon and our hearts cracked open with each name, it became apparent that this was not just a room full of individuals, but a community gathered in solidarity and support. Regardless of beliefs, or of gender identity, we honoured the dead but celebrated the living.

Too often transgender folks are only put in the limelight under tragic circumstances. On that day we celebrated the life, excellence, and success, of the transgender community through sharing experiences, poetry, and heartfelt oration.

The popular hashtag #translivesmatter has brought new significance to folks young and old as we reflected on the glimmering hope of an inequality free future. There is a lot of work to be done to eliminate transphobia in our world and even our community, but events like TDoR and Hate to Hope remind us that even somber moments of silence can be reflective of change and acceptance.

It would be difficult to find anyone in the room whose heart wasn’t full that evening. Thank you to Sydney Lawson, Chevi Rabbit, Okanagan Pride, the UBCSUO Pride Centre, and the Equity and Inclusion Office for putting on this amazing event and reminding us of the importance of remembrance and celebrating differences through unity.

Cultural appropriation is rampant during Halloween

Watch the first video for the Your Words Have Power campaign in which Natalie Wong, International Relations student at UBC Okanagan discusses cultural appropriation.

Cultural Appropriation from UBC Okanagan Equity Office on Vimeo.

This series of videos is produced by the Equity and Inclusion Office by Lucie Woolgar, Jenica Frisque and collaborators from the Inclusive Language Campaign.