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Successful Strategies for Cultivating a

“Community of Action” in Response to Sexual Assault

Jill J. Green, R.Psych, MacEwan University Kimberly McCall, Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton

“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

-Elie Wiesel

“People think [consent] only applies to sex but the idea is important in lots of ways. It’s about respect.”

-MacEwan University Student

“Radical simply means 'grasping things at the root’.”

-Angela Davis

“I feel safer on campus knowing there is a project like U-SOLVE advocating for change.”

-MacEwan University Faculty Member

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

National Victims of Crime Awareness Week 2014

Federal Symposium

April 7, 2014

U-SOLVE • Joint initiative • Funded by Status of

Women Canada • Address sexual violence

on campus

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Taking Action

• Struggles are inherent to enacting change • Struggles are made easier by support • Support of all kinds are acts of triumph • Acts of triumph are active resistance • The majority must resist for culture shift

Rape Culture

• Includes ‘tips’ that limit and are inconsistent with research

• Victim blaming • Re-victimization • “Othering” • Ignoring broader context

cultivatingculture.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/michael-courier-rape-culture.jpeg

Everyone’s Issue

• Most perpetrators are men; men must be part of solution

• Privilege allows some the option to ignore

• Silence is tacit support

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Campus as Site of Change Demographics • High risk: 16-24 year old

women • Social environment (victims

and perpetrators known to each other)

• Drug and alcohol use

Resources • Community members as

agents of change • Knowledge acquired is

useful on campus and in larger community

• Student initiatives reflect student engagement

Best Practices

• Commit to Action • Response Team • Assess Current

Policies, Protocols and Practices

• Develop Policy and Procedure

• Security Services • Education and

Training • Monitor and Evaluate • Physical Environment

Psychological Space

Trickle Up

Policy Procedure

Commit To

Action

Internal Accountability

Education

education

capacity building

lasting change

Policy & Procedure

Offers

recourse

support

Reinforces

education

internal accountability

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is a process. Working together is success.”

-Henry Ford

References Canadian Federation of Students Ontario. (2010). Campus toolkit for combating sexual violence: Campus safety checklist. Retrieved from http://cfsontario.ca/

downloads/Campus%20Safety%20Checklist.pdf

Carmody, D., Ekhomu, J., & Payne, B. K. (2009). Needs of sexual assault prevention advocates in campus-based sexual assault centers. College Student Journal,

43, 507-513.

Fisher, B. S., Daigle, L. E., Cullen, F T., & Turner, M. G. (2003). Reporting sexual victimization to the police and others: Results from a national-level study of

college women. Criminal Justice and Behaviour, 32, 6-38.

Girard, A., & Senn, C. Y. (2008). The role of the new ‘date rape drugs’ in attributions about date rape. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23, 173-186.

Ghomeshi, J. (2014, March 24). Q debate: Do we really live in a ‘rape culture’? [Radio broadcast episode]. In Ghomeshi, J. (Producer), Q. Toronto, ON: CBC

Radio.

Green, J. J., & McCall, K. (2013). [Gender based violence at MacEwan University]. Unpublished raw data.

Katz, J. (2012, November). Violence against women – it’s a men’s issue [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks

jackson_katz_violence_against_women_it_s_a_men_s_issue

Kimble, R. S., Neacsiu, A. D., Flack Jr, W. F., & Horner, J. (2008). Risk for unwanted sex for college women: Evidence for a Red Zone. Journal of American

College Health, 57, 331-332.

Lisak, D. (2011) Understanding the predatory nature of sexual violence. Sexual Assault Report, 14(4), 49-64. Retrieved from: http://www.davidlisak.com/wp-

content/uploads/pdf/SARUnderstandingPredatoryNatureSexualViolence.pdf

References LoVerso, T. (2001) A Survey of unwanted sexual experiences among University of Alberta students. (Unpublished research). University of Alberta Sexual

Assault Centre.

McMahon, P. P. (2008). Sexual violence on the college campus: A template for compliance with federal policy. Journal of American College Health, 57, 361-

365.

Ontario Women’s Directorate. (2013). Developing a response to sexual violence: a Resource guide for Ontario’s colleges and universities. Queen’s Printer for

Ontario. Retrieved from http://www.women.gov.on.ca/english/resources/publications/campus_guide/campus_guide.pdf

Payne, B. K., Ekhomu, J., & Carmody, D. (2009). Structural barriers to preventing and responding to sexual assaults: Distinctions between community- and

campus-based advocates. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 11, 258-276.

Saint Mary’s University. (2013). Promoting a culture of safety, respect and consent at Saint Mary’s University and beyond: Report from the President’s Council.

Retrieved from http://www.smu.ca/webfiles/PresidentsCouncilReport-2013.pdf

Senn, C. Y. (2011). An imperfect feminist journey: reflections on the process to develop an effective sexual assault resistance programme for university

women. Feminism and Psychology, 21, 121-137.

Spade, D. (2009). Trickle-up social justice [Video file]. In Barnard Center for Research on Women (Producer), Trans politics on a neoliberal landscape. Podcast

retrieved from Barnard Center for Research on Women: http://www.barnard.edu/bcrw/video.htm