Awareness best when it comes to safety

By Tyson Leonard

Belleville, Ont. (18/09/13) – Elise Hineman is a councellor at the Quinte Sexual Assault Centre in Bellville. (Photo by Tyson Leonard)

Positive awareness, rather than gender, is Loyalist College’s focus when it comes to safety, according to the school’s residence coordinator.

“We are constantly seeking those campaigns that are going to fit well with our students, and provide the message of safety and tips and tricks you can do to ensure your own safety and your friends safety,” said David Templar, the college’s residence coordinator.

The safety of female students is top of the mind at many campuses across Canada after ‘rape chants’ were reported at two universities.

Among Loyalist’s current campaigns are the Respect campaign, Green Dot, and Draw-the-Line.

The campaigns focus on taking individual responsibility when addressing violence of any kind.

Templar added the college has also implemented initiatives such as keeping the campus well lit, and the Walk Safe campaign, which provides students with someone to walk them to and from residence. Extra security guards are also on staff for busy nights on campus, such as pub night.

“On campus environments it’s always of dire importance to make sure that the messages are out there and that you have got things in place to deal with any incidents, and touch wood we have a very positive track record,” said Templar.

Elise Hineman is a counsellor and public educator at the Quinte Sexual Assault Centre in Belleville. She says awareness is key to stopping sexual assault, an issue that disproportionately affects young women.

“This is a huge social issue, if this were categorized as a physical illness it would be a pandemic,” said Hineman.

The Quinte Sexual Assault Centre focuses on counseling but also provides free public education, support and advocacy, and a crisis line. The centre works closely with Loyalist College on campaigns involving student safety.

“There is always room for more awareness, for more chances to have the discussion about what this is in our society, and how to eradicate it,” said Hineman.

According to the centre one in four women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

Hineman said campaigns to stop sexual assault should centre on the actions of the attacker.

“We have been involved in previous years in the Don’t be that Guy campaign,” said Hineman, “which is asking men if they happen to witness their buddies doing a sexual harassing kind of behavior to address that.”

Hineman said she hopes the conversation on sexual assault shifts towards stopping attackers, rather than placing the onus on the victim. Whether it’s through campaigns or personal intervention, Hineman said she’s happy the conversation is happening.