The University and the SU raise awareness of sexual consent
By: Tom Walters
Last updated: Wednesday, 26 October 2016
This week will see the University and the Students’ Union continue their work to raise awareness about sexual consent amongst students.
The campaign, which has been a close collaboration between the University, Students’ Union and the Safer Sussex group, has seen a number of materials developed to draw awareness to the issue, in addition to a new comprehensive online support page.
In addition, throughout the week a number of events, run by the Students’ Union, will be taking place both to raise awareness and look at some of the key debates surrounding sexual consent. First up, Dr Alison Phipps will be hosting a session talking about her current research, followed by a screening of the documentary ’The Hunting Ground’. The talk will be held in Fulton 103 at 15.30 and the screening at 17.00 in Fulton B.
It is believed that sexual consent can sometimes be misunderstood or that a number of myths surrounding sexual consent can be commonplace. This is why Consent Week – in addition to the materials that have been created – hopes to underline the importance the University places on this subject.
What’s more, the University and the Sussex SU believe that learning more about sexual consent is important. We want to give our students the right information so that they can think more about it and discuss it with each other.
However, we understand that the subject matter and the issues that will be discussed during Consent Week may trigger trauma related anxiety within individuals that have directly experienced sexual violence, or are close to somebody who has. Our Student Life Centre is here to provide help any students who may need support.
Online Quiz
A brief online course, run by the Health and Wellbeing team, covering subjects such as general health/vaccinations; sexual health; mental health; drugs; alcohol; sexual consent and violence, has recently been devised. All you have to do is complete the quiz and enter the draw at the end of it to win one of the many mini-ipads and Amazon vouchers on offer! (Only students at the University of Sussex eligible)