This article discusses sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The Kingston Sexual Assault Centre’s 24-hour crisis and support phone line can be reached at 613-544-6424 / 1-800-544-6424. The Centre’s online chat feature can be reached here. The Journal uses “survivor” to refer to those who have experienced sexual assault. We acknowledge this term is not universal.

On Sept. 17, university administration responded to the recent sexual assault and violence allegations out of Western University.  The University also called attention to supports available for survivors at Queen’s for survivors.

In an email sent to The Journal, Barbara Lotan, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response (SVPR) Coordinator, shared Queen’s approach to sexual violence prevention.

“Queen’s takes its commitment to addressing the issue of sexual violence very serious [sic]. This includes ongoing work to help prevent sexual violence and provide a trauma-informed and survivor-centric approach to our university policy process, operations and services in response to incidents and experiences across our campus community,” Lotan wrote.

READ MORE: Ontario universities & colleges to review & amend sexual violence & assault policies

“This past week has been a heartbreaking reminder of the prevalence of sexual violence at post-secondary institutions and that more is needed to protect and support students. We appreciate that the news coverage can be triggering, especially for students who are survivors of sexual violence, and we always encourage anyone needing help to reach out for support.”

Lotan added that SVPR has established educational programs and workshops to support the prevention of sexual violence. These include the peer-led bystander intervention program, as well as programs that promote increased awareness of gender-based violence and a culture of consent and healthy relationships.

“For first-year students specifically, this year’s Consent Education Plan is the result of a collaboration of the Student Experience Office, Residence Life and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO),” Lotan wrote.

According to Lotan, the Consent Education Plan centres around, “It Takes All of Us,” a new online learning program co-developed by SVPR and KnowledgeOne, an eLearning consulting service company.

The program features learning modules on sexual violence, sexual consent, bystander intervention, and supporting survivors.

Additionally, Residence Life will be hosting sexual violence prevention education programming. Their Consent Awareness Week will be running from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.

The SVPRO will also be hosting a Building a Consent Culture workshop on Sept. 29, as well as a Sexual Violence Student Activism Symposium—a virtual conference that will feature research, art, activism, and advocacy on sexual violence and consent culture by graduate and undergraduate students—on Nov. 5.