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A New Perspective against Sexual Violence on campus

Casey Phillips addresses the Nipissing Unversity crowd during the launch of #nuperspective. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON. Casey Phillips wants students at his school to become more comfortable in talking about sexual violence.

Casey Phillips addresses the Nipissing Unversity crowd during the launch of #nuperspective. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.

Casey Phillips wants students at his school to become more comfortable in talking about sexual violence.   

On Friday, Nipissing University launched it’s #nuperspective campaign, which is an initiative hoping to put an end to sexual violence at the school. 

“The school has always had sex education on violence on campus but this is the first time we have had a coordinated effort, all of those activities come under one banner so it’s a coordinated effort,” said Phillips, who is the school’s Assistant Vice President, Students.  

The school had keynote speaker Dr. Rachel Griffin scheduled to do a presentation on the prevention of sexual violence Friday morning at the Robert J. Surtees Athletic Centre.  However, her flight was delayed.  She is expected to make a presentation at the school later this semester. 

Instead the school, the mayor and the police discussed the issue to students and faculty at the Centre.

Police Chief Paul Cook supports the initiative.  He says so many incidents of sexual violence go unreported and that needs to change.

“We are here to support them and I think they are to be congratulated for their leadership in engaging students on a very difficult topic, setting up a culture where they are making it very clear what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable behaviour and ensuring they have supports for victims,” said Cook.

Phillips believes the #nuperspective hashtag will be an effective way of spreading the word through social media.

“We included the hashtag because it has become really relevant in terms of social media these days so we wanted something that students would feel comfortable hash tagging and including something we can engage all members of the community to start that conversation because a lot of conversations are happening on social media so we thought this was a way to involve social media, get students talking about it, and be sort of hip and happening with what the youth of today are using,” he said.  

Nipissing has also unveiled a new website for #nuperspective, offering resources for survivors, supporters, and NU community members.  The website includes information on how to help support a survivor, links to NU policies and procedures, information for survivors on available NU and community resources, as well as prevention and education events on campus.

More information can be found here: http://www.nipissingu.ca/about-us/newsroom/Pages/NU-launching-campaign-to-end-sexual-violence.aspx
 


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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